Des Moines Art Center

Principal Financial Group Foundation,?a global nonprofit organization committed to helping people and communities build financially secure futures, is deepening its partnership with the Des Moines Art Center through a new grant for general operations and an additional contribution to the Art Center’s 75th Anniversary Campaign. This expanded support will increase access to community art programs for Iowa youth. READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/gdUk_Mhr

We invite you to visit the Des Moines Art Center and see our Community Access Program Art Exhibition now through March 31 in the Education Wing Herbert Galleries. Art on view has been created by participants in our CAP classes and workshops from local organizations like: Conmigo Early Education Center, Children and Family Urban Movement, Families Forward, Lutheran Services of Iowa, Northside Senior Center, Queer Youth Resource Center, Veterans Affairs, and Woodward Academy. We thank our Community Access Program funders for their continued support of these programs! Charlotte and Fred Hubbell, Corteva Agriscience, David J. Noble Foundation, Hy-Vee, Inc., Iowa State Bank (Des Moines, IA), Meier Bernstein Foundation, Prairie Meadows, and Voya Financial.

The Des Moines Art Center is #hiring for a Communications and Marketing Manager! This position manages the implementation of the Art Center's marketing and advertising efforts to generate excitement and interest in the museum, art school, and sculpture park to diverse market segments. Plus manages internal communications to ensure timely, accurate, and thorough distribution of information among staff and internal stakeholders. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gQUCx6qZ

Led by our Senior Director of Museum Learning, Engagement, and Community Access, Jill Featherstone, Cassandra Halls of Iowa Realty visited the Des Moines Art Center to explore fascinating exhibits, dive into the rich history, and uncover all the vibrant cultural experiences we have to offer the community. WATCH: https://lnkd.in/gmiZAySN

The Des Moines Art Center has been named the Best Local Museum in CITYVIEW Magazine's 2025 Best of Des Moines, after nearly 14,500 of their readers voted! "The three connected buildings that make up the Des Moines Art Center were crafted by famous architects Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier. The museum’s origins can be traced back to 1916, and it was the first museum to open after World War II ended. The galleries inside inspire many, and, best of all, it’s free to visit this Best Local Museum in Best of Des Moines voting." See all from the Best of Des Moines: https://lnkd.in/gYrvDUjD

The Des Moines Art Center is pleased to announce the addition of four distinguished members to the Board of Trustees who each began a three-year term in January of this year. The newest members of the board are Anne F. Harris, Jo Christine Miles, Chris Nelson, and Dr. Ian Roberts. In addition, the Art Center welcomed four other exceptional trustees between 2023 and 2024, including Eva Anderson, Laura Creighton, Tim Hickman, and Mike Simonson. READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/gbUDQgZe

Check out John and Mary Pappajohn Director Kelly Baum’s guest appearance on the ArtTactic podcast as she shares what it’s like to lead a thriving museum outside of a major art hub, her transition from leaving The Met, a brief history of the Des Moines Art Center, and her take on leadership. Kelly also offered a preview of exciting upcoming exhibitions and reflects on what has surprised her most about Iowa’s art community.

Join Poetry Palooza, CultureALL, and the Des Moines Art Center for Favorite Poem Project on Saturday, January 25th at the Des Moines Art Center Auditorium! Inspired by the 15-year tradition at the Des Moines Poetry Festival, this event will highlight the vitality and diversity of our community through the power of poetry. Twelve community leaders will share their favorite poems, showcasing how poetry enriches our lives and connects us as humans. RSVP today at: https://loom.ly/w2yswL4

The Des Moines Art Center is excited to announce the reopening of its I. M. Pei building, named for Florence Cowles Kruidenier, after a transformative upgrade of its original lighting system and the complete reinstallation of its galleries, including the Cowles Sculpture Court. The renovation makes for especially illuminating experiences, as visitors explore this extraordinary building, which opened to the public in 1968 and has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. The new lighting system matches Pei’s original 1968 designs but includes much more sophisticated, flexible, and energy efficient features. This system offers many benefits, including enhanced visitor experience, more dramatic and focused illumination of the Art Center’s collections, and improved energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/gEAusfr4

The Des Moines Art Center is honored to receive a General Operating Support Grant from Bravo Greater Des Moines that will be used to help support free admission for the more than 300,000 children, students, families, and individuals who visit the Art Center’s renowned museum and John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park and who participate in a wide range of no-cost events, tours, workshops, and programs each year. READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/gukXN3Nc