Saturday MRKT invites creatives, makers to vibe in a space with vintage grocery store feel
November 14, 2019 | Anna Turnbull
A crossroads for creative collisions is planned this weekend amid a celebration of street/pop culture, said Justin Ikerionwu.
What is Saturday MRKT?
Saturday MRKT is a concept that combines the world of creative experiences and creative knowledge to allow entrepreneurs, creatives, and young professionals to thrive in community. With the need to celebrate the vast and diverse culture, that is “street/pop culture,” Saturday MRKT is a pop-up exhibition and festival that brings the culture of By Design to the forefront.
“[We want to] bring together the different members of the creative and entrepreneur community and through … conversations and overall just a great vibe, they can interact and form future collaborations,” said Ikerionwu, organizer of the Nov. 16 Saturday MRKT at Union in the Crossroads Arts District.
It’s a cant-miss gather that blends artistic knowledge and entertainment, he added.
Click here for tickets to the 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Nov. 16 event.
“You can enjoy yourself, you can meet other creative people and you can see some interesting installations,” said Ikerionwu, who also is co-founder and editor-in-chief of By Design, a print and digital publication that focuses on enriching the lifestyles of creatives.
Saturday MRKT itself is an artistic presentation of sorts, he added.
“As soon as you walk in you will see a space set up to look like a vintage grocery store,” Ikerionwu said. “We always want Saturday MRKT to feel like it’s a place where you can get what you need [similar to a market] and take away something that will benefit you in the long run.”
A unique feature: “The Deli” where live interviews will take place with six creators that are in different fields and industries, he noted.
“We want guests to feel like they can not only learn through the experiences, get questions answered, but also interact with potential clients, customers or stakeholders to help their business move forward,” Ikerionwu said. “I think that as you walk in the inspiration of all the people and the creative energy of the people in attendance … It will touch you. I’m really excited to see the reaction of the attendants.”
Click here to learn more about By Design magazine.
This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.
For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn

2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Digital health startup aims to save medical providers time while bringing down cost of AI tech
CarePilot is on a mission to bring AI and automation to smaller medical clinics that don’t always have access to cutting-edge technology, shared founder and CEO Joseph Tutera. The Overland Park-based startup’s ambient AI technology — designed to help those smaller practices operate more efficiently — captures patient-provider interactions in real time, automating administrative tasks…
Street art to stage: KC fashion designer styles iconic Jim Crow-era musical comedy without missing a beat
Designing for theater gives Whitney Manney the opportunity to be as big and loud as she wants, the street bespoke creator said. A new musical production of “Hairspray” puts Manney’s bold aesthetic through a new lens — and alongside a timely story of acceptance, diversity, and the power of music. “There is no such thing…
New in KC: Ops leader joins KCSourceLink to strengthen network’s collective impact for entrepreneurs
A newly created director of operations role at KCSourceLink is expected to boost efforts to connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with hundreds of resources for growing and scaling their ventures in Kansas City, as well as across the state through MOSourceLink. Dena Thomas Aouassou, a veteran of nonprofit entrepreneurship support and workforce training, recently relocated…
