Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa and Maine: America 250
In 2026, communities across all 56 states and jurisdictions are commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To honor the milestone, state arts agencies are leading many creative initiatives, each steeped in their region’s unique landscape and cultural character. This month, we feature examples from Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa and Maine. […]
Iowa: Creative Places Accelerator
Recognizing the role of the arts and artists in building and strengthening creative places and economic development, the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) is running a multiyear pilot program, the Creative Places Accelerator. Participating cross-sector teams from small to midsize Iowa communities will develop arts based projects to serve as catalysts for livability, economic development and […]
Iowa: Fine Arts Education Summit
State arts agencies are vital partners in supporting student learning and engagement in the arts and the professional development of arts educators. To this end, the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) promotes and assists in the development of teaching professionals and reinforces state fine arts standards through its biennial Iowa Fine Arts Education Summit. IAC’s Fine […]
Iowa, North Carolina and New Jersey: Arts Venue Reopening Campaigns
State arts agencies (SAAs) are continuing to respond to the changing dynamics of the pandemic, which severely disrupted audience attendance patterns for live and in-person arts events. To address this issue, some SAAs are undertaking promotional campaigns to encourage the public to visit cultural venues and participate in the arts. Iowa, North Carolina and New […]
Iowa: Iowa Keeps Creating: Digital Stage
The Iowa Arts Council (IAC) launched the Iowa Keeps Creating: Digital Stage initiative to support and promote local artists by showcasing their works through IAC’s digital platforms. The program is inspired by the exceptional challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic and a reinvigorated civil rights movement in the past year. It underscores the fact […]
Iowa: Creative Aging in Rural Libraries
In Iowa, where three-quarters of the state’s 544 public libraries serve communities with fewer than 2,500 residents, there is a new initiative to support creative aging in rural areas. Iowa Arts Learning in Libraries is a collaborative effort of the State Library of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) to offer free arts classes […]
Iowa Culture Mobile App
The Iowa Culture app helps Iowans and out-of-state visitors alike to discover, enjoy and share the thousands of arts, culture and historical experiences of the Hawkeye State. The app was developed and is managed by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its constituent agencies, including the Iowa Arts Council (IAC), which identified more than 600 arts locations and […]
Iowa: The Film Lounge
The Film Lounge is a media arts program that promotes Iowan filmmakers and their contributions to the state’s cultural and economic vitality. The program is a three-way partnership between the Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Public Television and Produce Iowa, the state’s film industry office. The Film Lounge showcases short-form documentary, narrative, animated and experimental films. […]
Iowa: 35th Anniversary Commemoration of Percent for Art Program
The Iowa Arts Council (IAC) marked the 35th anniversary of its Art in State Buildings (AiSB) program with a multifaceted, year-long commemoration centered on an exhibit about the history and evolution of Iowa’s public art. IAC developed the show, as well as its educators’ guide, in partnership with the State Historical Museum of Iowa. To […]
Iowa: Arts Build Communities
Arts Build Communities is a year-long pilot program the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) is launching in July to support arts projects that uniquely address civic challenges and community issues. The catalyst of the pilot—which IAC is conducting in collaboration with the Iowa State University College of Design and the University of Iowa’s Office of Outreach […]