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

DES MOINES, IOWA (May 1, 2026) – The Des Moines Art Center has received an Arts & Cultural Grant from Nationwide Foundation to support keeping admission for approximately 300,000 visitors free-of-charge to its museum galleries, public programs, and Pappajohn Sculpture Park in 2026.

“Thanks to Nationwide Foundation’s support, the Art Center remains one of the only free cultural amenities in the Greater Des Moines region and one of the few free art museums in the country. By removing financial barriers, we ensure that everyone can engage with world-class art and connect with others—from a child on their first museum visit to a retiree attending a free artist lecture. This commitment to accessibility is a core value we uphold every day. Support from donors like Nationwide Foundation make it possible for us to offer free admission without compromising quality or access and ensure the Art Center remains a welcoming and inspiring space for all visitors,” said Dr. Kelly Baum, John and Mary Pappajohn Director and Chief Operating Officer.

In 2026, with support from this grant, the Art Center will debut nine new exhibitions featuring artists from around the world, the United States, and Iowa. Each exhibition will include free public programming, such as artist lectures, gallery talks, and hands-on workshops.

The Art Center will also offer free school tours for K-12 students, including all fourth graders in local districts, and partner with Central Iowa nonprofits through its Community Access Program to provide free artmaking workshops. Additional community offerings will include annual events such as Day of the Dead and Entirely Kids Day, as well as a new monthly “Social Saturdays” program featuring themed activities throughout the museum and studios.

About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited (American Alliance of Museums) institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes around 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.

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