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Brookside Art Annual, Plaza Art Fair canceled

After a postponement of the Brookside Art Annual in May, the decision to cancel the event was announced Monday, followed by similar news from the Country Club Plaza announcing the cancellation of the Plaza Art Fair.

Two of Kansas City’s most popular annual events, the Brookside Art Annual and the Plaza Art Fair, were officially canceled Monday, a decision made as a result of the coronavirus, according to a Monday news release from the Brookside Business Association as well as an announcement posted on the 2020 Plaza Art Fair website.

Originally scheduled from May 1-3, 2020, the Brookside Art Annual was pushed back to Sept. 18 through Sept 20.  Now, artists and visitors alike will have to wait until next year.

To help offset the cost for attending artists, a news release from Brookside has said that artists will receive refunds and will be given an option to return for the 2021 event or to reapply for the 2021 show at a later date.

“We truly wish were able to hold the show this year, but we know it’s the right decision. Many artists are hurting right now and the refunds and ability to participate in 2021 will help,” Donna Potts, show director for the art annual, said.

Each year both the Brookside Art Annual and the Plaza Art Fair attract thousands of visitors. During a time when many other events around the metro are facing cancellations for 2020, these large outdoors events are no exception.

“After careful consideration of the ongoing impact of COVID-19, Country Club Plaza has made the decision to cancel the traditional aspects of this year’s Plaza Art Fair out of concern for the safety of participants and the community,” a statement on the 2020 Plaza Art Fair website said.

Although no decision to postpone the Plaza Art Fair had been made for the event to be held Sept. 25-27, organizers opted for a cancelation.

“This was naturally a very difficult decision that we did not come to lightly, but public safety must always be our top priority,” Kasey Vena, general manager of Country Club Plaza, said. “We are in the process of reimagining this year’s event so that we may recognize the talented artists selected and celebrate art, food and music in new ways, including through our various digital platforms.”