IAC Press Release

For Immediate Release: May 7, 2007

Contact: Jeff Morgan
Public Relations
515.281.3858
Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov


Iowa Arts Council awards $150,000 in Major Grants

Funds boost creative economy, but Iowa’s investment in the arts ranks near bottom

(DES MOINES, Iowa)—The Iowa Arts Council announced today it has awarded 23 major arts and organizational grants totaling $150,000 to individuals and organizations serving Iowans across the state.

IAC, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, received 78 Major Grant requests totaling $671,000 this spring to fund projects developed by individual artists, arts organizations, community groups and schools working to bring excellence in the arts to all Iowans. The program emphasizes artistic excellence, service to Iowans, and solid project planning and implementation. Applicants may request up to $10,000 in matching funds but no more than 50 percent of the project’s total expenses.

“The number of applications we received is encouraging because it shows how much Iowans care about the arts,” DCA Director Cyndi Pederson said. “These grants support independent artists and those who work in cultural and educational organizations, and allow them to continue to contribute to a vibrant cultural environment that is essential for Iowa’s economic development.”

Today’s announcement, however, comes as Iowa continues to slip in national rankings for investing in the arts. Iowa fell one spot in FY2007 to 45th among the 50 state arts agencies for investing in the arts, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. NASAA is the membership organization of the nation’s state and jurisdictional arts agencies.

Iowa invests $0.41 cents per capita in the arts. The national average is $1.07. The top five are:

(State, per capita investment, rank)

Other Midwestern states invest the following per capita in the arts:

IAC receives about $1.2 million in legislative appropriations annually for its programs. IAC also receives about $550,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the arts in Iowa.

“It’s frustrating to be near the bottom in national rankings,” Pederson said. “We would like to support the arts in Iowa more broadly but we are limited by the amount of resources available to us.”

Despite the low ranking, DCA has developed creative strategies that give Iowans an edge in recruiting and retaining workers and businesses. When DCA commissioned a Creative Economy Study in 2003, it found:

workers in Iowa’s creative industries earn 60 percent more than other workers
creative occupations grew 3.5 times faster than all other Iowa occupations in the past decade
the growth of Iowa’s creative occupations exceeds the national average
growth in science and technology in Iowa is correlated with growth of the arts

“The study also found that workers are looking for more than a job when they’re deciding where they want to live,” Pederson said. “They place quality of life opportunities at the top of their priority list – second behind salary and ahead of benefits, stock options and company stability.”

In addition to offering grant programs through IAC and the State Historical Society of Iowa, DCA responded to Iowans’ requests by creating Cultural Entertainment Districts and Iowa Great Places, which gives Iowans opportunities to qualify for grant programs throughout state government.

“As we move forward, it is important to strengthen our investment in the arts because a vibrant cultural environment attracts creative workers who then become the resources for businesses looking to expand or relocate,” Pederson said. “That’s the investment we need to build on our success in making Iowa’s communities great places to live, work and play.”

Projects submitted for Major Grant support this spring must occur during IAC’s fiscal year 2008 that begins July 1, 2007 and ends June 30, 2008. Applicants must match the amount requested. Applications for the next round of Major Grant awards are due at 4:30 p.m., October 1, 2007. Visit www.iowaartscouncil.org for more information.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts, and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.

The Iowa Arts Council is a division of DCA and works to enrich the quality of life and learning in Iowa communities by encouraging excellence in the arts through leadership, grants and technical assistance. Funding for IAC and its programs is provided by the State of Iowa and the National Endowment for the Arts. Please visit www.iowaartscouncil.org for more information.

