DCA awards $225,000 in Iowa Community Cultural Grants
Four Iowa Great Places receive ICCG funding
For Immediate Release May 2, 2007
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced today it has awarded 22 Iowa Community Cultural Grants totaling $225,000 for arts, historical and cultural programs in 19 Iowa communities, including four projects related to Great Places in Clinton, Dubuque, Fairfield and Sioux City.
The ICCG program encourages strong cultural growth and development throughout the state and provides matching grants to support organizations and projects that provide lasting employment for Iowans while also enhancing Iowa’s artistic, cultural and historical resources. Projects include museum exhibits, historic restoration and archeology projects, folk life and other festivals public art projects, ethnic heritage projects and performing arts events and companies.
DCA received 79 ICCG requests totaling $1,258,036 this year, an increase over last year’s 69 ICCG requests totaling $1,166,057. The 22 grants announced today will be awarded July 1, 2008 pending legislative budget approval.
The River Cities American Art Council in Clinton will receive $8,000 to support an Iowa artist to produce three works of art on selected downtown facades. “Gateway to the Arts Mural Project” images will reflect a “Living History: Clinton in Motion” theme and will draw upon the community’s industrial, river-based heritage.
The Dubuque County Historical Society in Dubuque will receive $15,000 for funding personnel at the Great Rivers Center to implement the $33 million America’s River II museum expansion, which will create 18 full time and 24 half time jobs.
In Fairfield, 1st Friday Art Walk of Fairfield, Iowa Inc., will receive $17,000 to hire personnel to stabilize and develop the Fairfield 1st Friday Arts Walk.
In Sioux City, LAMB Arts, Ltd., will receive $14,000 to provide salary support for an Iowa-based production staff for a children’s theatre program. ArtsExpress will include in-school/on-theatre-site workshops with professional theatre arts educators and provide a process for classroom teachers to incorporate theatre activities into their teaching.
“With these projects, Clinton, Dubuque, Fairfield and Sioux City are combining state resources with local assets to make their places great,” DCA Director Cyndi Pederson said.
Great Places is program that combines the resources of state government with local assets to build capacity in Iowa communities, regions, neighborhoods or districts to cultivate the unique and authentic qualities that make them special. Clinton, Dubuque, Fairfield and Sioux City are four of Iowa’s nine Great Places, which also include Adams County, Coon Rapids, Guttenberg, Jackson County and Mason City,
Communities and organizations across Iowa are encouraged to apply for FY09 Iowa Community Cultural Grants. Nonprofit or tax-exempt organizations that promote and develop the arts, history or historic preservation, culture, ethnicity, tourism, economic development, festivals or municipal libraries are eligible to apply. City and county governments and tribal councils are also eligible. Cash-match awards range from $1,000 to $25,000. Applications will be available after August 30 at www.culturalaffairs.org and will be accepted through February 1, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines, Iowa, 50319. This is not a postmark deadline. Please visit www.culturalaffairs.org or contact Riki Saltzman at 515-242-6195 or Riki.Saltzman@iowa.gov for more information.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. The DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the general assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
Following is the list of FY2008 ICCG recipients:
(Community)
(Organization)
(Project)
(Details)
(Grant Amount)
Amana
Amana Arts Guild
Celebrating Iowa’s Picturesque Landscape
ICCG funding will be used to directly employ Iowa artists and art instructors
and as salary support for gallery and project staff. In addition, a local
printer will be employed to produce marketing materials for this project.
$4,000
Burlington
Des Moines County Historical Society
Des Moines County Museum Director Funding
Funding will allow the Des Moines County Museum to hire a full time director/curator
to work with programming, exhibits, artifact conservation and part time staff
and volunteers.
$12,000
Cedar Rapids
African American Heritage Foundation
Engaging Iowa in African American History.
The African American Museum of Iowa will hire a Central/Western Statewide
Coordinator, who, based in Des Moines, will expand museum programs, educational
activities and preservation efforts into the western half of Iowa. The C/WSC
will develop partnerships and networks to bring African American history into
the spotlight.
$14,000
Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra
Full Time Development Assistant Position
ICCG funding will be used exclusively to underwrite half of the salary and
benefits for a full time development assistant.
$8,000
Center Junction
Jones County Conservation Board
Cultural Resources Program Coordinator
This proposal includes expansion of an existing position within the conservation
department. The person will coordinate archaeological investigations, oral
history projects, researching options for preservation of historic structures
and sites, nomination of structures and sites to the National Register of
Historic Places and assist with programs related to cultural resources.
$5,000
Clinton
River Cities American Art Council
Gateway to the Arts Mural Project
Funding will support an Iowa artist to produce three works of art on selected
downtown facades. The images will reflect a "Living History: Clinton
in Motion" theme and will draw upon the community's industrial, river-based
heritage.
$8,000
Columbus Junction
City of Columbus Junction, Iowa
Community Development Through Diversity
Funding will help create a part time position that serves the Columbus Junction
community by originating and coordinating programs and communications offered
through the Diversity Center Office at the Columbus Junction Civic Center.
This community development position will concentrate in its initial year on
the areas of culture, ethnicity and tourism.
