Kansas Music Cities Together is a working cohort designed to support communities at different stages of music ecosystem development. Communities do not need a formal music plan, dedicated funding, or an existing music office to participate. What matters most is having the right mix of local leadership, cross-sector engagement, and coordination capacity to turn shared learning into action.

What We’ve Learned About Healthy Music Communities

Decades of research and on-the-ground experience show that strong music communities share a few common ingredients:

• Active music creators and venues, supported by local audiences

• Clear points of connection to local decision-making, so music is understood as part of economic development, quality of life, and place

• Trusted leadership inside the music community, not just one organization doing everything

• Partnerships beyond music, including education, workforce, tourism, and civic institutions

• Consistent coordination, even when funding or staffing is limited

Kansas Music Cities Together is designed to help communities strengthen these ingredients over time.