Iowa is a creative state.
As home to one of the 40 most arts-vibrant cities (Des Moines) and one of the top 10 small creative cities (Iowa City) in the U.S. - along with art-filled main streets, cultural and entertainment districts and creative communities from river to river - Iowa abounds with arts and culture.
Iowa is fertile ground for artists, artisans and creatives of all kinds. Nearly 40,000 Iowans work in the creative sector β from designers, filmmakers, and culinary professionals to creative writers, visual artists and culture bearers. Dance, theatre and musical performers are also part of the creative sector.
Artists and creatives are embedded into the fabric of every Iowa community and are at work every day preserving our heritage, documenting our stories, and imagining our future.
Arts & Culture Build...
- Jobs & the Economy: Arts and culture support jobs, generate revenue for local businesses, and provide authentic cultural experiences that strengthen tourism.
- More Livable Communities: Arts and culture bring beauty to cities and towns, joy to residents and celebrate and preserve diverse cultural expressions and traditions β improving emotional health and well-being.
- Creativity & Innovation: Arts and culture power the creative communities where people want to live and work, where entrepreneurs and innovation thrive and where students have access to artistic and cultural experiences that build an innovative mindset.
- Empathy & Understanding: Arts and culture fosters empathy, tolerance and inclusion by enabling people to see the world from the diverse perspectives of their community.
- Social Connections: Arts and culture create opportunities for shared experiences that strengthen social bonds, create a sense of belonging and community pride and identity.
Arts and Economic Prosperity 6
The results of the sixth national Arts and Economic Prosperity study (AEP6), conducted by Americans for the Arts, were released in October 2023.
AEP6 is an economic and social impact study of the nationβs nonprofit arts and culture industry.
Nearly 6,000 Iowans and 565 non-profit organizations, representing 10 Iowa communities and regions, participated in AEP6.
