For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (c)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org

DES MOINES, IOWA (September 2024) – The Des Moines Art Center has received a $20,000 Cultural Leadership Partners Program Operating Support Grant. Support for this grant is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).

This grant will help the Des Moines Art Center sustain free admission to its world-class collections and an exciting line-up of new exhibitions featuring highly acclaimed artists from across the nation and the world. In addition, this grant will support the growth of the Art Center’s Community Access Program, which partners with 32 local non-profits to provide 695 free workshops each year to more than 2,000 individuals facing social, cultural, economic, and physical barriers, including veterans, refugees, and people with disabilities.

The Cultural Leadership Partners Grant is one of seven arts-focused grant programs offered by IEDA and administered by the Iowa Arts Council. In total, IEDA approved 173 awards to Iowa organizations and Iowans in more than 60 communities from these grant programs. Projects awarded funding range from arts and cultural festivals and live theatre performances to exhibitions, film productions, and community public art projects.

“Arts and culture are integral to economic vitality,” said IEDA Director Debi Durham. “They not only drive growth within our communities but also enhance the quality of life, making our state a more attractive destination for both visitors and new residents.”

“As one of the largest cultural institutions in Iowa and in Greater Des Moines, both in visitors and employment, the Des Moines Art Center is an important economic driver in the community. We are also proud to be one of the few cultural organizations in Des Moines and one of the few art museums in the country to offer free admission to our galleries, events, and programs,” said Dr. Kelly Baum, John and Mary Pappajohn Director. “We are grateful for the support of our partners as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which is instrumental to maintaining free admission for our community”

For additional information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515-271-0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.

About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited (American Association of Museums) institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier—incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th and 21st century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental art for which the Art Center cares is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity.

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