Say Hello To...

The Joplin Arts community has welcomed a few new faces over the past year. The Post Art Library hired a new Executive Director, Jill Sullivan (bottom left). Spiva Center for the Arts hired a new Education Coordinator, Darcie Shultz (top left), an Assistant Director, Kerstin Landwer (top middle), and a new Executive Director, Dr. Jacqueline O’Dell (top right). The Rose Art Gallery hired Spiva’s former Development Coordinator, Marta Churchwell (lower middle), as Gallery Manager. Joplin Little Theatre recently hired Skylar Walton (lower right) as Theatre Manager. Make sure to say, “hello!”

JOPLIN ARTS FEST

The Kiwanis Club of Joplin, Joplin Regional Artists Coalition, Connect2Culture and Spiva Center for the Arts teamed up for the first annual Joplin Arts Fest on Saturday, September 19, 2015. Sixty artists sold their work on Main Street while performing arts groups entertained the crowds throughout the day. The second annual Joplin Arts Fest is planned for Saturday, September 17, 2016 – mark your calendar now!

ZERKAPALOOZA

Zerkapalooza, a first-time music festival celebrating the end of summer took place in Downtown Joplin over three days, August 20–22, 2015. Bands played in music venues throughout Downtown Joplin, with the headliner at Memorial Hall. Zerkapalooza 2016 is scheduled for August 18–20, 2016.

TANK: PUBLIC ART

TANK: Public Art completed their eighth public art project – a mural located on the corner of Joplin Printing Company at 2nd and Wall Streets – in September 2015. TANK is a collaborative public arts group aimed at supporting, promoting, and creating public art as a necessary essential facet of culture in Joplin.

LEADERSHIP JOPLIN

A mural spearheaded by Leadership Joplin’s Class of 2015 was installed at the newly renovated Joe Becker Stadium on August 30, 2015. The mural showcases the rich history of the stadium and includes historic Route 66, Joe Becker, and Mickey Mantle. Leadership Joplin chose to partner with Burt Bucher, Art Professor at Missouri Southern State University, and art students to make this mural possible. The mural is student designed by Jenny Journeycake and Lydia Humphreys.

CRACKPOT POTTERY & ART STUDIO

Grand Opening: March 2015

Location: 3820 East 20th Street, Joplin, MO 64801

ROSE GALLERY OF FINE ART

Grand Opening: August 2015

Location: 508 North Range Line Road, Joplin, MO 64801

URBAN ART GALLERY

Grand Opening: December 2015

Location: 511 South Main Street, Joplin, MO 64801

MIDWEST REGIONAL BALLET

An Open House is scheduled for January 9, 2016!

Location: 2101 Stephens Boulevard, Joplin, MO 64804

THIRD THURSDAY

Third Thursday continues to be Joplin's trademark cultural event. This year, the Downtown Joplin Alliance introduced "Zones" so visitors could better navigate the monthly festival.

FIRST THURSDAY ARTWALK

Joplin welcomed a new, monthly art-centric event in July 2015. First Thursday ArtWalk is a sophisticated, yet festive event, for area artists, as well as patrons of the arts…past, present and future! Dozens of artists show and/or demonstrate their artistic process and all art is for sale. Artists are located inside various pop-up galleries along Main Street and are accompanied by acoustic musicians.

TRASH-TO-ART 2015

The City of Joplin Recycling Department, Post Art Library and Connect2Culture sponsored a Trash-To-Art contest and exhibit in April 2015 to celebrate the Joplin Recycling Center’s 15th anniversary!

COLORING BOOK CLUB

"Coloring Book Club" – a collaborative effort between Post Art Library, Connect2Culture, and Spiva Center for the Arts – hosted its inaugural meeting in October 2015. This popular event offers coffee, coloring, and camaraderie! Coffee for the Club is generously donated by Cottage Small Coffee Roasters in Carthage, MO.