The following projects were awarded IAC Major Grant funding this fall:

(City)
(Name of Recipient)
(Title of Project)
(Description)
(Grant Amount)

Cedar Falls
The University of Northern Iowa
Death of a Salesman: Cross-generational Education & Outreach Project
With grant support, the University of Northern Iowa Theatre Department will produce the Arthur Miller American classic, “Death of a Salesman,” involving professional guest artist alumni in key design and performance roles. Through the hiring of educational specialist, Patrick Elkins-Zeglarski and Sarah Rinner, alumni of the program, the production will focus on cross-generational outreach.
$6,500

Cedar Rapids
Iowa Composers Forum
Home Cookin’: A Tribute to the Symphonic Music of Iowa Composers
Grant funding will support The Iowa Composers Forum who have joined forces with the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra to produce a special concert in May 2008 featuring new orchestral works by four living Iowa composers.
$8,500

Coralville
The Iowa Children’s Museum
Amazing Art Adventures!
Grant funding for The Amazing Art Adventure project will provide unique, interactive art education opportunities to diverse Iowa families. These interactive art experiences delivered by Iowa artists in The Iowa Children’s Museum will serve to enrich the lives of museum visitors and help them learn the skills needed to become creative problem solvers.
$8,000

Davenport
Figge Art Museum
“Jacob Lawrence: The Migration Series” at the Figge Art Museum
Grant support to the Figge Art Museum is for an exhibition organized by the Phillips Collection of 17 panels of “The Migration Series,” the seminal work of Jacob Lawrence, one of the most prominent and respected African-American artists of the 20th century. The 60-panel series describes the mass migration of African-Americans from 1910-1930 to urban centers in the north and involves history, sociology and poetry in a visual narrative.
$7,000

Davenport
River Music Experience
A Visual & Musical Celebration of Iowa Musicians
The River Music Experience will use grant funds to celebrate Iowa photographer Sandy Dyas, her book “Down to the River” and the Iowa musicians featured in the book. The project includes a music festival featuring some of the musicians pictured in the book, a major book signing event and concert, and an extended exhibition of Sandy’s photographs.
$7,000

Decorah
Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum
Coming Out of the Woodwork: A Vesterheim Symposium on Norwegian Folk Art
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum will use grant funding to support a conference held April 18-20, 2008. Focusing especially on woodworking and related traditions, this event will provide an opportunity for folk artists of all levels to learn more about the cultural context, history, and techniques of Norwegian folk art.
$6,000

Des Moines
Robert John Ford
Caucus! the Musical
CAUCUS! THE MUSICAL is a political satire about Iowa’s enormous impact on the presidential selection process. Funding from the IAC will be used to help pay approximately 30 Iowa theatre artists who will present 20 performances of the play to Iowa audiences December 27, 2007 through January 13, 2008.
$7,000

Des Moines
Stephen Hay
Grant for the Development of New Work
With funding from this Iowa Arts Council grant, Stephen Hay will create a new and significant body of work which is representative of his vision and style. It will be marketable to galleries and allow the artist build a portfolio for submitting entries into local and nationwide exhibitions.
$6,400

Des Moines
Brian R. Lynner
Hearts of Freedom
Grant funding will support Iowa artists Brian Lynner and Lisa Norris to develop their original Civil War-era musical, Hearts of Freedom, through a workshop production and live recording. The project will result in the creation of a demo CD and a complete libretto and score suitable for publication and submission to producing organizations.
$4,700

Des Moines
Carol J Carter
Horrace Mann After the Fire and Artifacts of Industry
IAC grant funding will support artist Carol J. Carter in producing two exhibits. The first show will be in September 2007 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. It includes 21 images that speak to the loss of an Iowa school to fire. A second show in October will be at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt Pleasant. It includes 24 images that visually express the changes and losses of Iowa’s industrial culture.
$5,300

Dubuque
Dubuque Museum of Art
Voices from the Warehouse District – 3
During 2006, the Dubuque Museum of Art mounted a second highly successful Voices from the Warehouse District exhibition. More than 3,000 people attended this popular exhibition, which is now a fall staple for eastern Iowa. Through grant funding, the Iowa Arts Council will again partner in this signature event.
$7,100

Fairfield
Dance Theatre of Iowa
Les Patineurs Ballet and School Lecture/Demonstrations
With support from this grant, Dance Theatre of Iowa, serving rural southeastern Iowa, will present the charming Holiday ballet classic, “Les Patineurs (The Skaters),” choreographed by Emma Rainey. Four performances at the newly opened Fairfield Arts & Convention Center will be offered in December and three lecture/demonstrations will be performed at local elementary schools.
$4,000

