This year marks a special milestone for Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA): our 20th anniversary in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District. For two decades, this creative hub has been home to our headquarters and The Culture Lab, our space for experiments, exhibitions, and events. Traveling exhibitions for our national program, ExhibitsUSA, also frequently launch their tours here.
To wrap up our fiscal year, this edition spotlights Kathy Dowell, our director of Arts and Humanities Programming. Kathy brings a lifelong passion for the visual arts to her leadership of ExhibitsUSA and The Culture Lab. Below, she shares how her path led to M-AAA, why creative access matters more than ever.
How did you come to this work? What’s your connection to it and your background?
The visual arts have been a meaningful part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in an art-filled home—thanks to my mother—where artists were regular guests and creativity was part of everyday life. Over the years, my path in the arts has taken many shapes. I’ve worked as an artist, curator, arts administrator, public art advisor, and gallery director. I like to describe myself as a “cultural producer,” since that term best captures the full scope of my experience.
My connection with M-AAA began around 2011 when I was co-producing a large-scale cultural project, and M-AAA assisted with some logistical expertise. That led to a brief but meaningful role helping M-AAA reimagine its building renovation as both a workspace and a cultural hub. A few years later, when M-AAA was looking to revitalize its EUSA program, they invited me to consult. Just two months in, it became clear this was where I was meant to be, and I stepped into the role of Director for that division. While the work can be very complicated at times, I work with some really special colleagues, and it is truly rewarding on a daily basis.
EUSA exhibitions make art and culture accessible to communities of all sizes — why is that kind of access important?
There is overwhelming evidence that participation in the arts directly enhances physical and mental well-being. Unlike disciplines bound by strict rules, the arts thrive in open-ended exploration. They offer a wealth of sensory experiences and ways to communicate, welcoming voices that might otherwise go unheard. In this way, the arts foster inclusion and empower individuals from all walks of life.
But the value of the arts doesn't end with individual growth—it extends to the collective good. Arts and cultural programs preserve cultural heritage, enrich education, stimulate local economies, and spark innovations that ripple across sectors. Touring exhibitions, in particular, play a critical role in expanding access to art beyond geographic or socioeconomic boundaries. They bring diverse stories and perspectives to new audiences, encouraging dialogue, inspiring curiosity, and building bridges between communities that might otherwise remain disconnected.
Public engagement with the arts—whether through local programs or traveling exhibitions—builds vibrant, resilient communities where creativity becomes a force for unity and progress. As we navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world, the need for creativity, empathy, and connection has never been more urgent. Access to the arts is not an amenity—it is a critical investment in the emotional, cultural, and economic health of our society. |
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MAAA News.
Mid-America Arts Alliance is a nonprofit, Regional Arts Organization that serves Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. We focus on strengthening communities and improving lives through extraordinary cultural experiences.
M-AAA exists to activate, empower, and amplify community through the arts. To do this, we make grants, provide career development, and support arts organizations and artists of all disciplines.