Hip Handmade Happy Hour

The Hip Handmade Market (HHM) introduced The Hip Handmade Happy Hour on Friday, November 13, 2015. This ticketed pre-show, allowed HHM enthusiasts to shop early, mingle, and enjoy appetizers.

Art Feeds Joplin Brunch Crawl

On Saturday, November 21, Art Feeds Joplin introduced a Brunch Crawl to help fund construction of their new mobile art bus – VanGo 2.0.

Steven McCollum Distinguished Speaker Series

Thomas Jefferson IDS introduced its new Speaker Series on September 21, 2015 with Jonathan Haidt. The Series, in honor of a beloved past teacher, provides topical insight and historical perspective on current events in the U.S. and around the world.

Mr. Charles Schifferdecker, Remembered & Revisited

Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. introduced a two-day event in late October commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Charles Schifferdecker's death. Schifferdecker, one of Joplin's founding fathers, was a most notable businessman and philanthropist.

Empty Bowls 2015

$21,647

Phoenix Fired Art's Fourth Annual Empty Bowls raised $21,647 to alleviate hunger in our community! Crosslines, Area Agency on Aging, Salvation Army and Watered Gardens will each receive $5,411.75.

Dancing With The Joplin All-Stars

$25,000

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Cultural Affairs Committee hosted the final edition of Dancing with the Joplin All-Stars. This "Art In Public Places" fundraiser raised an unprecedented $25,000. Funds will go towards commissioning a new sculpture.

Art Feeds Gala

$60,000+

The Second Annual Art Feeds Gala did not disappoint! The organization raised over $60,000 ($10,000+ more than last year’s event). Money raised will help Art Feeds reach more little artists with therapeutic art and creative education in 2016.

Pro Musica

Received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Funds will support a residency with the PROJECT Trio. The group will present a formal concert on Thursday, September 28, 2016 with up to 9 outreach experiences throughout the week.

Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center

Wildcat hosted an exhibit featuring photographs submitted for the 2015 Audubon Photography Awards throughout August. This national exhibit aims to connect people in the community to conservation through the inspirational power of art. Ten (out of forty-one) Audubon centers nationwide were chosen to display this powerful exhibit.

Historic Murphysburg

Joplin’s Murphysburg Residential District was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service! This listing will help the historical district further preserve and renovate buildings within the district through tax credits.

The Letter Project

Connect2Culture led Joplin's participation in The Letter Project, an advocacy effort spearheaded by Missouri Citizens for the Arts. The Letter Project was a way for citizens to let Missouri’s Governor Jay Nixon know they care about the arts. Citizens were asked to create their own masterpiece in the frame at the top of the letter, write a short note, and include their name and address. Joplin contributed 101 letters – 1/5 of the entire state’s goal of 500 letters! In the end, over 1,000 letters were delivered.

Art In The Ballpark

JRAC members created unique works of art in Joe Becker Stadium throughout the opening weekend of the Blasters inaugural season. Pieces created hung throughout the Stadium all season and in late September an evening of music, food, and art took place to sell the works.

First Juried Show

JRAC held their first juried membership exhibition, Beyond Compare, in Spiva Center for the Arts Upstairs Gallery during the month of November.

Kansas City Show

JRAC offered a special membership exhibition, Spectrum, currently on display at the Buttonwood Art Space in Kansas City, MO during December 2015 and January 2016.

Cleo Copeland

2015 JACC Arty Award Recipient

Arts Advocate and Owner of Cleo's Picture Framing & Design

Cleo Copeland was named "Arty Award" recipient of 2015 at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet. “Each year one person is chosen who has promoted and enhanced the arts in the Joplin community.”

Jo Mueller

2016 Missouri Arts Award Recipient

Leadership In The Arts

Spiva Center for the Arts, Past Executive Director

Since 1983, the Missouri Arts Council and the State of Missouri have been honoring our state’s arts heroes – the people who make the arts happen. The annual Missouri Arts Awards celebrate people, organizations, and communities that have made profound and lasting contributions to the cultural and artistic climate of the state. The 2016 Missouri Arts Awards will be presented at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City on February 10, 2016.