$14,000
Decorah
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum
Staff Enhancement Project 2008
ICCG funding will assist in the hiring of an Executive Director and an Administrative
Assistant.
$3,000
Des Moines
Salisbury House Foundation
Salisbury House Shakespeare on the Lawn-Midsummer Day Camp
Salisbury House Foundation will use ICCG funding to support Shakespeare on
the Lawn-Midsummer Day Camp. Shakespeare on the Lawn and Midsummer Day Camp
brings more than 1,200 people of all ages to the grounds of a unique house
museum to see a professional production of a Shakespeare play. The program
gives more than 30 actors/artists paid employment, attracts hundreds of individuals
to a quality professional theater presentation, and introduces dozens of young
people to a cultural opportunity that may lead to their interest in the arts,
enriching their own lives and perhaps expanding future audiences for live
performances.
$8,000
Des Moines
VSA arts of Iowa
Governor's VSA Arts of Iowa Festival
Held as part of the Iowa State Fair, the Governor's VSA Arts of Iowa Festival
is the largest festival in the United States for professional artists with
disabilities. Held over all 11 nights of the State Fair, it features singing,
dancing, drama and visual arts from 80 Iowa artists with disabilities.
$10,000
Dubuque
Dubuque County Historical Society
Great Rivers Center
ICCG funding for this project will provide a full time coordinator and a
part time development assistant to implement the America's River II museum
expansion in Dubuque, one of Iowa's Great Places. The staff will make a crucial
contribution to the success of the $33 million museum expansion and ultimately
help the museum create 18 full time jobs and 24 half time jobs.
$15,000
Fairfield
1st Friday Art Walk of Fairfield, Iowa Inc.
Fairfield 1st Friday Art Walk Administrative Staff Funding
Funding will support Fairfield 1st Friday Art Walk to hire one full time
and one part-time staff for administration. This will stabilize and further
develop the event and provide the 12 months needed by our professional fund
raisers to locate and secure other revenue sources that will fund the administrative
positions permanently.
$17,000
Fort Madison
Old Fort Madison/City of Fort Madison
Enhancing our Time Period Through the Senses
Funding will support the employment of artisans, musicians, craftsmen and
guest speakers to enhance the tour experience of Old Fort Madison.
$2,000
Grimes
World of Difference
Culture Encounters in Iowa Classrooms.
World of Difference will use ICCG funding to support Culture Encounters in
Iowa Classrooms. Teachers have lots of barriers to incorporating culture into
their curriculum in spite of numerous resources available. World of Difference
works with teachers, helping them to sort through resources and observe cultural
experiences in their own classroom. These immersion workshops gently guide
teachers and students through new concepts and thought processes, sparking
a curiosity to learn about other cultures in more meaningful ways.
$18,000
Maquoketa
Jackson County Historical Society
Clinton Engines Project - Phase II – HVAC
Funding will support labor costs associated with the installation of four
high efficiency furnaces donated by the Maquoketa Community Area Foundation,
four air-conditioning units and the necessary duct work, controls, relays
and wiring necessary for operation.
$15,000
Maquoketa
Maquoketa Fine Arts Center
Office Assistant
Funding will allow the hire of a part time office assistant. This is a new
position. Adding this position to the staff will greatly increase the productivity
of our director thus increasing the success of the facility.
$4,000
Marion
Red Cedar Chamber Music
South of the Border: Mentoring through Music
Funding will support this Latin inspired chamber music to reach students
and parents in schools and libraries. It addresses the musical contribution
of Iowa's growing Hispanic population, the centerpiece work being a new commission
by Cuban composer Ricardo Izanola. Six of these events involve professional
musicians mentoring and performing with young musicians for families in rural
libraries.
$11,000
Postville
Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation/Development
Northeast Iowa Artist Studio Tour Expansion Project
ICCG funding will be used to hire a part time marketing expansion director
and a part time administrative assistant to support the growth of this organization.
$8,000
Sioux City
LAMB Arts, Ltd.
ArtsExpress
ArtsExpress will provide salary support for an Iowa-based production staff
for a children's theatre program with ICCG funding. ArtsExpress will include
in-school/on-theatre-site workshops with professional theatre arts educators
and provide a process for classroom teachers to incorporate theatre activities
into their teaching.
$14,000
Urbandale
Iowa Museum Association
Iowa Museums: V.A.S.T. Resources.
Iowa Museums: V.A.S.T. Resources expands services by addressing four key
issues: volunteerism, attendance, support and training. IMA will focus on
the following areas in consecutive years: the need for museum volunteers;
increasing attendance; museums' need for financial stability; and need for
training.
$15,000
Waterloo
H.W Grout Trust
Outreach and Youth Volunteer Assistant
ICCG funding will be used to pay the salary of this position (specifically
to work at the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium) and toward a portion of the salary
of the outreach coordinator as the supervisor.
$10,000
West Liberty
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
Outreach Partnership with the West Liberty Public Library
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre will work with the West Liberty Public Library
to create a Youth Theatre Group for students in fifth grade and above. Productions
will include human theatre and puppet theatre. To help groom future Youth
Theatre participants, Eulenspiegel will include outreach activities for preschool
and elementary school students.
$10,000
