Iowa Arts & Culture

10/26/2026

✨ Iowa Artist Fellow Spotlight: Charles Borowicz ✨

Meet Charles Borowicz, a Des Moines-based multidisciplinary artist who uses photography and video to create immersive experiences that invite curiosity and exploration. Borowicz pushes the boundaries of contemporary art while exploring the ways we connect with one another and the world around us. His innovative practice encourages audiences to engage with art in unexpected ways—transforming viewers into active participants. 🎥💻

As a FY27 Iowa Artist Fellow Borowicz is being recognized for his creative vision and commitment to expanding the possibilities of interdisciplinary art in Iowa. His work demonstrates the power of experimentation to spark dialogue, inspire imagination, and challenge conventional ways of seeing.

🎉 Want to hear more about Charles and the other Iowa Artist Fellows?

Join us on Friday, November 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Grinnell Area Arts Council for an evening featuring the FY27 Iowa Artist Fellowship awardees as they share their work, creative practices, and the ideas behind their artistic journeys.

Come celebrate these exceptional Iowa artists and learn more about the creativity happening across our state! 🌽🎨

Congratulations, Charles, on this well-deserved recognition—and we look forward to celebrating you and your fellow artists in November!

10/19/2026

🌾 Grantee and Cultural Leadership Partner Spotlight: Living History Farms 🌾

History comes to life at Living History Farms!

Located in Central Iowa, Living History Farms preserves and shares Iowa’s agricultural, cultural and community heritage through immersive experiences that invite visitors to step into the past. From historic farms and buildings to demonstrations of traditional skills, crafts and everyday life, Living History Farms helps connect visitors with the people, traditions and stories that have shaped our state.

Their work is more than preserving historic places—it’s about keeping knowledge, traditions and cultural practices alive and accessible for future generations. Through hands-on learning and interpretation, Living History Farms creates meaningful opportunities to explore Iowa’s history while building connections between people and place.

We're especially excited to celebrate Living History Farms as the site of the final Iowa Arts Council Regional Arts Forum of 2026! Join us on October 22 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at Living History Farms for a morning of conversation, connection and learning with fellow artists, arts organizations, community leaders and creative partners from across the region.

Come share ideas, learn from one another and explore how the arts and cultural heritage can help strengthen Iowa communities. We hope to see you there! 🌾

📅 October 22 | 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
📍 Living History Farms | Urbandale, Iowa

10/12/2026

Bring your community's story to life through art! The Iowa Arts Council's Iowans Create Community Mural Program is now accepting applications! Through this program, the Iowa Arts Council will match a selected Iowa community with an Iowa muralist to plan, design and create an original mural that celebrates the community's unique creative and cultural identity. Communities: Cities, municipalities and economic development organizations are invited to apply by October 28, 2026. Iowa Muralists: Qualified Iowa muralists interested in being considered for the program are invited to apply by October 30, 2026. Selected artists and communities will work with the Iowa Arts Council from fall 2026 through summer 2027 to bring their mural to life — building civic pride, connection, and engagement along the way. Learn more and apply:

Community applications:
https://opportunityiowa.gov/community/arts-culture/grants-programs/iowans-create-community-mural-program

Muralist applications: https://opportunityiowa.gov/community-mural-program-rfq

09/30/2026

🎨 October Regional Arts Forum Spotlight: Elkader! 🌿

We’re excited to gather in Elkader this October for an Iowa Arts Council Regional Arts Forum—and to celebrate the creative energy already thriving in this Northeast Iowa community.

The Iowa Arts Council is proud to sponsor programming by Main Street Elkader, an organization dedicated to strengthening downtown Elkader through economic development, historic preservation, education, and the arts.

One example is Art in the Park, Main Street Elkader’s annual fine arts festival, which returns October 3–4, 2026, at Founders Park along the Turkey River. This year’s expanded event will feature a juried fine arts festival with regional artists, hands-on creative activities for youth and families, a vintage car show, and a wellness area with accessible experiences including yoga and sound healing. Best of all, all activities are free and open to the public.

Art in the Park demonstrates how arts and culture can bring people together, support artists and small businesses, strengthen tourism, and contribute to the health and vitality of a rural community. ❤️

We look forward to connecting with artists, cultural organizations, community leaders, and arts supporters in Elkader and across Northeast Iowa at the 2026 Elkader Iowa Arts Council Regional Arts Forum!

📍 Elkader, Iowa
🎨 Art in the Park: October 3–4
🌟 Iowa Arts Council Regional Arts Forum: October 15, 2026 | Elkader Opera House 1:00-4:00pm

https://artintheparkelkader.com/

08/27/2026

🎉Congratulations to the Fiscical Year 2027 Iowa Artist Fellows! 🎉The Iowa Arts Council is proud to recognize five exceptional Iowa artists whose creativity, innovation, and dedication to their craft enrich communities across our state.

