Robert “Bobby” Epsten, a longtime supporter of the arts in greater Kansas City, has been asked to be the honorary chairman of ArtsKC — Regional Arts Council’s annual Inspiration Breakfast
“I’m pleased to be (honorary chairman) and I am so pleased that ArtsKC has broadened the interest in art in the area,” he said. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}“ArtsKC has evolved from being a small group of like-minded individuals contributing money to a much broader base.”
ArtsKC is an agency that supports the entire arts community by raising money and providing grants to arts organizations, artists and non-profit programs that have arts programming, such as reStart and Synergy Services.
“We also do advocacy for the arts, business programming, professional development for artists — anything we can do to support the entire arts ecosystem is where we find our role in the community,” said Andrea Robinson, ArtsKC development director.
She said ArtsKC is honored to have Epsten as honorary chairman of the Inspiration Breakfast.
“Bobby has such a long personal connection and history with the arts and artists. He’s just been a real great friend and supporter of ours so we invited him to join. He’s fun and lively and a great guy to work with,” Robinson said.
Epsten, however, nearly turned down the offer.
“I was very hesitant to do it,” he said. “Other than them having asked me and knowing that perhaps it could contribute to raising money to benefit the arts in our community, I would not have done it.”
Not one to wear his honors on his sleeve, the modest 86-year-old said, “I like to say that we’ve been contributors monetarily in support of the arts in Kansas City. Whatever I have done, I’m not looking for any laurels; I’ve had enough laurels in my life. I don’t mean that I’m of note, but I’ve been recognized and I don’t need any more recognition.”
A History of Support
Epsten’s wife Jackee, who passed away two years ago, was an Art Institute graduate and oil painting artist. Both were continued supporters of visual and performing arts in Kansas City and the area. Epsten served on the Missouri Arts Council for seven years and he and Jackee were the founders of Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom.
Previously known as The Kansas City Jewish Museum Foundation, The Museum Without Walls and The Kansas City Jewish Museum of Contemporary Art, Epsten Gallery has been located at Village Shalom since 2000, the year the senior continuing care community opened at its present location in Johnson County, Kansas.
As Epsten explains it, Village Shalom, formerly Shalom Geriatric Center, planned to move from Kansas City, Missouri, to a new state-of-the-art facility at 123rd and Nall. Epsten was on the board and wanted to make a contribution. He and his wife looked at a number of homes for the Jewish aged around the country.
They found one in Baltimore in which there was an art gallery, so they decided to put an art gallery at Village Shalom. It was a good opportunity to make an investment in the new facility.
“What we hoped to accomplish was that it was a gallery for the residents, it was a gallery for the community, and it’s also had some outreach effect in the community,” he said. “Marcus Cain was the director prior to Heather Lustfeldt and Marcus did a great job of going out into the community and doing various things with kids and such.”
ArtsKC’s Robinson said the Epstens built in a grassroots way a new opportunity to showcase artists in the community.
Epsten has been interested in the arts his whole life. He attended concerts with his parents as a child, then in the 1960s he spent vacations in Southern California where there was a large artist colony in Laguna Beach. He said that’s when he particularly became interested in visual arts.
Epsten also supports the Academy for Integrated Arts (AFIA), a Kansas City, Missouri, charter school for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, started by Lynne Brown five years ago. According to the school website, its mission is to use the arts to prepare students for an admissions-based college preparatory secondary school. The arts serve as a catalyst for learning, achievement, curiosity and self-esteem.
“The concept, I think, is terrific,” Epsten said.
AFIA Board President Brown said Epsten has not only supported them monetarily, he also visited the school and talked to children about Chanukah and being Jewish.
“He was fabulous; the kids really responded to his personality. Not only did he have the subject matter, but he talked about what it is to be kind and thinking of others,” she said.
Epsten said over the years he and Jackee acquired close to 100 pieces of art — paintings, sculptures, glass, ceramics, metal, wood. But he doesn’t like to say he “collects” art.
“My wife and I bought things that we liked, never with the idea of it enhancing in value, although we do have some pieces that have enhanced in value,” he said. Both their tastes leaned toward modern art.
Epsten said he sees a renaissance and emergence of both visual and performing arts in Kansas City with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the ballet, the symphony, Kansas City Lyric Theatre. “It’s nice to be a part of that.”
“Whatever I can do for the advancement of arts, I am
pleased,” he said. “I like to think that when people talk
about Kansas City, they mention that we have a great
arts community. It’s becoming more so and being
recognized especially around the rest of the country.”
After 61 years in the family business, Epsten retired in 2013 as CEO of Major Brands of Missouri, a wholesaler of liquor, wine and beer. He is on the board of The New Reform Temple and a member of Congregation Beth Torah.
ArtsKC Inspiration Breakfast
ArtsKC — Regional Arts Council will hold its sixth annual Inspiration Breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, on the enclosed stage at Starlight Theatre.
The breakfast is free to attend, but it is a fundraiser and guests will be encouraged to make a donation in support of the mission of ArtsKC. Guest speaker will be textile artist Debbie Barrett-Jones about her use of fiber arts as healing.
Contact Godfrey Riddle at to RSVP or with questions.{/mprestriction}
