As a valued supporter of Metro Arts Alliance, we wanted to share some news with you: the Board of Directors and staff leadership of Metro Arts Alliance of Greater Des Moines made the difficult decision on August 16, 2017 to cease operations after almost 42 years of providing access to the arts in our community.
"The board faced financial realities that left few options other than to find ways for the organization's legacies to live on by finding successor organizations that can continue to fulfill the mission of the Metro Arts Alliance," says Board President Rick Ballinger. "The board is focused on finding a way for the organization's experience and resources to continue to serve the community. "
Metro Arts' core purpose has been arts education. Most recently, Metro Arts was in the process of becoming Iowa's first affiliate of Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts. Metro Arts hopes that another organization will continue this important partnership.
"Groundwork is underway to pursue another organization that can provide a similar, or maybe even stronger, community benefit, enabling the organization's past work to continue to serve the youth who depended on us," says Ballinger.
Metro Arts' signature event, Jazz in July, marked its 35th consecutive season last month of presenting locally acclaimed and emerging jazz musicians throughout Greater Des Moines. From downtown lunchtime concerts to concerts throughout neighborhoods in Greater Des Moines, this series provided access to the arts for audiences of all ages, helped sustain jazz as a living art form, and invigorated the community. "We have the space and time now to explore various options and successor organizations to successfully place this event," says Ballinger.
"Closing down an organization and its programs is not an easy decision for nonprofit leaders to make," says Angela Ossian, executive director at Metro Arts Alliance. "It required tough decisions about services, personnel, and - most importantly - the communities and constituents served by Metro Arts."
Metro Arts Alliance - Our Legacy
Throughout its storied forty-two year history, Metro Arts Alliance has completed dozens of successful projects that have advanced creativity and strengthened our community. Notable accomplishments include:
- Being a major arts education partner for the Des Moines Public School District's 'Metro Kids' for over 10 years
- Instituting the venerable Jazz in July series that has become an annual tradition for many neighborhoods throughout the metro (celebrating 35 years in 2017)
- Showcasing talented artists from across the Midwest for more than 20 years, through the Two Rivers Arts Expo
- Installing the first two (and to date, the only two) public art installations at the Des Moines International Airport
- Providing employment for local teaching artists in the schools and community with arts education programming that annually serves thousands of children
- Integrating the arts and environmental conservation education through a 'Green Art' joint initiative with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Launched Dining for the Arts: AWE (Arts Within Everything) Awards in 2013 to celebrate the nontraditional art forms of food and fashion.
We sincerely appreciate your past support, and hope you recognize and are pleased with the return on your investment. Thank you for participating, being part of our community each year in your own unique way, and helping us to create new opportunities for the arts and artists. Your generosity held the keys to our past success. For an organization to sustain a remarkable 42 years is a testament to the caring community that believes in our mission and the people we serve.
