For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (c)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
DES MOINES, IOWA (May 4, 2026) – Get ready to press play on your weekend plans! Join the Des Moines Art Center for “Social Saturday: Toons and Tunes” on May 9 from 11 am – 2 pm. It’s a celebration of music, cartoons, and creativity guaranteed to draw you in and strike the right chord.
From noon – 12:30 pm, level up your listening experience with the Gamer Symphony brass and woodwind ensembles in Levitt Auditorium. From Mario to Zelda to Halo, the Symphony performs iconic music from video games you know and love.
Immediately following, solo artists will perform in the museum gallery spaces, providing a musical soundtrack to your visit. Hear cello and guitar by Jessica Villegas and Peruvian Pan Flute by Cucho Madero.
Relive the joy of Saturday morning cartoons, with a twist: A Community Animation Showcase at 1:30 pm features a mix of short, animated works made by local artists. This showcase is inspired by the current exhibition, “Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films.” If you’re into film, be sure to visit the Anna K. Meredith Gallery and watch the animations on view.
Enjoy the interactive Art Cart, musical storytime, a free guided tour, and cultivate your inner artist! Sixteen-bit grid drawing and mini paper mosaic making is available in the Art School studios, as well as free drawing.
Treat yourself to something more satisfying than a Saturday morning bowl of cereal: The Art Center Café offers pastries, grab-and-go snacks, coffees, and sit-down lunch. Art Center members save 10% on all purchases in the Art Center Café and in the Museum Shop. Don’t forget to pick up the perfect gift for Mom, just in time for Mother’s Day!
Social Saturday is a free, all-ages event held on the second Saturday of every month with a different theme each month. Follow the Art Center’s social media channels or visit the website for upcoming themes and programming. A complete schedule of events and activities can be found at desmoinesartcenter.org.
Generous support is provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
For more information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515.271.0344 or 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.
###