For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (c)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
Prairie Meadows Donates $50,000 to the Des Moines Art Center
Community Betterment Grants help fund School Tours and Community Access Programs
DES MOINES, IOWA (September 2026) – Prairie Meadows recently awarded the Des Moines Art Center two Community Betterment Grants totaling $50,000 to help fund school tours and Community Access Programs.
“We are incredibly grateful for Prairie Meadows’ commitment to our community. Their support through the Community Betterment Grant program allows us to offer meaningful art experiences to learners of all ages—from school children exploring the museum through guided tours to veterans engaging in creative artmaking workshops in our Community Access Program. By keeping these programs free of charge, these grants make it possible for participants to access opportunities that inspire growth, strengthen confidence, and build lasting connections across Central Iowa,” says Dr. Kelly Baum, John and Mary Pappajohn Director and Chief Executive Officer at the Art Center.
School Tours Program
The Art Center’s school tours program offers more than 10,000 elementary, middle, and high students across Central Iowa meaningful art experiences that foster creative thinking, collaboration, and meaningful connections through art. As the Art Center’s longest running educational program, school tours serve as a vital resource for teachers to support classroom curriculum. For many students, these tours represent their first visit to an art museum—often sparking a lifelong interest in the visual arts. In the 2026-2027 school year, grant funding will ensure that all fourth-grade students in Des Moines, Indianola, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines Public Schools receive free bussing to the Art Center to participate in these tours, providing access for those who might otherwise be unable to participate. All tours are provided free of charge for students and their school districts.
Community Art Access Program
Through its Community Access Program (CAP), the Des Moines Art Center partners with local organizations to provide free art classes for Polk County residents facing social, cultural, economic, or physical barriers to access. Working with nearly 40 schools, nonprofits, and social service agencies, including Veteran Affairs, this program delivers approximately 500 community-based artmaking workshops to more than 2,600 youth and adults. It extends the benefits of arts learning and engagement beyond the walls of the museum to neighborhoods, community centers, and partner sites throughout Polk County. Offered year-round at no cost to participants, CAP workshops foster creativity, communication, collaboration, and self-confidence. Grant funding will help support transportation, art supplies, and contract teaching artist fees, ensuring access to these opportunities at no cost to participants.
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 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. In 2025, as part of its strategic plan, the Art Center adopted the values of equity, respect, integrity, continuous reflection, and collaboration.
About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given more than $2.3 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.
###