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UID:14849-1794654000-1794664800@desmoinesartcenter.org
SUMMARY:Social Saturday: Friendsgiving
DESCRIPTION:Join the Des Moines Art Center’s November Social Saturday event: Friendsgiving! Enjoy crafts in the Art School studios\, a scavenger hunt\, a guided tour\, storytime\, treats in the Art Center Café\, and so much more. \nSchedule of Events:\n11:15 – 11:30 am | Storytime (all ages)\nLevitt Auditorium\n12 – 2 pm | A Taste of ReelAbilities film screening\nThe ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the US dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives\, stories\, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. The 2026 Des Moines festival\, “A Taste of ReelAbilities\,” is a screening of recent short films. Learn more.  *Films later in the program are intended for adult audiences.\nLevitt Auditorium\n1 pm | Guided Tour (all ages)\nMeet in the Macomber Lobby \nDrop-in Activities (11 am – 2 pm):\nMuseum Galleries \n\nShow your art appreciation! Grab paper leaves in the lobby and place one in front of a work of art or something in the museum you are grateful for.\nFind the Social Saturday interactive Art Cart in the galleries.\nComplete a scavenger hunt in the galleries and return your findings to the front desk for a small prize.\n\n\nMacomber Lobby \n\nTeaching artists and students from the Art Center’s Community Access Program will have artwork on display and showcasing CAP programs and offerings.\nGrab a complimentary pie-themed cookie in the lobby – pumpkin or cranberry flavors available.\nEnjoy the Art Center’s Paint-n-Play station.\n\n\nArt School Studios \n\nExplore creativity and your inner artist! Enjoy unique Social Saturday: Friendsgiving art activities in the Art School\, organized this month by the Art Center’s Community Access Program\, Beads of Belonging – identity friendship bracelets and A Place for Everyone – community paper quilts.\nEasterseals will be demonstrating adaptive tools in the studios.\n\nArt Center Café\n \n\nStop by for a sit-down lunch\, a delicious pastry\, and a full coffee and tea menu. Art Center members receive a  10% discount in the café.\n\nMuseum Shop \n\nBrowse the Museum Shop to find gifts and souvenirs. Art Center members receive a  10% discount in the Museum Shop. Be sure to check out the clearance section and the $10 and under table!\n\nSee our special exhibitions! \n\n“Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way: Contemporary Latinx Painting” (Anna K. Meredith Gallery)\n“Elle Pérez: La Despedida” (A. H. Blank Gallery)\n“Artists on Fire” (John Brady Print Gallery)\n“Valentin Noujaïm: La Défense” (Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Gallery)\n\nSocial Saturdays occur at the Des Moines Art Center on the second Saturday of the month. This event is free to attend\, and no registration is required. Social Saturdays will be documented with photography. \nFor programs in Levitt Auditorium:\nWe strive to provide live captioning for all events offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa\, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org. \nGenerous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program. \n \nSupport is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council\, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority. \n   
URL:https://desmoinesartcenter.org/event/social-saturday-friendsgiving/
LOCATION:Des Moines Art Center\, 4700 Grand Ave\, Des Moines\, IA\, 50312\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events and Programs
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261114T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261114T140000
DTSTAMP:20261026T211443
CREATED:20261013T172010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261019T161902Z
UID:15036-1794654000-1794664800@desmoinesartcenter.org
SUMMARY:Celebrating Community Access Programming
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate 26 years of the Des Moines Art Center’s Community Access Program (CAP)! In conjunction with Social Saturday: Friendsgiving on November 14\, we’re celebrating with an exhibition featuring the works of our talented teaching artists who make these programs possible. See their work on view in the Macomber Lobby during Social Saturday. Artworks will also be on display throughout the month of November (November 10 – 30\, 2026) in the Adrienne and Charles Herbert Galleries\, Education Wing. \nCAP is proud to partner with more than 40 local non-profit organizations to provide free artmaking opportunities for children and adults who face one or more barriers to the arts. Through accessible art experiences\, CAP fosters self-expression\, confidence\, connection\, and well-being. \nCommunity Access Programming presenting sponsor: Charlotte and Fred Hubbell\nAdditional support provided by: Corteva Agriscience\, David J. Noble Foundation\, HyVee\, Lincoln Savings Bank Foundation\, Meier Bernstein Foundation\, \, Polk County Board of Supervisors\, Prairie Meadows\, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa\, Voya Financial. \nFree; no registration required.
