New Decade. New Focus.

As you know, a vibrant arts and culture environment is critical to enhancing our community’s quality of life and driving economic development, while fostering a positive view of the community among our residents and visitors. Established in 2004, the Arts & Culture Alliance connects our community to arts and culture by supporting, promoting, and enriching existing opportunities, and by seeking new possibilities.

In 2020, the Alliance is launching several new initiatives with a focus on adding vibrancy to our community, celebrating our diversity, amplifying our local artists, increasing community pride and enhancing beautification. These initiatives include a Marshalltown Murals Program and an Artist Network. In addition to the new programs, we are thrilled about the continued growth and expansion of our current programs, the Marshalltown Public Art Committee and Art in Public Places. Additionally, with established partnerships, the Alliance will provide unique opportunities for the community to experience arts and culture throughout the year.

The Alliance is excited about the opportunity to transform, grow and evolve alongside our community. However, in order to better serve Marshalltown and carry out our mission, we will no longer be holding the annual art festival. This transition creates a significant opportunity to expand and embed the arts throughout our community to create a lasting impact. It also provides the possibility to redefine what the arts mean for our community beyond a one-day annual event. 

This has been an evolving discussion over the past several years with extensive research on local, state and nationwide trends, along with input and feedback from our artists, planning committee members, community members, staff and board of directors. This was not an easy decision, nor was it taken lightly, but this is an exciting time to be in Marshalltown and we are thrilled to expand and connect our community to arts and culture in new ways as we look to the future. We are tremendously grateful for your participation and support over the years. We would not be where we are today without your contribution to the arts in our community.

We take our mission seriously – to connect our community to arts and culture by supporting, promoting and enriching existing opportunities, and by seeking new possibilities. In this new decade we have a new focus but our vision remains – to see a future in which arts and culture thrive and our community flourishes.

Again, we thank you immensely for your past participation and support, and we are thrilled to invite you to join us as we continue to live out our mission in the future! We are excited about new opportunities to support, promote and engage artists in Marshall County! 

WHY

  • We take our MISSION seriously: Connect our community to arts and culture by supporting, promoting and enriching existing opportunities, and by seeking new possibilities.
  • A vibrant arts and culture environment is critical to enhancing quality of life and driving economic development.
  • Expand and embed the arts throughout our community for a greater and lasting impact.

 

HOW

  • EXPAND the Marshalltown Public Art Committee – provide art in publicly accessible spaces.
  • EXPAND the Art in Public Places – a rotating art program in local Marshalltown businesses for Marshall County Artists .
  • LAUNCH the Marshalltown Murals Program – increased focus on quality of life, community pride and beautification.
  • DEVELOP an Artist Network – engage and amplify our local artists; opportunities for networking and learning.
  • DEVELOP Pop-Up Experiences – connect the community with arts & culture on a regular basis in unique ways.

 

WHAT WE LEARNED & HEARD

  • Extensive research on local, state and nationwide trends.
  • Input from artists, planning committee members, community members, staff and board of directors.
  • Artist sales continue to be minimal or nonexistent, resulting in a decrease in participation.
  • Trends of art festivals around the Country and trends on how people are purchasing art.
  • The limitations of Impact and Reach of a 1-day event.
  • For more questions, please reach out to the Arts & Culture Alliance Executive Director, Amber Danielson (contact info below). 

 

Arts & Culture Alliance

(641) 752-ARTS  │  director@artsandculturealliance.org

www.artsandculturealliance.org 

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