BECAUSE OF THIS is a year-long exhibition + performance series thatcelebrates contemporary Black artistic life through the healing and transformative works of Midwest artists of the African Diaspora. Because of This is an ambitious undertaking in community building, spearheaded by curator Mary Lawson (Omaha, NE) whose selection of over thirty virtual and outdoor programs include visual art, performances, audio archive, critique series, panel discussions, and community bike rides.
Names appearing in orange are ArtistsMATTER Society members.
An * denotes in-kind support.
TRAILBLAZERS ($25,000+)
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
Ann and Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation
Copaken Brooks*
Durwood Foundation
Francis Family Foundation
Catherine Futter
Bill and Christy Gautreaux
H&R Block Foundation
Hall Family Foundation
Hufft*
David Hughes, Jr.
The Jedel Family Foundation
Louetta M. Cowden Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Mike and Linda Lyon
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation
Margaret Silva
National Endowment for the Arts
Pollock-Krasner Foundation
Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank, Trustee
The Seeley Foundation
John and Marny Sherman
Sosland Foundation
Spencer Fane
Sunderland Foundation
Theatre League
U.S. Engineering
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
William T. Kemper Charitable Trust, UMB Bank
William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank
Windgate Foundation
Jean-Paul Wong/PURE Workplace Solutions
PIONEERS ($10,000-$24,999)
Anschutz Family Foundation
Design Ranch*
Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri
Hallmark Corporate Foundation
Bill and Peggy Lyons
Newkirk Novak Construction Partners*
Brad and Linda Nicholson
Susan Stanton
LAUNCHER ($5,000-$9,999)
Cortney Patterson Barton
Paul and Bunni Copaken
Douglas County Community Foundation
Kirk and Joan Gastinger
Linda Lighton
Missouri Arts Council
Julie Nelson Meers and Sam Meers
Toma and Andy Wolff
Rick and Annie Zander
PRODUCER ($2,500-$4,999)
Darren and Jodi Abbott
Ina Anderson
ArtsKC
BHC Rhodes*
Ina Anderson and Dana Gibson
Gary and Pam Gradinger
Lico Steel, Inc.
Hatch and Laura McCray
Mobank/BOK Financial
Charles Sosland
ADVOCATE ($1,000-$2,499)
Dick and Gloria Anderson
Margaret Perkins-McGuinness and Nathan Benjamin
Bert Berkley
Robert and Barbara Bloch
Tom and Mary Lou Brous
City of Kansas City, Missouri
Eileen Cohen
Kirk Gastinger
Francis Greenburger
Saralyn Reece Hardy
Dennis and Carol Hudson
Sandra Kelly
Amy J. Kligman
Linda Lighton
Barbara Marshall
Josue Montes
N. W. Dible Foundation
George and Linda Robbins
Charles W. and Lisa Schellhorn
Catherine Beaham Smith
STARBO Fund
Toma and Andy Wolff
PATRON ($250-$999)
Elvis Achelpohl
Beverly Ahern
Andrea & Adam Arredondo
Kathy Aron Dowell
Donald J. Hall, Sr.
Bruce Hartman
Lynn Johnson
Todd Lieberman
Keith Mays
Jessica McKinney
James Mobberley
Dylan Mortimer
Sean Nash
Ernest Peterson
Oddities Prints*
Pulse Design Group
Patty Reece
Jon Taylor
Jay and Leslie Tomlinson
Frank and Helen Wewers
Brandon and Cezanne Wikoff
23 Strings Studio
FRIEND (UP TO $249)
Stephen and Barbara Abend
Elvis Achelpohl
Janet Awaken
Paul and Debbie Babcock
Lee and Claudia Barewin
William Berkley
Rebecca Blocksome
Laura A. Blumenberg
Stacy Busch
Marcus Cain
David and Beth Cateforis
Rachel Chism
Maura Cluthe
Elizabeth Cook
Jennifer Owen and Brad Cox
Deborah Dickson
Deanna Dikeman
Sam Dworkin
Jeff Eaton
Linda Elbow
Janann Eldredge
Jose Faus
Marcia Fernandez
Paul Fingersh
Bill and Susan Ford
Mary Gorman
Rashawn Griffin
Dakota Hayton
Angi Hejduk
Tom and Paget Higgins
Avery M. Hughes
Clara Iraźabal-Zurita
Adam Johnson
Linda and Topper Johntz
Gordon J Kauffman
Ashley Kendrick
Brad and Jan-Marie Kroh
George P. and Carolyn Kroh
Vladimir Krstic
Anthony Lackey
Laura Lesniewski
Ritchie Lynne
Karen McCoy
Amanda Middaugh
Melanie Miller
Dan Musser
Heidi and Nelson Nast
Jennifer Owen
Carlo Pascolini
Steve Paul
David Wayne Reed
Linda Rellergert
Katrina Revenaugh
EG Schempf
Lawrence and Barbara Schulte
Matthew Schulte
Stephanie Seger
J. Michael Sigler
Laura Spencer-Morris
Caleb J Taylor
Larry Thomas
Heidi Van
Julia Vering
Alex and Abby Wendel
Angela Marie Wright
table saw
chop saw
drill press
power tools
2-wheeler dolly
industrial vacuum cleaner
CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES
Sheets of plywood (8×10′) – cover floors
White interior wall paint (5 gal buckets)
Track lights or strip light fixtures
Restroom fixtures- toilets, sinks, mirrors
AUTOMOBILE
Utility van or truck
STAGE & AV EQUIPMENT
LED stage lights
Light board
Mixing board
Microphones
Mic stands
XLR cables
Stage monitors
Theatre curtains
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Notebook paper
Folders
Staplers
Writing utensils
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Check printer
Office shelving
Filing cabinets
STUDIO/OUTREACH FURNITURE & SUPPLIES
Art supplies
Gardening tools
Folding chairs
Folding work tables
Large bulletin board
Large mobile whiteboard
Picnic tables
Locking storage cabinet
Refrigerator
Microwave
Large cooler
Basic tools
Large rugs
Rolling coat racks
Coffees/teas/non-perishable condiments
Eco-friendly disposable serviceware
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY VOUCHERS
Airline vouchers
Hotel vouchers (downtown Marriott, Hotel Phillips, A/C Westport)
Restaurant vouchers for Westport, Crossroads, and Bottoms
Super Shuttle vouchers
