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

DES MOINES, IOWA (October 2026) – Principal® Foundation, a global nonprofit organization committed to helping people and communities build financially secure futures, has renewed its commitment to the Des Moines Art Center through a new grant to support free admission and the My Voice program.

The Des Moines Art Center provides free access to art and learning opportunities for nearly 250,000 youth and adults each year through its museum, art school, and nationally celebrated sculpture park. Free admission has been central to its mission since its founding in 1948, ensuring that every visitor can experience a world-class art collection, exhibitions, and educational programs at no cost. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Art Center is one of the largest museums in the state and among the few nationwide to offer free admission. Each year, more than 9,000 K-12 students participate in free student tours, and more than 40 schools, nonprofits, and social agencies engage in free artmaking workshops through the Art Center’s long-standing Community Access Program.

The My Voice program provides mentorship, arts education, and recognition for students from Des Moines Public Schools—Findley Elementary, Harding Middle, and North High—who are interested in the arts. Guided by Art Center staff, students study works from the museum’s collection and create original pieces inspired by what they learn. Their achievements are seen in a public exhibition at the end of the program. Through hands-on artmaking, mentorship, and public recognition, students build essential communication and self-advocacy skills that support their success in school, work, and life.

“At the Art Center, we believe that cost should never stand between people and the transformative power of art. Ensuring creativity and learning are accessible is central to our mission. Principal® Foundation’s generous support ensures that our museum—and youth programs like My Voice—remain welcoming and free, allowing visitors of all ages to dream, explore, and connect through art,” said Dr. Kelly Baum, John and Mary Pappajohn Director and CEO of the Art Center. “Principal® Foundation’s partnership strengthens everything we do, from offering a world-class collection and acclaimed exhibitions to providing hands-on mentorship and creative opportunities for young people. At a time when only about 40 percent of art museums nationwide offer free general admission, their commitment truly expands access for our entire community.”

“Principal® Foundation supports programs that connect people with new ideas, experiences, and relationships that build confidence and illuminate opportunities,” said Jo Christine Miles, director of Principal® Foundation and Community Relations. “Through our collaboration with the Des Moines Art Center, we are helping ensure that art remains accessible to everyone while creating spaces where young people can find their voice and see new possibilities for their future.”

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. In 2025, as part of its strategic plan, the Art Center adopted the values of equity, respect, integrity, continuous reflection, and collaboration.

About Principal® Foundation
Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal® Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so. – 5976853-092026

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