"Imagine Iowa 2010: Great Places" Theme of Quadrennial Cultural
Caucuses
For Immediate Release September 7, 2004
DES MOINES, Iowa—One of the largest statewide discussions
about Iowa’s cultural future will kick off Sept. 20 in Dubuque. The Iowa
Department of Cultural Affairs will conduct cultural causes in 11 Iowa communities
through Oct. 26, culminating with a statewide caucus in Des Moines Nov. 8.
With a statement from Governor Tom Vilsack that turned 2004 into the "Year
of the Arts, Culture and Recreation in Iowa," these cultural caucuses are
an opportunity for Iowans to set the cultural agenda for the next four years,
in order to make the state a better place to live, work and raise a family. Department
of Cultural Affairs Director Anita Walker says "Imagine Iowa 2010: Great
Places" focuses on the role of culture in improving the lives of Iowans.
"Iowans want to live in culturally vibrant communities," said Walker.
"They want their children enriched by the arts in their school. The caucuses
will help us achieve these goals."
Each caucus will elect six delegates to attend the statewide caucus at the
State Historical Building in Des Moines Nov. 8. This event will celebrate the
work that has been done since the last cultural caucus was held in 2001, and determine
how to continue the progress.
"We are thrilled to have input from our constituents to further our vision
of culture in Iowa," Walker said. "We’ve heard a lot about the
creative economy in Iowa, and this gets at the very heart of it. What makes Iowa
communities ‘great places’? We’re going to take what we’ve
learned so far and advance it to the next level."
Each cultural caucus will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m. The meetings
are free and open to the public. The schedule is:
Sept. 20: Dubuque, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Sept. 21: Waterloo, Waterloo Center for the Arts
Sept. 27: Sioux City, Sioux City Public Library (tentative)
Sept. 28: Council Bluffs, Iowa School for the Deaf
Sept. 30: Iowa City/Coralville, Iowa Children’s Museum
Oct. 11: Davenport, Davenport Public Library
Oct. 18: Burlington, Art Guild of Burlington
Oct. 19: Cedar Rapids, Czech and Slovak Museum (tentative)
Oct. 21: Des Moines, State Historical Building
Oct. 25: Mason City, Charles H. MacNider Museum
Oct. 26: Fort Dodge, Blanden Memorial Art Museum
Nov. 8: Des Moines, Statewide Cultural Caucus, State Historical Building
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