Join the Iowa Arts Council at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium on Thursday, March 6 from 1-4 PM for an upcoming 2025 Regional Arts Forum event. The event will be held on the second floor of the William Woodward Mississippi River Center in the Bickel Gallery. This in-person event will provide an opportunity for local artists, arts and civic leaders, and community members to gather and discuss opportunities for strengthening arts and culture in their region and across the state. Registration is free and required.
Iowa Arts Council is hosting seven forums across the state including Dubuque on March 6. The 2025 Forums align with the Iowa Arts Caucus, which the Iowa Arts Council hosts every four years. The purpose of the caucus and regional conferences is to identify opportunities and review possible changes related to programs that support arts and cultural enhancement. Participants will make recommendations to the Arts Council, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the General Assembly regarding funding allocations and priorities for arts and cultural enhancement in our state.
During each Forum, the Iowa Arts Council will provide an overview of our current programs and funding allocations and upcoming grants for state fiscal year 2026. Attendees will then break into small groups to discuss opportunities to improve or enhance the quality of programs currently offered by the Iowa Arts Council and IEDA.
Six individuals attending each Forum will be elected to attend the statewide Caucus to be held at the IEDA’s office in Des Moines on Friday, August 8, 2025. Please indicate on the registration form if you would like to be included on the ballot to represent your region. Regional Arts Forum attendees will vote on their six representatives at the Forum event.
Learn more about the forums and how to participate in the caucus process on the Iowa Arts Council website, https://culture.iowaeda.com. Registration for the event can be found at rivermuseum.org/events and on the River Museum’s Facebook page.