Through the Iowa Artist Fellowship, these artists receive support to advance their artistic practice and continue making meaningful contributions to Iowa's vibrant creative landscape.

Please join us in congratulating our FY27 Iowa Artist Fellows: 🎨Shelby Prindaville — Interdisciplinary/Painting/Ceramics | Sioux City (Woodbury County) 💃 Lovar Kidd — Interdisciplinary/Dance | Cedar Rapids (Linn County) 🗿 Thomas Riefe — Sculpture | Davenport (Scott County) 🎥 Charles Borowicz — Experimental/Media | Des Moines (Polk County) 🧵Judy Bales — Experimental/Fiber | Fairfield (Jefferson County)

Congratulations to this outstanding group of artists! We look forward to seeing how your work continues to inspire, challenge, and strengthen Iowa's creative communities. 🎉

https://bit.ly/4767SJc

08/26/2026

In Independence, the new “Celebrate Our Spirit” mural is already doing what great community art does: bringing people together, adding energy to downtown and giving people another reason to stop and appreciate the place they call home.

Finished just before RAGBRAI, the mural quickly became a photo stop for riders passing through town.

But the mural is about more than the places we recognize. It reflects the people, stories and community pride that make Independence what it is.

That’s the power of public art. It can transform a space while celebrating the identity and spirit of a community.

Congratulations to everyone who brought “Celebrate Our Spirit” to life, including community leaders and artist Jenna Brownlee, who created something Independence can be proud of for years to come.

08/26/2026

🎬 Is your Iowa film festival ready to join our statewide network? Applications are now open to become a Certified Iowa Film Festival! Certification recognizes established film festivals that demonstrate professionalism, attract filmmakers and film enthusiasts, and serve as important cultural events in their communities. Certified festivals receive recognition as part of Iowa's growing film ecosystem, and certification is valid for three years. 📅

Applications will be accepted through the end of 2026 but submit by September to be included in the upcoming Iowa Film Festival Road Map. If your festival has already completed a successful year and his ready to take the next step, we encourage you to apply through the SlideRoom portal. 🎥

Learn more and apply today! https://bit.ly/4tffvoR

08/25/2026

🌟Congratulations to Iowa Arts Council grantee George Daily Community Auditorium in Oskaloosa for being featured by Arts Midwest! The recent Arts Midwest article, The Power of Arts Partnerships in Rural Places, highlights how George Daily Community Auditorium has become a model for collaboration — bringing together schools, artists, nonprofits, businesses, and community members to create meaningful arts experiences that strengthen their region.

🎭Their story is a wonderful example of how partnerships can expand access to the arts and enrich rural communities across Iowa and the Midwest. We're proud to support organizations like George Daily Community Auditorium that demonstrate the power of arts to connect people, inspire creativity, and build vibrant communities. 📖

Read the full Arts Midwest story to learn more about their inspiring work.

With a bit of buy-in and a commitment to community, small towns can come together around arts and culture in their own backyard.

08/22/2026

📣 Mark your calendars! The Iowa Arts Council is bringing the conversation to communities across the state with six Regional Arts Forums this September and October. These FREE, in-person gatherings are an opportunity for artists, arts organizations, civic leaders, and community members to connect, share ideas, and help shape the future of arts and culture in Iowa.

Together, we'll discuss opportunities to strengthen our creative communities and explore programs that support arts and cultural development statewide. 📍Mason City — September 10 📍 Council Bluffs — September 15 📍 Coralville — September 21 📍 Sioux City — October 1 📍 Elkader — October 15 📍 Urbandale — October 22 Whether you're an artist, educator, nonprofit leader, local official, or arts advocate, your voice matters. 🎟️

The forums are free and open to the public, and advanced registration is encouraged. Learn more about each Regional Arts Forum and register today on our website!

https://bit.ly/4gnmreL

08/21/2026

💙 New funding opportunity for Iowa arts and community partners! The Iowa Arts Council is now accepting applications for a special Arts and Health funding round supporting projects that bring together Iowa artists and communities to advance health, well-being, and quality of life through the arts. Eligible projects should align with the Iowa Arts Council's strategic goal of promoting arts programming that strengthens individual and community health and well-being.

📅 Application deadline: September 1, 2026 📅

Eligible Funding Period: November 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 ✨ If you're planning a project that uses the arts to improve health and wellness in your community, we encourage you to apply. Learn more and submit your application today!

https://bit.ly/3UJhK7H