Indianola
Dave Camwell
CD Project including the works of Paganini, J.S. Bach, and Iowa composers
With grant support from the Iowa Arts Council, artist Dave Camwell will use funds to produce a CD recording that will feature the works of Iowa composers, J.S. Bach and Niccolo Paganini. It will be 50 percent jazz and 50 percent classical music featuring Camwell as a saxophonist in a variety of musical settings.
$6,500

Indianola
Des Moines Metro Opera, Inc.
2008 OPERA Iowa Touring Educational Troupe
During OPERA Iowa’s 13-week educational tour, seven cast and crew members will present 350 classroom workshops and more than 70 performances of Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” and Davies’ “The Billy Goats Gruff.” Artistic Director Robert L. Larsen and Artistic Administrator Michael Egel will oversee this project supported by a grant from the Iowa Arts Council.
$8,000

Des Moines
Iowa Fringe Festival
Iowa Fringe Festival
The Iowa Fringe Festival is a cooperative enterprise for artists to take creative risks in an inspiring and exciting environment for audiences. This four-day event funded in part by the Iowa Arts Council presents a wide range of experimental, original and seldom-produced performing arts at an affordable price for patrons.
$8,000

Fayette
John Siblik
River Weaving
Grant funding will allow artist John Siblik produce a temporary public artwork titled River Weaving. It is environmental, conceptual, process-orientated and collaborative. It is made of bound willow branches placed and anchored in a shallow stream. The piece features the willow elements as the warp and the water as the weft. The concept: we are all connected (woven together) and nature can be seen as the fabric.
$2,400

Iowa City
Nancy L. Purington
Twelve Views of Water
Visual artist Nancy L. Purington will use funding to create and frame photographs and artworks exploring new and expanded approaches/directions/materials in compositions inspired by Mississippi River. Statewide exhibition tour will be developed and sponsored by the Muscatine Art Center available July 2008. Project includes production of full-color, companion, and exhibition catalogue funded by Waterloo Center for the Arts.
$6,500

Iowa City
Patrick Bloom
Patrick Bloom – Audio recording, manufacturing, and publicity for new CD
Iowa Arts Council funds will support the compact disc audio recording, manufacturing, publicity, and release for Patrick Bloom on Iowa City's Trailer Records. The project will also employ Iowa musicians Bob Black, Amy Finders, Jon Eric, Eric Straumanis, James Robinson, Billy Valencia, and will be produced in Iowa.
$6,100

Iowa City
The University of Iowa
The Joffrey Ballet
Through grant funding, the University of Iowa will present The Joffrey Ballet in free outdoor performances and movement workshops in five communities – Des Moines, June 29; Council Bluffs, Bayliss Park, July 1; Muscatine, Weed Park, July 3; Cedar Rapids, Brucemore, July 6; and Iowa City, Hancher green, July 7.
$5,000

Kellogg
Karin Stein
“Cowboys of the Americas” Orchestral Program
Grant funding will allow artist Karin Stein to create a new family-oriented folk music and symphony program around the theme of the cowboy throughout the Americas. The program involves the first-time collaboration between Latin duo “Calle Sur” and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, with participation of a world-class folk harpist. The project also includes educational outreach and the creation of new orchestral scores.
$7,500

Rock Island
Quad City Arts
Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series 2007-08
Grant funding will support the 2007-08 Visiting Artist Series to present approximately 250 educational programs to broaden student and adult understanding of the performing arts. The artists are world-renowned musicians, dancers and actors. Free or low-cost public concerts will provide additional community access to these artists.
$8,000

Waterloo
Francesca Soans
Rebirth
Grant funds support Rebirth, a 30-minute fiction film written and directed by Francesca Soans and shot on digital video. The film explores the stories of three women – Kalpa, an Indian immigrant; Helen, a Norwegian-American; and Laura, a Mexican-American. The film will provide a complex look at race, religion and politics in a small Iowa town.
$6,500

Waterloo
Bosnian Cultural Foundation
KUD Kolo
KUD Kolo is a Balkan Cultural Artistic Troupe from Waterloo. IAC funding will support the group to travel to Bosnia in July to represent the United States-Bosnian community (as well as Waterloo, state of Iowa, and U.S.) at the International Teferic Folk Festival. The elite performing group of KUD Kolo is made up of 16 high school and college students. Four adults will accompany the group.
$8,000