Thank You to Kansas City Defender for Highlighting the 18th & Vine Arts Festival

We are honored to be featured by The Kansas City Defender, one of the nation’s most innovative Black news startups, in their recent article, "A New Era for Black Art in Kansas City: The 18th & Vine Arts Festival Brings National Spotlight to the City’s Emerging Cultural Renaissance."

The Kansas City Defender is not just another media platform. Born from the 2020 uprisings, they have been on a mission to serve and engage the Black community, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, through groundbreaking digital strategies. Their work focuses on critical areas such as education, justice, arts & culture, and technology. Since launching in 2021, they have reached over 50 million people and grown a social media audience of over 75,000 followers—a testament to their powerful connection with young Black audiences across the Midwest.

Their feature on the 18th & Vine Arts Festival shines a national spotlight on what we’re building here in Kansas City. As they highlighted in the article, the festival isn’t just about a weekend of art and culture—it’s part of a broader movement led by our visionary director, Marquez "Quez" Beasley, to build lasting infrastructure for Black artists in the city.

Quez emphasized this vision in the interview, stating:

“Absolutely it’s more than just an event—we’re building a movement. We are creating a platform that celebrates Black artists, not just for a weekend, but in ways that empower them long-term. We want to break down the barriers that Black artists face, providing them with the resources, opportunities, and community they need to thrive, both creatively and personally.”

The Kansas City Defender beautifully captured the essence of what we are striving to achieve: providing affordable housing, financial stability, and mental health resources for our artists so they can continue to innovate and create without limitations.

This year, the 18th & Vine Arts Festival will feature over 90 Black artists with free booth participation. Last year alone, the festival led to $100,000 in art sales, and we are set to make an even bigger impact this year. All ticket sales go directly to supporting the artists, ensuring their continued success.

We are grateful to The Kansas City Defender for supporting our mission and sharing our story with their audience. This platform understands the importance of building sustainable communities, just as we do, and we’re proud to be part of their vision for a better, more inclusive world.

Check out their full article here: https://kansascitydefender.com/arts-culture/kc-black-arts-renaissance-18th-vine-festival/

And don’t forget to join us at the 18th & Vine Arts Festival from September 27th to 29th to celebrate the incredible talent of our local Black artists!

#ThankYouKCDefender #18thAndVineArtsFest #SupportBlackArtists #BlackArtMatters #KansasCity