URL:https://desmoinesartcenter.org/event/celebrating-community-access-programming/
LOCATION:Des Moines Art Center\, 4700 Grand Ave\, Des Moines\, IA\, 50312\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events and Programs
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261114T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261114T140000
DTSTAMP:20261026T211443
CREATED:20260923T171445Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T195630Z
UID:14935-1794657600-1794664800@desmoinesartcenter.org
SUMMARY:A Taste of ReelAbilities
DESCRIPTION:The ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the US dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives\, stories\, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. Founded in New York City in 2007\, the festival presents international and award-winning films by and about people with disabilities in multiple locations throughout each hosting city. The 2026 Des Moines festival\, “A Taste of ReelAbilities\,” is a screening of recent short films during the Art Center’s November Social Saturday: Friendsgiving. All films will provide open captions and have audio description capabilities. \nGenerous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.\n \nFree; no registration required. \nScreening Information:\nFilm: A Morning with Aroha\, 2021\nDirector: Nicholas Rini\nRun Time: 11 minutes\nDescription: Aroha\, an imaginative young girl with Down syndrome\, sets out to share her creativity with her neighbors. \nFilm: Key of Genius\, 2026\nDirector: Daniel Persitz\nRun Time: 12 minutes\nDescription: Based on the extraordinary true story of Derek Paravicini\, a blind\, autistic musical prodigy\, KEY OF GENIUS follows the bond between Derek and his dedicated piano teacher. Through patience\, intuition\, and unwavering belief\, Derek’s hidden potential is unlocked\, revealing the transformative power of music and mentorship. This film celebrates talent\, perseverance\, and the ways people with disabilities can flourish when given opportunity and understanding. Audiences are invited into a journey of inspiration\, emotional depth\, and triumph\, witnessing a remarkable story of human connection\, creativity\, and the extraordinary capabilities that lie within those societies often underestimated. \n*The following films are intended for adult audiences. \nFilm: Boys\, 2026\nDirector: Olive Bilic\nRun Time: 7 minutes\nDescription: Overwhelmed by the chaos of class\, neurodiverse teenager Jacob seeks refuge in an empty locker room\, only to face an unexpected confrontation. Created in collaboration with Bus Stop Films participants in Melbourne\, BOYS highlights the emotional and social challenges faced by neurodiverse youth. Through authentic performances and an intimate lens\, the film portrays the tension\, vulnerability\, and resilience of its characters\, exploring the fine line between isolation and connection. BOYS is both a poignant and engaging narrative\, offering insight into neurodiverse experiences while emphasizing the universal desire for understanding\, acceptance\, and human connection. \nFilm: Little Monsters\, 2026\nDirector: Pablo Leridon\nRun Time: 14 minutes\nDescription: A visually impaired teen navigates first love while sharing a transport van with a wheelchair-bound classmate. LITTLE MONSTERS blends humor and heart\, showcasing adolescence\, rivalry\, and inclusive friendship. \nFilm: Bad Survivor\, 2026\nDirector: Alex Dvorak and Katie North\nRun Time: 11 minutes\nDescription: After being “broken up with” by her oncologists\, a sarcastic young cancer patient begins her first day in remission\, navigating the challenges of returning home. With humor and biting honesty\, she confronts her family dynamics\, cultural expectations\, and the lingering trauma of treatment. BAD SURVIVOR balances comedy and pathos\, portraying survival not as a singular triumph but as a process filled with awkward moments\, personal reflection\, and familial tension. Audiences are drawn into an intimate portrait of post-cancer life\, where resilience\, wit\, and emotional vulnerability coexist\, redefining what it means to move forward after illness. \nFilm: Don’t Take this the Wrong Way\, 2026\nDirector: Rachel Handler and Crystal Arnette\nRun Time: 7 minutes\nDescription: Darcy\, beaten down by microaggressions and a recent breakup\, begins to unravel emotionally. DON’T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY presents a raw exploration of personal vulnerability\, societal pressures\, and coping with isolation. The short captures moments of introspection\, tension\, and resilience\, offering audiences an intimate glimpse into the lived experience of an amputee navigating social and emotional challenges. Through concise storytelling and authentic performances\, the film conveys the complexity of identity\, self-esteem\, and the subtle ways everyday interactions can shape one’s emotional landscape. \nFilm: Misfit\, 2026\nDirector: Tristan Zerbib\nRun Time: 13 minutes\nDescription: In a world where disability is the norm\, wheelchair-ball dominates the sports scene. A player is thrown off balance when forced to train with a ‘valid’ athlete\, challenging her expectations and assumptions. MISFIT turns conventional sports narratives upside down\, celebrating empowerment\, inclusion\, and the unpredictability of competition. Through fast-paced action and engaging character work\, the film explores societal perceptions of ability and the courage required to embrace difference. MISFIT is a bold\, energetic story that champions physical resilience\, adaptability\, and teamwork while entertaining audiences with humor\, tension\, and the triumph of spirit. \nFilm: Rearranged\, 2025\nDirector: Liz Whitmere\nRun Time: 12 minutes\nDescription: Set within the intimate confines of a hospice\, REARRANGED explores how irritation\, vulnerability\, and humor can unexpectedly give way to human connection. Led by blind actor Bruce Horak\, the film challenges assumptions about care\, agency\, and intimacy\, revealing how small disruptions can reshape relationships. \nFilm: Them That’s Not\, 2025\nDirector: Mekhai Lee\nRun Time: 19 minutes\nDescription: Andrea “Drea” Stoney\, a Deaf poet\, attends her grandmother’s repass and navigates a family that doesn’t understand ASL. Complicating matters\, her father is temporarily released from prison for the day\, forcing Drea to reconcile with him amid grief. THEM THAT’S NOT explores identity\, communication\, and familial tension\, highlighting the challenges Deaf individuals face within hearing-centered spaces. Through introspection\, subtle humor\, and emotional honesty\, the film portrays the resilience required to carve personal space and connection\, offering audiences insight into Deaf culture\, intergenerational dynamics\, and the quiet power of language\, love\, and understanding. \nWe strive to provide closed captioning for all events and programs offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa\, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org at least two weeks in advance. We will try to accommodate requests with less than a two week notice but cannot guarantee availability.
URL:https://desmoinesartcenter.org/event/reelabilities-2026/
LOCATION:Levitt Auditorium\, 4700 Grand Ave\, Des Moines\, IA\, 50312\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events and Programs
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