Home "Harlan's class has given children who find academic work difficult a chance to shine. It has really built up their self-confidence and self-esteem."
- Patricia Thomas, Teacher
P.S.1 Elementary, Kansas City, MO
Harlan Brownlee
Harlan Brownlee understands the transformational power that the arts have to improve the quality of life for individuals and the community. He possesses a passion for the arts guided by a disciplined approach to change. Brownlee has worked for thirty-five years in the arts education field as a performing artist, teaching artist, and arts administrator. He was the Chief Executive Officer for the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) from 2015 to 2018. KCFAA teaches young people critical life skills through dance, and models interracial and multi-cultural community partnerships. From 2009 to 2015, he led ArtsKC - Regional Arts Council as the President and CEO, developing community partnerships dedicated to insuring access to the arts and cultural development for the region. From 2005 to 2009, he served as the Executive Director for Kansas City Young Audiences, a non-profit dedicated to engaging all youth in the arts, promoting creativity, and inspiring success in education.
Mr. Brownlee is on the Kennedy Center’s National touring roster for the Partners in Education program and Changing Education through the Arts. He has conducted master classes, workshops and residencies extensively in the Midwest and throughout the United States. In 2019, he was awarded a Young Audiences National Residency Teaching Artist Credential and is a yearly presenter for Project Lead the Way’s National Conferences 2018-2020. Harlan has designed and implemented hundreds of lesson plans over 35 years instructing a weekly class at Community School #1 that integrates dance and movement into the general curriculum with an emphasis on the subject areas of science and literacy. Harlan has been an adjunct professor for Rockhurst University’s School of Education and the University of Missouri – Kansas City’s School of Education. Harlan served as a consultant for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and as a member of the Fine Arts Task Force.
Mr. Brownlee received his B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he was educated as a dancer and choreographer. His performance background includes work for thirteen years as one of the Artistic Co-Directors with City in Motion Dance Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Brownlee received his M.A. in Educational Research and Psychology from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.
He currently serves on the Credentialing and Professional Development Committees for the National Young Audiences – Arts for Learning Network. He has served on the NP Connect and Community School #1 boards as well as the Regional Vice-President for the Missouri Citizens for the Arts (MCA) and the Past-President of the Missouri Dance Educators Organization (MDEO). Past board service also includes he Missouri Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE), and a past Associate Editor for the Teaching Artist Journal.
Harlan’s wife is Linda Putthoff, owner of Plaza Wellspring. Together they share their passion for dance having met first at City in Motion Dance Theater. They reside in Kansas City, Missouri and have two daughters and one son, Samantha, Chris, and Amber, and two grandchildren Vincent and Donna.
Phone: (816) 935-1490
Copyright S. Harlan Brownlee: No copying or other reproduction of this work allowed without the express written permission of the author, ©2014-2019
