Laura Spencer

News and Arts Reporter

Laura Spencer caught the radio bug more than a decade ago when she was asked to read a newscast on the air on her first day volunteering for KOOP, the community radio station in Austin, Texas. 

After moving home to Kansas City, she learned the fine art of editing reel-to-reel tape as an intern and graduate assistant with the nationally syndicated literary program New Letters on the Air. Since 2001, she's focused her efforts on writing and producing feature stories as KCUR's Arts Reporter. 

In 2011, Laura was one of 21 journalists selected for USC Annenberg’s seventh National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater. She's received awards from the Associated Press, Kansas City Art Institute (Excellence in Visual Art and Education), Kansas City Association of Black Journalists, Missouri Broadcasters Association, Radio-Television News Directors Association (regional Edward R. Murrow Award) and Society for Professional Journalists. 

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Visual Arts
6:00 am
Fri May 17, 2013

A Final Opening At The Dolphin

It was only fitting that one of the pioneers of the Crossroads Arts District would announce on a First Friday, May 3, that after two decades, his gallery would close. John O’Brien moved the Dolphin from the Crossroads to the West Bottoms five years ago. But now he says it’s time for something new.

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Visual Arts
12:00 pm
Wed May 15, 2013

Sculptural Pots With A Bit Of Glitter

The first floor galleries at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art are filled with glass display cases. Inside: the glittering black ceramics of Navajo artist Christine Nofchissey McHorse. Her abstract works bridge modern sculpture and traditional Southwestern pottery.

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Visual Arts
5:58 pm
Mon May 13, 2013

New President And CEO For The National World War I Museum

Credit courtesy National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial
New President and CEO, Matthew C. Naylor, PhD.

The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial on Monday announced Matthew C. Naylor, PhD, a native of Australia, as its new President and CEO.

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Visual Arts
1:49 pm
Fri May 10, 2013

Collector And Gallerist Byron Cohen Dies At 72

Credit Laura Spencer / KCUR
Byron Cohen, in front of one of Deng Wushu's works, at the Byron C. Cohen Gallery, 2009.

Kansas City gallery owner, art consultant and collector Byron C. Cohen died Friday morning. He was 72.

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Film
4:15 pm
Thu May 9, 2013

SAG-AFTRA Closes Kansas City Office

The labor union representing film, television and radio actors, announcers, and newscasters plans to close its Kansas City office.

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Visual Arts
10:27 am
Wed May 8, 2013

Toy And Miniature Museum Reveals Future Plans

Credit flickr user dianecordell
Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City

Over the last decade, it's estimated nearly 30 toy and doll museums closed across the United States. The Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City provided an update yesterday on its capital campaign to sustain the museum and its collection.

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Visual Arts
8:51 am
Fri May 3, 2013

Dolphin Closes In The West Bottoms, 'Body Blow' To Art World

Dolphin Gallery's John O'Brien had hinted about a change for months. But, now, it's official. Dolphin, the exhibition space and framing business in the West Bottoms, will close after its last show (slated to open May 17).

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Dance
5:00 am
Fri May 3, 2013

Unexpected Combinations In Karole Armitage's 'Energy Made Visible'

Choreographer Karole Armitage, a native of Lawrence, Kan. says artist Jackson Pollock can be viewed as "a metaphor for the creative process"; his lines of dripped and poured paint are like a dance. Kansas City Ballet concludes its season with a world premiere by Armitage, exploring the intersection between art, jazz, and dance.

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Visual Arts
5:27 pm
Wed May 1, 2013

Kemper Founders Step Down From Museum Board

The founders of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art are stepping down from museum leadership.

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Books
12:21 pm
Wed May 1, 2013

A New Poet Laureate For Kansas

Credit Terry Weckbaugh
Poet Wyatt Townley

Wyatt Townley, a fourth-generation Kansan, has been named the new Poet Laureate of Kansas for 2013-2015.

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Performance
4:32 pm
Tue April 30, 2013

'A Christmas Story, The Musical' Gets Tony Nod

Credit Don Ipock / Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Actor John Bolton originated the role of The Old Man in the Rep's 2009 production and also appears on Broadway.

"A Christmas Story, the Musical" received three Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical. The work had its world premiere at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre in 2009.

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Books
3:33 pm
Wed April 24, 2013

Two Area Libraries Receive National Recognition

The John Cotton Dana Award is considered one of the most prestigious in the library marketing and public relations field.  Out of eight winners this year, two area libraries - Lawrence Public Library and Mid-Continent Public Library - were recognized.

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Music Stories
9:17 am
Wed April 24, 2013

A New CD For The Grisly Hand

Credit Paul Andrews Photography (http://www.paulandrewsphotography.com/)
The Grisly Hand

This weekend marks the release of Country Singles, the first full-length album for The Grisly Hand. The band played their first shows in Kansas City about four years ago and mixes country, soul, blues, folk, rock and pop.

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Music Stories
11:18 am
Thu April 18, 2013

Public Enemy 'Bomb Squad' Producer Studies Music At UMKC

The induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame took place Thursday, April 18, in Los Angeles. Some of this year’s inductees included Heart, Randy Newman, Rush and Public Enemy.

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Performance
12:01 am
Fri April 12, 2013

After 26 Years, American Heartland Theatre Goes Dark In August

The American Heartland Theatre's executive director, Lilli Zarda, and director of production, Paul Hough. The theatre goes dark at the end of the season.

It was an unexpected announcement on April 4 that the American Heartland Theatre on the 3rd level of Crown Center would close after 26 years.

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