About the Kearney Area Arts Council
Fostering Creativity, Celebrating Diversity, Strengthening Community
At KAAC, we believe the arts have the power to unite, inspire, and transform.
The mission of the Kearney Area Arts Council is to expand the arts in Kearney and the surrounding areas, to increase diversity in the arts, to promote artists and their work, and to plan activities that encourage the community to practice and appreciate the arts.
At KAAC, we believe the arts have the power to unite, inspire, and transform. We are committed to providing opportunities for local artists to showcase their talents, fostering an appreciation for the arts, and ensuring that the arts are accessible to everyone in our community.
History
Kearney has not always had access to the rich and varied arts opportunities we enjoy today. In 1975, there was no local live theatre, symphony, art museum, or a space dedicated to the performing arts in the community. A visionary group of local arts enthusiasts gathered and began the process of forming an arts council for the community.
Through careful planning and collaboration, the founding members of the Kearney Area Arts Council took on the task of creating an organization that would encourage, host and nurture the arts in all forms and disciplines.
From guest artists such as The Kansas City Ballet, the Omaha Symphony and touring visual arts exhibits, KAAC brought the arts to a community that was eager and willing to invest in the arts to improve the quality of life for Kearney and the surrounding area.
Fifty years later, our community has a rich and diverse arts community–local live theatre, a Symphony, an art film movie house, dance companies, one of the finest art museums in the state, beautiful state-of-the-art performance spaces and a community who supports all of the arts enthusiastically and with great passion.
KAAC served as a catalyst in the early years of Kearney’s arts movement.
Today, the community benefits from a multitude of collaborations, generous donors and foundations who ensure the arts continue to grow and thrive.
KAAC has evolved as well over the decades. As the landscape for the arts in Kearney grew and expanded, KAAC sought out opportunities to serve the community in new and dynamic ways: providing artists in the schools and communities, sponsoring arts events, promoting the arts, artists and the talents of those who endure to make the world a better place through all forms of artistic expression.
Concerts in the Park
The modern day Cornerstone of KAAC programming is our Summer Concerts in the Park. A nearly four decades long mainstay of the summer in Kearney. Sunday evenings in June, July and August KAAC presents a free, outdoor concert at Harmon Park. Contemporary Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz and Classic Rock can be heard, shared and enjoyed on a beautiful Nebraska night.
KAAC hopes to continue to be a part of the complex, intricately woven tapestry that the arts in Kearney have become for another 50 years.
Council Members
The Kearney Area Arts Council is guided by a group of passionate individuals who share a deep love for the arts. Our Council Members bring a wealth of experience from various fields, including education, theater, music, visual arts, and business. Together, they help shape the direction of KAAC, support its programs, and advocate for the arts in Kearney and beyond.
These individuals volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that KAAC’s programs and initiatives align with our mission and meet the creative needs of our community.
Steve O’Brien
President
Janice Harvey Polk
Vice President
Lori O’Brien
Treasurer
Jim Decker
Member
Kristen Hanich
Member
Nathan Le Feber
Member
Brad Driml
Executive Director
Our Partners
The Kearney Area Arts Council is proud to collaborate with a wide range of local organizations, businesses, and individuals who share our commitment to the arts. These partnerships help us bring high-quality programs to Kearney, expand our reach, and ensure that the arts remain a vital part of our vibrant community.
Our involvement in the Kearney Cultural Partners initiative is just one example of how we work together to foster a thriving arts scene. Through this collaboration, we’re able to create exciting opportunities for local artists, engage with diverse audiences, and support cultural enrichment throughout the area. We believe that by working together with our community partners, we can continue to elevate the arts in Kearney and beyond, making it accessible to all.
-> Learn more about Kearney Cultural Partners
We are grateful for the support of our partners, whose contributions make our mission possible, and we look forward to continuing these meaningful relationships for years to come.
Programs KAAC Supports in Our Community
- Kearney Area Storytelling Festival
- Programming at the Merryman Performing Arts Center
- Kearney High School Theatre Productions
- Christmas Eve movie at the World Theatre: ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’
- Creative Arts classes at the Kearney Area YMCA
- Hastings Symphony Concert
- Dances at Peterson Senior Center
- Sunday Night Concerts in the Park at Harmon Park (June, July, & August)
- United States Air Force Band performance
- Scholarships for area high school students to continue their study of the Arts
- Jazz at the World (2nd Monday of every month, August-May)
- St. Luke’s Episcopal Church July 4th Hymn Sing
- 1733 Kearney Area Barbershop Chorus
- Art in the Park
Join Us
To learn more about how you can get involved or to make a donation, please visit our Give page.
