Des Moines Arts Festival
The Des Moines Arts Festival® is a multi-day Festival that adds vibrancy to Central Iowa by creating opportunities for people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to celebrate the arts.
- Juried Art Fair
- Emerging Iowa Artists Program presented by Principal Financial Group®
- Prairie Meadows Community Outreach Program showcasing Central Iowa non-profit organizations
- Live music
- Jazz & Wine Pavilion
- GuideOne Performing Arts Stage
- Over 30 Interactive Arts Activities
- Des Moines Art Center's Nurturing a Student's Vision Program sponsored by Hubbell Homes
- Interrobang Film Festival presented by Nationwide
- Green Arts Recycling Program presented by Hy-Vee
- Des Moines Art Center's Interactive Sculpture Activity
- Artist demonstrations
- 23 Eclectic Food Booths
- Sculpture Garden
- ADMISSION: FREE
History
The Des Moines Arts Festival® traces its beginnings to 1958 when the Des Moines Art Center hosted its inaugural Art in the Park on the grounds of Des Moines' fine art museum. In 1997, with the advent of revitalized downtown urban energy, momentum grew to reinvigorate the 40-year-old event. Armed with a new name and a new location, the 1998 Des Moines Arts Festival® splashed onto the downtown bridges that span the Des Moines River, showcasing the nation's premiere artists and creating an opportunity for people of all ages to embrace the arts.
The Festival also continued its commitment of "going green" and implemented F. A. D. with the help of local artists and official sponsor, Hy-Vee. Six local artists were asked to create recycling kiosks out of found, applied and donated objects. The end results were pieces of artwork that served a function of recycling for all materials on the Festival grounds. The 2010 entertainment grew this year throughout the three spaces: U.S. Cellular Stage, GuideOne Performing Arts Stage and the Jazz & Wine Pavilion presented by Meredith. All three spaces had continuous entertainment and the U. S. Cellular Stage kicked off the weekend with American Idol contestant Katelyn Epperly Friday night. The GuideOne Performing Arts Stage had an eclectic mix of comedy, poetry, theatre, and dance while the Jazz & Wine Pavilion swept patrons away with smooth jazz from various local groups, including local favorite, Max Wellman.
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