Sight guide · Kansas City · United States
Visiting Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
A small, free contemporary museum beside the Kansas City Art Institute, with a permanent collection of modern and contemporary art and a steady programme of changing exhibitions.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Charvex, Public domain
Quick answer
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is a gallery in Country Club Plaza, Kansas City. Allow 1 hour; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Gallery
- Area
- Country Club Plaza
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- art, free, rainy day and off the beaten path
- Best months
- April–June
About Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
A small, free contemporary museum beside the Kansas City Art Institute, with a permanent collection of modern and contemporary art and a steady programme of changing exhibitions. Louise Bourgeois's giant bronze spider sculpture stands outside the entrance.
Tip: It is a ten-minute walk from the Nelson-Atkins; do both in one art-focused afternoon.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Country Club Plaza, spanish-style towers, fountains and outdoor shopping streets built in the 1920s.
Best time to visit Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- April: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- June: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Kansas City has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Kansas City itinerary visits Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art on day 2, together with Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Country Club Plaza and American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room.
- No. 11 of the 17 sights in our Kansas City things-to-do list.
- Listed in free things to do in Kansas City.
- One of the picks in museums in Kansas City.
- One of the picks in kansas City on a rainy day.
Near Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Also in Country Club Plaza, so you can walk between them:
- Country Club Plaza — 1–2 hours, free
- Loose Park and Rose Garden — 1 hour, free
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art — 2–3 hours, free
If you like Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
- American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room — 18th & Vine Jazz District, 1–2 hours, plus a show
- Crossroads First Fridays — Crossroads Arts District, 2–3 hours
Staying near Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Stay in Country Club Plaza ($$$) to walk here: spanish-style towers, fountains and outdoor shopping streets built in the 1920s. All areas to stay in Kansas City.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art?
Plan 1 hour. With Country Club Plaza nearby, it fits a half-day in Country Club Plaza.
+Is Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art?
April–June, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. It is a ten-minute walk from the Nelson-Atkins; do both in one art-focused afternoon.
+Do I need to book Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.