WHAT IS INSPIRE KC?
Inspire KC is a Corporate Arts Challenge that invites local businesses to recognize, encourage and showcase employees' creativity through a friendly, community-wide art competition.
Whether employees share literary, visual, or performing arts talents, Inspire KC offers a way to spark an environment of inspiration, respect, camaraderie, and encouragement in the workplace.
By participating in Inspire KC, employees build new relationships and trigger each other's creativity. The event draws attention to the diverse and talented individuals who make up a business and gives them the opportunity to work together across all professional levels.
Your company may just discover that it has some of the finest and most talented artists in Kansas City.
HOW DOES INSPIRE KC WORK?
Step 1: Enroll Your Company
Our application can be found at the bottom and top of our page.
We have a tiered pricing model, so the cost of entry is contingent upon total size of your organization. Cost of entry fees can be found on the 'Enroll" page.
Step 2: Engage Your Workplace
With our guidance, you will host an in-house arts competition. Your employees can submit into three different categories- visual, literary, and performing arts. We will work with you to decide how to showcase and jury these submissions in a way that is effective and fun for your unique workplace.
Step 3: Inspire Your Community
The winners of each category in each partnering organization will move on to compete in a city wide arts showcase. Literary submissions will be published in the a special edition insert in Ink Magazine. Visual Arts submissions will be displayed as a gallery in the Grand Hall of Union Station. Performing Arts submissions will perform at City Stage in the lower level of Union Station. All submissions will be voted on by the general public and a panel of distinguished, category-specific judges.
Literary Arts
Open Verse Poetry
Poetry of any style/structure of no more than 500 words.
Fictional Short Story
Fictional short story piece of no more than 1000 words.
Magnetic Poetry®
A poem created from a provided set of words, in any combination.
8-Word Story
A story containing exactly 8 words (not including title).
Creative Nonfiction
Nonfiction piece of no more than 1000 words that employs factual information (for example, essay, memoir, travel writing, biography, etc.).
Story Chain
A story of no more than 1000 words written collaboratively by at least three employee authors. The story is passed from person to person, each adding a segment that follows the plotline of the preceding author.
One-Act Play
A short play of any style.
Visual Arts
Painting
Works on canvas, paper, or board, painted with any variety of paint and brush.
Photography
Images created with a digital or film camera. Works can be "straight" photography or digitally enhanced.
Fiber
Objects created with fabrics or thread, such as quilts, wall-hangings and wearables.
Craft
Objects such as basketry, ceramics, furniture, glass, mosaic, jewelry, leather and woodturning.
2-Dimensional
Works on paper or board such as drawings, prints, digital illustrations.
3-Dimensional
Objects such as carvings, castings, constructions and assemblages.
Performing Arts
Musical Solo
A vocal and/or instrumental performance of any musical genre that features one employee. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
Musical Ensemble
A vocal and/or instrumental performance of any musical genre that features at least one employee. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
Musical TCB
"The Company Band," a vocal and/or instrumental performance of any genre that features company employees only. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
Dance Ensemble
A performance of any dance genre that features more than one dancer. At least one member of the group must be a current company employee. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
Dance Solo
A performance of any dance genre that features one employee. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
Dance TCT
"The Company Troupe," a dance performance of any dance genre that features current company employees only. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
Spoken Word
Performance-based poetry that focuses on word play and storytelling. Must be original material performed by the author. Content should be appropriate for general audiences. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
Standup Comedy
Performance of humorous stories, jokes or one-liners. Must be original material performed by author. Content should be appropriate for general audiences. Approximate length 2-3 minutes.
