Being Good in Business is the Most Fascinating Kind of Art

“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.” – Andy Warhol

One year ago, we opened our coworking doors in the Crossroads Art District. And in this past year, we have seen the Crossroads art and business communities grow into one powerful and energetic force. The truth of the matter is, an art and business blend could be the best combination that a community can experience. Take the Andy Warhol quote mentioned above: making money is art, working is art and doing good business is the best kind of art—therefore we are all artists, specializing in different artistic media.

We first noticed that we were located in an epicenter of business and art when we opened for our very first First Fridays event a little less than a year ago. As a neighbor to the recently-closed Arts Incubator, we saw the passion that Kansas City residents had for art and for business. With eclectic street artist, art enthusiast and local business owner involvement, we couldn’t help but be inspired to create our own First Friday event, Entrepreneur Corner, that attracts hundreds of visitors every month.

Some of the Think Big team at Entrepreneur Corner.

On September 16^th, 2011, we saw the grand opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. For months and months, we watched the new performing arts center, a true architectural gem, rise up when we would step out on the bizperc rooftop garden. This was one of the first testaments of art and business mixing together and we were prepared to see even more in the coming weeks.

A view of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
from the bizperc rooftop.

And finally, our own building is currently experiencing an artistic take-over. Kim Weinberger is currently opening her new art gallery on the first floor of 1800 Baltimore (where bizperc and the Think Big Partners team is located). Kim wanted to make a greater influence in the local art community and found that the answer was to relocate her thriving business to a larger and more accessible space in the Crossroads Arts District. What better place than 1800 Baltimore? The Weinberger Art Gallery is to open later this month.

Kim Weinberger moves her art gallery to 1800 Baltimore.

With this healthy blend of art and business, we cannot help but believe that we are located in the right place at the right time. Kansas City (and more specifically, the Crossroads District) is experiencing a strong urban core movement, a vibrant art scene and a flourishing business atmosphere. What more could we ask for from a KC location? We are experiencing an evolution of business—which after all, is the most fascinating kind of art.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

The Crossroads Says Farewell to the Arts Incubator

Think Big Partners was the new kid on the block when it opened the bizperc coworking space in the Crossroads District back in August of 2010.  Most of the establishments that reside in the Crossroads District have been there for years and years.  Some have been there for so long, that they have been known to "define" the Crossroads District.  And one of these buildings is the Arts Incubator of Kansas City.

The Arts Incubator helped Think Big Partners feel right at home.  As a friendly neighbor to TBP and bizperc, the Arts Incubator was a textbook example of a successful, well-run nontechnology incubator for over a decade.  But due to recent building and licensing violations, the AIKC's board of directors decided to close the incubator permanently, including its event space, showcasing floor, and studio space. 

As a tribute to the Arts Incubator of Kansas City, Think Big would like to display some photos of the infamous Kansas City incubator.  This is how we saw our friendly neighbor each and every day from our own windows. 



Looking into the Arts Incubator's empty event space from a window at bizperc.

 

A view of the Arts Incubator from the bizperc kitchen.



Something old, something new.  The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
peeks out over the Arts Incubator roof. 

The two incubators side-by-side: Arts Incubator and bizperc coworking space.

The Arts Incubator was a huge part of First Fridays in the Crossroads District.

Signs that cover the Arts Incubator door.

Other Crossroads establishments such as Nara and bizperc have offered
to help out those looking for a space for events.

Farewell to the Arts Incubator.

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig