Night/Shift
Night/Shift
Register in advance or on site when you arrive
Thursday, Feb. 26
5-9 pm
Free
Night/Shift: Warm Up is your cue to shake off winter’s last chill and set your night in motion with Kansas City’s creative community. Inspired by the exhibition Personal Best and the interplay between art and athletics, tap into what it means to stretch, strive, and show up — for yourself and one another.
This edition of Night/Shift coaches us to exercise creative freedom. Flex your moves with live music, stretch your imagination through interactive art experiences, and recharge with cozy cocktails and light bites. Led by local artists, we’ll explore hidden talents and how small steps and team spirit fuel big breakthroughs.
About Night/Shift
Night/Shift is a free and free form evening of creative encounters featuring live art and live acts by local artists among the museum’s 5,000 years of creative culture.
Featured Lineup
Schedule is subject to change
Live Acts
Performance-based experiences and entertainment
Kick Off | DJ Ne$$
5-7 pm | Kirkwood Hall
Charge up for the night with a set of happy hour hits.
Relay and Repeat | CLOUDS Dance Company
6 pm & 7 pm | Bloch Lobby —> Sculpture Hall —> Noguchi Court
Inspired by the Fitness Gram Pacer Test and community Field Days, partner with dancers for a kinetic performance featuring choreography by Olivia Emert.
The Ritual | The Royal Chief
7:30 pm | Kirkwood Hall
Ground your body and mind with a rhythmic pre-game ritual that guides you into a focused meditative state ready for whatever the game brings.
Home Stretch | Surface Tension
8 pm | Bloch Lobby
Close out the night with power and precision from KC Currents’ very own drumline. Grab a tambourine and join the ensemble.
Live Art
Interactive demos, artmaking, and pop-up installations
Studio Sprint | Medal Making
5-9 pm | Classrooms 4
Celebrate all victories big or small and create a personalized medallion to honor your journey.
Studio Sprint | Chipping in
5-9 pm | Classrooms 6
Team up to recreate a work of art from the collection using only paint chips.
Designed to Move | Ken Wilkins
5-9 pm | Kirkwood Hall
Appreciate the art of sneaker customization through a live demonstration inspired by the exhibition Personal Best.
Artists Unplugged | Kate Clements, TJ Templeton, & Thea Wolf
6-7 pm | Gallery L8
Meet artist-athletes in Personal Best and chat about their work on view.
Mixing Labs
Social spaces for meeting and making connections
Arm Wrestling for Art | The Dub
5-8 pm | Kirkwood Hall
Create your artist persona and compete for their honor in the ring. Winners get a photo with a trophy and the Kansas City Roller Warriors.
Sketch & Stretch | Friends of Art Council
5-9 pm | Kirkwood Hall
Loosen up with a series of drawing exercises and warm‑ups. Enter the raffle for a free museum membership. Members get an extra perk: Enter to win a one‑of‑a‑kind pair of Night/Shift sneakers.
Food & Drink
5-8:30 pm | Bloch Lobby & Kirkwood Hall
Light bites, cocktails, wine, beer, and N/A drinks available for purchase.
Gallery Connections
Endurance and Evolution | 127 & 130
Variations on a Theme | L3
Historic Home Runs | L5
Personal Best (with featured artists 6-7pm) | L8
THANK YOU to our creative community
CLOUDS Dance Company | @cloudsdancecompany
DJ Ne$$ | @djnessofficial
Kate Clements | @kate__clements
Kansas City Roller Warriors | @kcrollerwarriors
Ken Wilkins
The Dub | @thedubkc
The Royal Chief | @theroyalchief
Thea Wolfe | @thea_wolfe
TJ Templeton | tj_templeton2
Surface Tension | @kc_surfacetension
Members are the art and soul of the Nelson-Atkins and receive exclusive benefits throughout the year.
To learn more, visit the Info Desk or artandsoulkc.org.
Night/Shift is made possible with support from the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation.
Night/Shift know-how
Who can attend?
Night/Shift is designed for guests who are 18 and older, however, the museum is open to the public during Night/Shift and all ages are welcome.
What should I wear?
- Appreciate – don’t appropriate – other cultures. Check out our Night/Shift: Warm-Up moodboard for inspiration.
- Glitter is prohibited in the museum.
- From warm-up to curtain call – we’ve got a Warm-Up Spotify playlist to get you ready for the night.
- Large bags and some accessories may not be permitted in the galleries. Free coat check is available near the Museum Store.
What does it cost?
- General admission to museum galleries is free.
- Registration is required. Register online in advance or when you arrive.
- Become a member during Night/Shift to receive free daily admission to special exhibitions and free garage parking — that night and year-round.
- Art and specialty merch will be available for purchase. Support the featured local artists and small businesses and swing by the Museum Store for other goodies.
Will there be food and drinks?
- Yes! Food and drinks will be available for purchase. A valid ID is required to purchase alcoholic beverages.
- Outside food and drink are prohibited.
How do I get there?
- The museum’s parking garage is located at 45th and Oak Streets. Garage parking is $14 per vehicle or free for members.
- Rideshare areas are located in the circle drive on the museum’s North Plaza.
- There are four entrance options: via the parking garage, at street level on 45th Street (one through the Nelson-Atkins Building, one through the Bloch Building), and via the Nelson-Atkins Building from the Sculpture Park.
- See the museum map for wayfinding information.
Can I request an accommodation?
Yes! If you require an accommodation or have accessibility concerns, contact our helpdesk at 1Art@nelson-atkins.org. You may also explore the museum’s accessibility resources.