Iowa Arts & Culture Newsletter

The Iowa Arts Council falls within the newly formed Arts and Community division at the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Produce Iowa is a part of Marketing and Communications.

We're basking in fall - and the abundance of festivals, arts programs, and special events that come with the season - we encourage you to share your stories and successes with us and to reach out about future projects.

NOW OPEN: Round of Grant Funding Opportunities

All programs listed here have a November 1 deadline:

• Creative Catalyst Project Grant supports projects that accelerate momentum in an applicant’s artistic career, arts and cultural organization or community through a high-quality arts activity or learning experience.
• Folk Arts Learning Grant creates opportunities for the folk and traditional arts to thrive in Iowa by investing in learning projects that help sustain artistic traditions and cultural heritage.
• Iowa Screenwriters Grant supports Iowa screenwriters to undertake activities that advance their artistic practices and elevate the creative screenwriting industry in Iowa.
• Strengthening Communities Grants provides organizations committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility with financial assistance on projects associated with the renovation and maintenance of facility infrastructure in cities with a population of less than 28,000.

Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month

Every October, states and communities across the U.S. observe National Arts & Humanities Month.? Governor Reynolds issued a proclamation designating October as National Arts and Humanities Month in Iowa.

The event began nearly 40 years ago to mark the founding anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. It serves to highlight the central role arts and humanities play in the cultural, educational and civic life of communities. National Arts and Humanities Month provides a valuable opportunity to recognize the arts and cultural organizations, artists and scholars, and state and local arts and humanities councils most responsible for advancing the arts and humanities – including nearly 40,000 Iowans who work in the arts, cultural and creative fields.

Arts and Culture Grant Features!

Greenlight Grants Program

Now in its fifth year, the Greenlight Grants program supports film and digital media productions that will be produced in Iowa and that can help take Iowa filmmakers to the next level in their career. This year’s recipients have received state as well as international recognition for their work as documentary filmmakers and for chronicling Midwestern and Iowa stories.

Andrew Sherburne of Iowa City, will complete "6-on-6", a documentary film project celebrating the legacy of girls' basketball in Iowa and the unheralded all-state player who paved a pathway for equality.

Kristian Day of Des Moines, will tell the story of an Iowan who published a leading magazine on British horror films for more than 50 years, gaining the attention and admiration of some of the most recognizable names in the genre.

Learn more!

2024 Poetry Out Loud Competition

Iowa high schools and educators may register now to participate in the 2023-2024 Poetry Out Loud competition. Poetry Out Loud engages students in grades 9-12 to learn about great works of poetry and compete at the local, state and national levels. Through memorization and recitation, the program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts and is supported by the Poetry Foundation.

Registration deadline: January 24

Learn more!

Iowa Poet Laureate

The Iowa Poet Laureate is an honorary appointment made by the Governor of Iowa to recognize the artistic accomplishments of Iowa poets and the importance of poetry in Iowans’ everyday lives. Complete the online application to nominate yourself or another individual for this prestigious honor.

Nomination deadline: November 1

Learn more!

Iowa Creative Places Spotlight

Congratulations to the Turkey River Recreational Corridor and Clayton County Conservation on the Grand Opening of the Inn at Motor Mill. Funding provided by the Iowa Great Places program will protect the Inn from flooding, return the historic structure to its original state, provide meeting rooms and overnight accommodations for travelers, and house a small visitor center for historic and cultural education purposes.

Learn more!