On Friday, March 28, the Le Mars Art Center will be hosting, in collaboration with Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)’s Iowa Art Council (IAC), one of this year’s Regional Arts Forums. This event is one of seven that are happening across Iowa during the months of February and March and is open to the public and free to attend.
Kana Kappelman, a marketing and communications lead for the IEDA said, “The Regional Arts Forums are designed to empower Iowans to partner with us (Iowa Economic Development Authority – Iowa Arts Council) to create shared goals for enhancing the arts in our state.” Essentially, this forum will be an opportunity for community members and artists in the area to gather and discuss ways to promote art within the local community.
This forum happens every four years. “We continue to see a greater integration of the arts within community and economic development efforts in Iowa communities. Often, this means that the arts are part of larger strategies and projects related to local tourism, recreation, talent attraction, business development and even housing initiatives,” Kappelman said while reflecting on the ways art in Iowa has changed over the past few years. “All of this adds to the traditional, and incredibly vital, role that the arts and artists play in advancing educational opportunities for Iowa students, preserving and celebrating important cultural traditions and enhancing community quality of life for Iowans.”
The IEDA provides many resources for artists, students and community members. These include many events, educational opportunities, artist fellowship and grants, including cultural leadership and film festival grants. One of the things the IEDA particularly emphasizes about this forum is how it is an opportunity for them to hear back from the communities they serve. “As we continue to learn about the unique needs in each region of the state, this public input will serve as an important building block as we continue to refine our programs at IEDA,” Kappelman said.
Since these forums take place across the state, it is a great opportunity for those invested in the arts to support one another. Kappelman said, “these types of convenings serve to better connect stakeholders from different communities with one another and to encourage partnership and collaboration on a regional level.” If you are someone who cares about the arts in your community, consider attending one of these events in the future to learn more about resources for artists in the area and how to support the future of the arts in Iowa.
