For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (m)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
DES MOINES, IOWA (August 2026) – Engage with art and community at the Des Moines Art Center’s Social Saturday event: Great Outdoors on September 12 from 11 am – 2 pm! Enjoy a day of free art activities for all ages, both inside the galleries and outdoors.
At the top of each hour, listen to a gallery talk about the Art Center’s newest acquisition to the collection, “nashoba holba / wayaha / coyote / they are witty and transform themselves in order to guide us,” (2025) by artist Jeffery Gibson. John and Mary Pappajohn Director and CEO Kelly Baum will lead this talk and open Q&A session at 11 am, 12 pm, and 1 pm.
Explore the museum! Inside, you’ll find the Social Saturday interactive art cart, a scavenger hunt that can earn you a small prize, and the Art Center’s Paint-n-Play station in the Harriet S. and J. Locke Macomber Lobby. Story time begins at 11:15 am in Levitt Auditorium.
Exhibitions on view include: “Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging”; “Elle Pérez: La Despedida”; “Artists on Fire”; and “Valentin Noujaïm: La Défense.”
At 1:30 pm, special guest and artist Elle Pérez will join Associate Curator Ashton Cooper for a discussion and examination into the body of photographs presented in the exhibition “Elle Pérez: La Despedida.” Registration is requested for this program.
Get creative! Make sun-bleached designs (weather permitting) in the Art School Courtyard and create your own mono prints indoors or out.
When you need to fuel up, enjoy a sit-down lunch or a delicious pastry alongside a full coffee and tea menu at the Art Center Café. Art Center members receive a 10% discount in the Art Center Café. You can also take a picnic to-go and enjoy your meal on the grounds of the Art Center or in Greenwood Park. Choose from a classic picnic with options for salads, sandwiches, chips, fresh fruit, and freshly baked cookies or a signature picnic with a fresh baguette, charcuterie, signature la mie desserts, and a bottle of wine. Both options are perfect for enjoying the beautiful outdoor setting.
Browse the Museum Shop to find gifts and souvenirs. Art Center members receive a 10% discount in the shop. Visit the $10 and under section for kids toys!
Social Saturdays occur at the Des Moines Art Center on the second Saturday of every month from 11 am to 2 pm. This event is free to attend, and no registration is required. Social Saturdays will be documented with photography.
Visit desmoinesartcenter.org for a full schedule and additional event details and registration information. Follow the Art Center’s social media channels or visit the website for upcoming themes and programming.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program. Support is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
For more information or to request images, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 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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