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Student Matinees

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Fostering a Love for the Arts in Kansas City Youth

a group of children and adults sit in theater seats bathed in blue lighting. Some appear excited, raising their arms towards the stage, while others sit calmly.

Every year, 40,000 students visit the Kauffman Center to experience the performing arts through more than 35 student matinees.

These events including symphony performances, operas, concerts, dance programs and speaker series like Trailblazing Talks. Exploring the arts is a crucial component of a well-rounded education and inspiring young minds to discover their creative potential helps them to make a positive impact on the world around them.

Kauffman Center Programming
for Schools

Student matinees cultivate a connection to the arts in young people and the Kauffman Center is proud to host these events for Kansas City’s youth throughout the season.

Tickets for Kauffman Center Presents student matinees are offered at the reduced price of $2 per ticket for school groups.

A group of six young individuals stands indoors, smiling at the camera. Four of them are in the foreground, dressed casually, while two more are in the background, engaged in conversation. at the Kauffman Center.

Trailblazing Talks
Student Matinees in 2026

The Kauffman Center’s speaker series, Trailblazing Talks, features award-winning photographers, explorers, scientists, documentarians and more. Each one-hour presentation is illustrated by stunning imagery and gripping video footage shown on a 40-foot-by-22.5-foot screen in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Afterward, students get up close and personal with the speaker during a brief audience Q&A session.

Stay tuned for the 2025-2026 Trailblazing Talks student matinee season, which will be announced in Sept. 2025.

Trailblazing Talks matinees are recommended for grades 6 – 12. Tickets are $2 per person. Reservations for each of this season’s five performances will begin on Sept. 8, 2025 and will close either when sold out or two weeks before each performance date.

 

Partner Organization School Performances

Bus Transportation Assistance

The Kauffman Center’s Transportation Fund helps educators provide arts experiences to their students by eliminating or defraying bus costs.

Any school transporting students to a qualifying matinee or open rehearsal at the Kauffman Center can apply for a bus transportation allowance. Transportation Fund applications must be submitted at least five business days prior to attending an event at the Kauffman Center.

Apply Today

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