Iowa’s art community received a significant boost on Wednesday when the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded $1,678,389 from seven grant programs to support creative endeavors across the state.
The IEDA approved 173 awards to Iowa organizations and individuals in more than 60 communities in an effort to strengthen the state’s arts, culture and creative industries in order to provide Iowans “access to enriching cultural experiences,” a release stated.
The matching grants leverage local and private investment and support a variety of creative projects in Iowa schools, arts and cultural venues and communities. Art and cultural festivals, live theater performances, exhibitions, film productions and community public art projects are just a few of the projects that received funding.
“Arts and culture are integral to economic vitality,” said IEDA Director Debi Durham. “They not only drive growth within our communities but also enhance the quality of life, making our state a more attractive destination for both visitors and new residents.”
Arts and cultural production contributed nearly $5 billion to Iowa’s economy last year and accounted for nearly 42,000 jobs, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
“Iowa’s leading arts, cultural and heritage venues also serve as tourism attractions and anchors to vibrant downtowns, generating local spending and supporting Iowa companies in their efforts to attract talent by enhancing Iowans’ quality of life,” the release noted.
The awards include the Art Project Grant Program, Cultural Capacity Building Grant Program, Cultural Leadership Partners Program, Greenlight Grant Program, Iowa Artist Fellowship Program, Iowa Community Cultural Grant Program and Iowa Screenwriters Grant Program.
Among the grant recipients:
- In Iowa City, Wright House of Fashion received $4,000 for the Wright House Fashion & Graphic Design Accelerator
- Mimi Ke also received $4,000 for Elevating Circus / Aerial Dance in Iowa
- Pieta Brown received $4,000 for a new recording
- In Monticello, Monticello IA Main Street was awarded $4,000 for the Growth from Within mural
- In Cedar Rapids, Ellen Kleckner was awarded $2,184 to integrate new technology into new work
- Mirrorbox Theatre received $4,000 for the world premiere of “We’ll Get Back to You”
- Jason Snell was awarded $4,000 for “Pulses”
- NewBo City market received $4,000 for placemaking with at-risk youth
- In Marion, the Marion Chamber of Commerce Foundation was awarded $4,000 for the Marion Arts Festival Create & Explore Spaces
- Oliver Crocker of Mount Vernon garnered $2,094 for a drought wall
A full list of grant recipients by community can be found here. The grants are administered by the Iowa Arts Council and Produce Iowa, the State Office of Film and Media, both part of the IEDA. Funding is made possible by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature and a matching state partnership grant from the federal National Endowment for the Arts.
