Community stakeholders and cultural arts professionals to meet June 6
(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were joined by cultural arts leaders at their weekly press conference today to preview the upcoming Iowa Arts Summit on Friday, June 6, 2014. The Summit will bring together community stakeholders, cultural organizations and arts professionals from across the state for a day-long discussion about arts and culture in Iowa.
"The cultural arts continue to transform our communities by elevating our quality of life, generating economic growth and creating job opportunities not only for Iowans directly involved in the arts, but also for the skilled trades and the hospitality industry," said Branstad. "This Summit will be a terrific opportunity for Iowans to learn and share ideas about the arts and the economy and discuss the best options for investing in rural and community development through the arts."
"This important day will foster a greater sense of connectivity across Iowa's cultural landscape and remind us that we all have a stake in ensuring the vitality of Iowa's quality of life," said Reynolds. "We invite and encourage Iowans from all across the state to participate in this important discussion by attending the Iowa Arts Summit on June 6 in Des Moines."
The schedule features dynamic learning sessions with local, regional and national presenters; panel discussions; and presentation of the Governor's Arts Awards. Discussion topics will include the intersection of arts and economy, building public support for the arts, and arts-based rural development as well as contemporary audience marketing strategies, building organizational capacity, and encouraging successful community collaborations. Professional development and networking opportunities will be available as well as featured performances by Iowa City's Working Group Theatre, Ballet Quad Cities and Parranderos Latin Combo of Des Moines.
"We're very excited to bring arts professionals, community leaders and advocates together to discuss arts and culture and the impact they have on Iowa," Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie said. "Iowa has an incredible arts story to tell and we want to empower Iowans with the tools they need to better tell that story."
The Iowa Arts Summit will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, June 6, 2014, at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, part of the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Registration is open now through May 23, 2014 for $45 per person at www.iowaartssummit.com. Discounted rates for students and a limited number of registration scholarships are available.
The Iowa Arts Summit is presented by the Iowa Arts Council with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. IAC is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Visit www.iowaartscouncil.org or call 515-281-5111 for more information.
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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 three divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa; the Iowa Arts Council; and Produce Iowa, the film, television and digital media office that supports media production in Iowa. 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.
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