State announces arts and culture grants, including to Charles City organizations

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) on Wednesday announced awards of almost $1.7 million from seven programs to strengthen the arts, culture and creative industries across the state and provide Iowans with access to enriching cultural experiences.

Two awards from the Cultural Capacity Building Grants Program went to Floyd County organizations. The Charles City Arts Center and the Floyd County Historical Society and Museum each received awards of $5,000 toward operating support.

“The cultural grant is great because it supports operating costs,” said Emily Kiewel, director of the Charles City Arts Center. “It’s kind of hard to find those grants.”

Kiewel said the grant was written for increased wages to expand the hours at the Arts Center.

It’s currently open Wednesday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., she said.

“We’re hoping to add some evening hours – catch some people after they get off work,” Kiewel said.

Mckenna Lloyd, director of the Floyd County Museum, said this is the third year the museum has received this award.

“It’s one of the few grants that will go to support operating costs and things like that. We’ll be using it for those kinds of things – staff salaries and office supplies and utilities,” she said. “This one doesn’t require a particular project and doesn’t require a matching funds, so that’s really helpful. It’s a nice extra boost.”

IEDA approved 173 awards to Iowa organizations and Iowans in more than 60 communities from the Art Project Grant Program, Cultural Capacity Building Grant Program, Cultural Leadership Partners Program, Greenlight Grant Program, Iowa Artist Fellowship Program, Iowa Community Cultural Grant Program and Iowa Screenwriters Grant Program.

The matching grants leverage local and private investment and support a wide range of creative projects in Iowa schools, arts and cultural venues and communities. Projects awarded funding range from arts and cultural festivals and live theater performances to exhibitions, film productions and community public art projects.

“Arts and culture are integral to economic vitality,” said IEDA Director Debi Durham. “They not only drive growth within our communities but also enhance the quality of life, making our state a more attractive destination for both visitors and new residents.”

The grants are administered by the Iowa Arts Council and Produce Iowa, the State Office of Film and Media, both part of the IEDA. Funding is made possible by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature and a matching state partnership grant from the federal National Endowment for the Arts.

Arts and cultural production contributed nearly $5 billion to Iowa’s economy last year and accounted for nearly 42,000 jobs, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Iowa’s arts, cultural and heritage venues also serve as tourism attractions and anchors to vibrant downtowns, generating local spending and supporting Iowa companies in their efforts to attract talent by enhancing Iowans’ quality of life, the IEDA said.

Learn more about the IEDA and Iowa Arts and Culture at culture.iowaeda.com.