Dr. Don Wilson was the principal at Shawnee Mission North High School in 1978, and he had a question: If there were special facilities for sports teams – stadiums, courts, pools, and a theater for drama students, why couldn’t there be a space for artists to show their work?

Greg Brantman, the ceramics, jewelry and sculpture teacher, who later became the head of the Arts Department, created a vision of the space and, Meg Cross, a talented community volunteer, made the space a reality. Mrs. Cross enlisted the support of over 400 patrons, including the Governor of Kansas, Muriel Kauffmann, J.E. Dunn Construction, J.C. Nichols Company and United Telecommunications (Sprint), who donated time, money and expertise to create the Patrons Gallery.

The Patrons Gallery still serves SM North students and the Kansas City community. Professional artists show in the gallery each year and work alongside students in their classrooms. In 2021-2022, the space was refurbished inside and a glass front wall was added so the artwork could be seen. In 2025, the Greg Brantman Art Scholarship was created for graduating SM North students who show talent in art. We have purchased over 50 art works from students to form a permanent collection. Over 30 students have received scholarships for summer art enrichment classes at the KC Art Institute. We have funded student trips to see exhibits at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and other galleries in the city.

We are proud to continue to support the artistic growth of SM North art students.