What’s all the activity on St. Francis and Emporia? There’s a two-part answer

If you’ve noticed lots of activity around Emporia and St. Francis between Naftzger Park and Wave — like tents, shipping containers and new murals — and wondered what’s going on, there’s a two-part answer.

The first can be explained now: It’s preparations for this weekend’s Elsewhere Fest & Conference, a two-day festival that starts Friday with music, art installations and a conference for people in the music industry.

The second part will be coming later this year at two buildings in the area.

One is the former Loony Bin space at 215 N. St. Francis, and the other is a building at 235 N. Emporia that’s perhaps best known for one of the early Tallgrass Film Festival parties.

When the Loony Bin closed last summer, the building sold to an undisclosed buyer.

It turns out the buyer was an entity related to Chase Koch, who also is the backer behind Midtopia, the nonprofit putting on Elsewhere Fest.

Midtopia debuted last year as a type of development program for musicians.

Jessie and Adam Hartke, who are owners in Wave, the Cotillion, D Tour and Hartke Presents, are working with Chase Koch to create an ecosystem in which musicians can not only thrive but use their art to make a living instead of having to have side jobs.

“There’s been a lot of gatekeeping within the music industry,” said Jessie Hartke, Midtopia CEO.

In addition to creating a fun festival for all Wichitans to enjoy, she said, “The goal is to bring a transformative experience for our community and to help remove barriers that musical artists and musical workers have historically come up against.”

The former Loony Bin space will have art installations in it and on it for the festival. Look for news later this year about Chase Koch’s permanent plans for the space.

At the building on Emporia, there will be rehearsal space for musicians.

The venue officially will open later this summer, but Hartke said she’s excited that it’s far enough along to activate the space for the festival.

Music in the space dates at least to an early Tallgrass party where Carrie Nation & the Speakeasy played in a speakeasy-type setting where a faux raid happened at the end of the evening and band members escaped from the stage while lugging their instruments, including a large upright bass one musician hoisted over his head as he fled.

Hartke said the venue will be leased and run by Midtopia.

“How many bands haven’t been able to get together and practice because of a lack of space?” she said.

Though music is a big focus for the festival, with everything from local to international acts performing, there’s also an emphasis on visual arts.

“It’s really an immersive experience to come to the festival,” Hartke said.

“All along the St. Francis corridor from Naftzger Park up to Wave, we are going to have visual art installations.”

There will be dance elements and projection mapping, with projectors illuminating visual experiences and light installations going up along the walls within Wave and by Naftzger Park.

The festival starts with the conference on Friday morning. Music begins at 5 p.m. and goes till midnight. There’s an after party at Barleycorn’s.

There will be food trucks and some free things to do.

“Anybody who wants to (can) come experience the music,” Hartke said.

Some of the music will be in venues that require tickets.

Midtopia is promoting the festival as genre-agnostic, meaning there will be all kinds of music, musicians and artists.

The nonprofit also is integrating social change organizations into the festival.

Look for more detailed information on the festival in Friday’s Go! section.

There is a range of prices for the festival and conference, but Hartke said it’s not about making money.

“Our return on investment with the festival is building community.”

Specifically, she said that’s about a creative community and pushing the culture forward.

Hartke said it’s the strong creative foundation Wichita already has that’s allowing such a big first-time festival to happen.

“That just speaks to the brilliance of the Wichita creative scene.”

She said that’s also what’s helping Midtopia and the Elsewhere Fest “to come together and really create a beautiful moment.”

Chase Koch is working on a larger project for downtown as well. Look for more news to come on that as soon as it’s available.

This story was originally published June 17, 2024 at 12:46 PM.