Community Arts Program

Purpose & Services

The arts are important to Iowans at the grassroots level. Cultural tourism, festivals, museums, community-based arts organizations and a host of other groups and individual artists are central to the vitality of Iowa’s cities, towns and rural areas. The arts also contribute to the economy with a strong impact of millions of dollars of expenditures each year.

The Community Arts Program of the Iowa Arts Council maintains the following goals:

• Educate and encourage dialogue among community members and leaders about the role and importance of the arts at the local level.
• Promote the arts through partnership development with federal and state agencies, city and county governments, schools, business and industry, the arts and other community-based organizations.
• Research and promote the economic benefit of the arts to Iowa's communities.

Each of these goals demonstrate effective community-building strategies. The Iowa Arts Council offers assistance to communities in meeting these goals. Whether it is assistance with developing local leadership, community cultural needs assessments, cultural planning or funding, Iowa Arts Council Community Arts staff is available to assist.

Contact us for more information about meeting facilitation, community development consultations, speaking engagements and referrals in the area of Community Arts development.