The Iowa Arts Council strengthens and connects Iowa’s creative community through regional and statewide convenings that enable arts leaders to more effectively serve their communities.
Statewide Conferences
Iowa Creative Places Exchange
The Iowa Creative Places Exchange is an annual gathering of Iowans working to enhance community and economic development outcomes by leveraging the arts, culture and creativity. The exchange recognizes Iowa's growing creative sector as a core partner in economic development initiatives and a key to enhancing community livability, well-being and connectedness.
Attendees share and learn about ideas, resources, and solutions for building stronger communities through cross-sector partnerships with the arts and artists and successful approaches to creative place-making and keeping.
2025 Iowa Creative Places Exchange
The 2025 Exchange event will be hosted in partnership with the Greater Burlington Partnership, the Capitol Theater and the Art Center of Burlington on Friday, May 9.
Iowa Fine Arts Education Summit
Held every other year, the Iowa Fine Arts Education Summit is the premiere statewide conference for K-12 fine arts teachers; nonprofit, college and university arts educators; and teaching artists to network, learn and explore ideas through Iowa’s Fine Arts Education Standards.
It is presented in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education.
2025 Iowa Fine Arts Education Summit: Exploring the Artistic Processes
The 2025 Iowa Fine Arts Education Summit will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny
Iowa Arts Summit
Held every other year, the Iowa Arts Summit, is the state’s leading professional development and networking event for Iowa’s arts and creative community. The Iowa Arts Summit brings together creatives, nonprofit professionals and community leaders for networking, learning and celebrating the arts in Iowa.
Details about the 2026 Iowa Arts Summit will be available in early 2025.
Contact the Arts & Culture Team
Email artscouncil@IowaEDA.com
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