Learn, enjoy, socialize, and create with us! The Des Moines Art Center is a museum, art school, and sculpture park in the capital city of Iowa that is open to all.

Established in 1948, the Des Moines Art Center exists to engage and stimulate the communities of Greater Des Moines and beyond. We are home to an exceptional collection of art made between 1500 and the present day. We offer free exhibitions, programs, tours, and lectures at our main campus in Greenwood Park, consisting of three unique buildings designed by world renowned architects Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier. We also oversee the iconic John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Western Gateway Park, which opened in 2009, and the Art Center provides dozens of art classes for kids, teens, and adults.

ARCHITECTURE GUIDE

visitor map

The Art Center is closed today.

MondayClosed
Tuesday10am - 4pm
Wednesday10am - 4pm
Thursday10am - 7pm
Friday10am - 7pm
Saturday10am - 5pm
Sunday10am - 5pm

Holiday Hours

Museum Closed (including galleries, classes, programs, camps, and offices)
New Year’s Day, January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, third Monday in January
Memorial Day, last Monday in May
Independence Day, July 4
Labor Day, first Monday in September
Thanksgiving, fourth Thursday in November
Christmas, December 25

Directions & Parking

The Art Center is located at 4700 Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa.

Free parking is available on site.

The Art Center is located less than one mile north on 45th Street from the Bill Riley bike trail. To plan your trip via public transportation, visit the DART trip planner.

GET DIRECTIONS

Review our museum guidelines to help ensure you have the best visit possible.

VISITOR POLICIES

Visitors standing in front of and admiring a large, colorful piece of artwork on the wall.

 

More Ways to Enhance Your Visit

See More Art

Explore during your visit, then dive even deeper into the art online! View permanent collections and virtual tour past exhibitions.

See What’s On View Now

The Museum Shop

Explore our extensive collection of books,  jewelry, housewares, Art Center apparel, and so much more.

SHOP ONLINE

Guides and Tours

Get the most out of your visit with audio and docent-led tours. Find museum activity guides under Education and Resources.

See Tour Options

Art in the Park

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

The 4.4 acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid, creates a pedestrian-friendly entryway to downtown Des Moines. This accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States.

Plan Your Park Visit

Get the most out of your visit. 
Tour Options