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OSP Teams to Visit Cultural Organizations Statewide
The
Iowa Arts Council has worked to assemble teams to visit cultural organizations
across the state as part of the Operational
Support Partnership program (OSP). The site visits began October 20 at the
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art with team members Michelle Fischer and Brad Lang, IAC
Board members from Cedar Rapids; Sheila Perry, executive director of the Charles
H. MacNider Museum in Mason City; Edwin Ritts, executive director of the Dubuque
Museum of Art; and Anita Walker, executive director of the Iowa Arts Council.
The visit included a tour of the museum, including its newest exhibit, Grant Wood at 5 Turner Alley, which features the famous painting American Gothic. The exhibit will be on display through December 4.
The site visits provide an opportunity for cultural organization leaders to bounce ideas off each other, tour and learn more about fellow OSP partners, and foster relationships. Iowa Arts Council staff has assembled different team members based on common backgrounds.
“We
felt that a very productive and creative dialogue came out of the OSP site visit,”
said Terry Pitts, director of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. “Everyone
thought the give and take was very helpful. And everyone applauded the new approach,
which makes the Iowa Arts Council our partner, not our judge and jury.”
Other site visits include The Des Moines Playhouse November. 3-4, The Blanden Memorial Art Museum in Fort Dodge November 18, and the James and Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls November 21. A total of 11 visits will be held throughout the winter and next spring.
The Operational Support Partnership program provides funding support for the operational expenses of arts organizations that demonstrate an exemplary track record of artistic and managerial excellence and community service on a continuing basis to the citizens of Iowa.
