The Des Moines Art Center is happy to announce expanded evening hours. Beginning Friday, November 12, museum hours will be extended to 7 pm each Friday. This increased accessibility has been made possible by a generous grant from the Principal® Foundation.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.612.0775 (m)
E-mail: aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
DES MOINES, IA (November 2021) The Des Moines Art Center is happy to announce expanded evening hours! Beginning Friday, November 12, museum hours will be extended to 7:00 pm each Friday. These expanded hours directly support the Art Center’s mission and strategic plan to provide additional opportunities for art experiences among the community. This increased accessibility has been made possible by a generous grant from the Principal® Foundation.
“Principal Foundation is thrilled to support longer hours at the Art Center. Expanding access to social and cultural institutions like the Art Center enrich our community, strengthen the social ties that bind us, and create opportunities for one to be awestruck, inspired and refreshed,” said Jo Christine Miles, Director, Principal® Foundation.
In addition to more than 200 artworks currently on view, the Art Center will be kicking off newly expanded hours with additional programming called Art Center+. Art Center+ provides unique and creative ways to enjoy and engage the museum including live performances, hands-on activities, conversations about art, and one-of-a-kind experiences.
The first Art Center+ event on November 12 will feature a performance by acoustic guitarist Brian Congdon along with a cash bar and complimentary snacks provided by Tangerine. In addition, guests may partake in a docent led tour at 5:30 pm.
Future Friday Art Center+ events for the season include:
- November 12: Performance by acoustic guitarist Brian Congdon
- November 19: Mini professional photo shoots with Justin Favela: Central American as the colorful backdrop- just in time for greeting cards
- November 26: Hand-lettered gift tags and cookies available from Oh Hey Magpie, and holiday shopping with Museum Shop discounts
- December 3: Vocal performance by the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus
- December 10: Pie Bird Pies pop up and a gallery tour with curator Laura Burkhalter
- December 17: Musical melodies by pianist Sophia S. Ahmad and faculty from Mobile Music Lessons along with colorful snowflake snipping for the whole family
Watch for programming dates and details to be announced in the coming weeks. Updates will be shared on the Art Center’s website at desmoinesartcenter.org and on social media channels.
For further information, please contact Director of External Affairs Amy Day at 515.612.0775 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.
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About the Des Moines Art Center + John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Recognized by international art critics as a world-class museum in the heart of the Midwest, the Des Moines Art Center, an AAM-accredited institution, has amassed an important collection of art from the 19th century to the present, with a major emphasis on contemporary art. Focused on quality and global in scope, it includes major works by Henry Ossawa Tanner, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Francis Bacon, Andy Goldsworthy, Henri Matisse, Wangechi Mutu, Ai Wei Wei and Kara Walker, among hundreds of others. The collection is housed in three major buildings, each designed by a renowned architect—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei and Richard Meier. With the exception of special events, admission to the museum is free.
In September 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park opened in Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park. Philanthropists John and Mary Pappajohn provided funding for and donated 31 sculptures by internationally acclaimed contemporary artists to the Des Moines Art Center. The collection of sculptures by such artists as Martin Puryear, Louise Bourgeois, Deborah Butterfield, Willem de Kooning, Mark di Suvero, Olafur Eliasson, Keith Haring, Robert Indiana, Ellsworth Kelly, Yayoi Kusama, Jaume Plensa, Richard Serra and Joel Shapiro is the most significant donation of artwork to the Art Center in a single gift in the museum’s history. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a collaboration of the Pappajohns, the City of Des Moines, the Des Moines Art Center and numerous corporate and private donors.
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