You are invited to join a two-day workshop to explore and build the business case for integrating artists, creative professionals, and cultural institutions into the tech-driven regional innovation ecosystem.

Scientific researchers, startup founders and entrepreneurs, and artists are all creators who bring something new into the world—new discoveries, new companies, new art. While we have programs to link the first two—turning scientific breakthroughs into high-growth startups—the opportunities to engage artists and creative industry professionals are less obvious. And even when the opportunities arise, it isn’t always clear what’s in it for the artist.

Day 1 Agenda

9:30-10:00 am - Arrival at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
10:00-11:35 am - Kickoff and Guided Tour: Creative Process of Artists (Small Groups)
11:35 am-12:30 pm - Transition to Kauffman Conference Center / Lunch (Plenary)
12:30-1:30 pm - Artist Reflections on Creativity and Process (Plenary)
1:30-3:15 pm - Journey Mapping with Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Industry and Civic Innovation Leads (Small Groups)
3:15-3:30 pm - Break
3:30-5:00 pm - Developing Points of Intersection between Artists and Technologists (Small Groups)
6:00-8:00 pm - Dinner at City Barrel Brewery (Crossroads location)
8:00-??? pm - Live music after hours

Day 2 Agenda

8:00-8:30 am - Arrival at Kauffman Conference Center / Breakfast and Coffee
8:30-9:00 am - Cluster Development in KC: Biologics, Critical Materials (Plenary)
9:00-9:45 am - Cluster-Specific Arts Exploration (Small Groups)
9:45-10:00 am - Break
10:00-11:15 am - Putting Details to Ideas (Small Groups)
11:15-11:30 am - Morning Wrap-Up (Plenary)
11:30 am -12:30 pm - Lunch
12:30-2:30 pm - World Building Exercise / Creating the Future (Plenary)
2:30-3:00 pm - Revisiting Plans and Idea, Post-World Building (Small Groups)
3:00-3:30 pm - Wrap Up and Next Steps

This workshop is part of a series of events sponsored by the National Science Foundation and led by the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. The series will culminate in a national conference in December about how to better connect research and innovation in the technology and creative sectors.

Over the past two years, KC Digital Drive has been supporting burgeoning innovation clusters in biologics, critical materials, and digital media. This workshop offers a tremendous opportunity to bring those communities together and grow Kansas City’s role as a national hub for tech and innovation.

This project is supported by the National Science Foundation (Award TF-2345797).

Views expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of NSF or other participating organizations.

Integrating Arts & Culture into Critical Materials & Biologics Ecosystems