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
System set up to ‘suck the life’ out of formerly incarcerated people takes a hit with new microloan deal
A recently announced agreement is expected to help returning citizens break a cycle of struggle that’s historically been reinforced by a criminal justice system advocates say is set up to make them fail, said Kyle J. Benson-Smith. The Kansas City District SBA Office and two local nonprofit organizations held a public signing ceremony Wednesday afternoon…
Is Wichita the next tech hotspot? Startup week organizer says pieces are falling into place
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which leads a collaborative, nationwide effort to identify and remove large and small barriers to new business creation. After…
‘You Belong Here’: Add these 10 GEW events to your calendar (then keep clicking)
Global Entrepreneurship Week is returning to Kansas City in November with the ability for attendees to build their own week-long schedules from more than 150 planned virtual and in-person sessions. With a theme focused on inclusion, the wide-ranging options offer resources and insight for solopreneurs and small business to scaling startups — regardless of geography.…
West Coast accelerator for women taps second wave of Kansas City tech founder talent
Kansas City is in the pipeline now, as the FourthWave Accelerator for women in tech recently selected a local founder for its cohort for the second consecutive year. After her own valuable experience with the accelerator in 2021, Carlanda McKinney, founder of Bodify, encouraged her fellow Pipeline fellow Terri Foudray, founder and CEO of ConvIOT,…
