A new collaborative campaign to showcase the vibrant Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District, called X Marks the Arts, launched on Wednesday, according to a press release from the Iowa City Downtown District.
X Marks the Arts celebrates Iowa’s collection of arts and cultural venues through different creative mediums, including street banners, sidewalk art installations, a weekly newsletter, and promotional videos. The campaign aims to bolster awareness within the Iowa City community and attract audiences from surrounding cities and out-of-state metro areas.
Over the past year, the Cultural & Entertainment District Committee, co-chaired by John Schickedanz of The Englert Theatre and Tammie Walker of the University of Iowa School of Music, have collaborated on the campaign with local marketing firm, MELD, to develop a brand strategy.
“The X Marks the Arts campaign is a testament to the collaborative spirit and creative energy that defines our downtown district. We are excited to showcase Iowa City’s rich cultural tapestry to audiences far and wide,” said Mr. Schickendanz.
Leaders from over 15 area arts organizations gathered at a special First Round celebration hosted at FilmScene at The Chauncey to unveil the campaign. Multiple key stakeholders, including the Iowa City Downtown District, the City of Iowa City, Think Iowa City, and Travel Iowa, are supporting the endeavor.
“This initiative underscores the collaborative spirit driving the cultural and entertainment venues in downtown Iowa City, which includes both university and community organizations,” the press release said.
The Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District was officially recognized by the state in December 2022. To learn more on Downtown Iowa City’s Cultural & Entertainment District and X Marks the Arts campaign, visit www.xmarksthearts.com.
