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.

Regional Arts Forums?

Hundreds of Iowans have turned out across the state this spring for a series of Regional Arts Forums, presented by the Iowa Arts Council and hosted by community cultural partners. The series wraps up in Grinnell on April 11 following well-attended events in Decorah, Cedar Rapids, Fairfield, Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Sioux City.???

Each in-person event featured arts and civic leaders discussing ways of collaborating and addressing important issues through the arts and was followed by an Iowa Arts Council grant workshop.?

Locations and Dates?

• Sioux City?(Agenda): Sioux City Art Center I April 4, 2024?
• Grinnell College?(Agenda): Grinnell College I April 11, 2024?

2024 Iowa Arts Summit??

Register now for the Iowa Arts Summit on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

The biennial Iowa Arts Summit brings together artists, non-profit professionals, and community leaders for a day of dynamic breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and demonstrations by Iowa artists.??

This year’s Summit includes a focus on collaboration and the role of the arts in strengthening communities through promoting wellness and belonging.?

Summit Registration is now open! Learn more and register here.

Grant Opportunities?

The Iowa Arts Council has new grant opportunities now open for the spring! Keep an eye on our?grants?page for details on all?our programs and check out our?calendar?to see upcoming deadlines.?

Open Applications:??

FY25 Iowa Screenwriters Grant?I?Deadline: May 3, 2024?

• The Iowa Screenwriters Grant is intended to provide support to Iowa’s screenwriters to undertake activities that advance their artistic practices and elevate the creative screenwriting industry in Iowa.?

Iowa Cultural and Entertainment District Certifications?I?Deadline: May 3, 2024?

• For districts that have created unique cultural centers and prioritized visitor experiences, promote the districts and their supported activities, and provide technical assistance and professional development opportunities.?

FY25 Cultural Capacity Building Grant??|?Deadline: May 15, 2024?

• Cultural Capacity Building grants provide general operating support over a three-year period to eligible arts, cultural and humanities organizations in Iowa.?

FY25 Art Project Grant for Individuals and for Organizations |??Deadline: June 3, 2024 (extended from May 15)?

• Art Project Grants for artists and for organizations create opportunities for Iowans to access and engage with high quality arts and cultural projects.? ?

Opening Soon:?

FY25 Greenlight Grant?

Greenlight Grants seek to support entrepreneurial projects that can accelerate business and careers in film, by encouraging collaboration between Iowa filmmakers and producing a project that will take the applicant to the next level in their career while feeding a more robust, diverse and sustainable creative ecosystem in Iowa.?

Call for Grant Panelists?

Are you interested in supporting the arts in Iowa and improving your knowledge around grant writing? Volunteer and share your expertise by participating in Iowa Arts Council grant review panels. Panelists with professional experience in an arts discipline, arts education, nonprofit organization management, and community-based arts projects are encouraged to apply.????

Volunteer to be a panelist!

Art in Conservation Webinar??

Watch the webinar recording here!?

In January, the Iowa Arts Council collaborated with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to feature projects that incorporate Artists into natural resource spaces. This webinar includes examples of how County Conservation Boards are using art in programming and in their spaces, how to engage with Iowa Artists and funding avenues to help incorporate more art into spaces.???

Film in Iowa: Latino Films showing in Des Moines, Iowa?

Mark your calendars for the?Des Moines Latino Film Festival?on April 16-19. It’s a free four-day celebration of the Latino culture through movies, arts and good music. This year the films will be headquartered in the Fleur Cinema & Cafe.

Farm to Film Fest?

Did you know that Washington, Iowa has been engaging and entertaining audiences through film since 1897? The community’s State Theater holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously operating cinema. Attendees have the opportunity to live history and watch thought-provoking films during the Farm to Film Fest. This year the event will be held on April 20-21.?

ScreenIowa Network?

If you have an Iowa film and want to screen it in an Iowa theater, we can help connect you. And, if you’re an Iowa theater looking for local films with filmmakers available to make appearances, we can help with that too! Produce Iowa launched the?ScreenIowa Network?last year to connect independent filmmakers and theaters together to support the creative economy.?