Amplifying Midwestern Creativity
Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates arts organizations and creative communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond.
Joyful, loud, and Midwest proud
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June 3, 2025
Finding Care, Community in the Circus Capital of the World (It’s in the Midwest!)
By Debra Jo Myers
Indiana resident Debra Jo Myers shares how she found a home in a local amateur circus program as a young child and how it continues to shape her life.
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‘Silly Fish Parade’ Exalts Springtime, Cardboard, and the Smelt Queen
May 29, 2025
This annual smelt parade along Lake Superior reels back to a niche tradition of catching the small, silvery fish in the dark of night.
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When a Community Shares Its Stories with a Photographer
May 28, 2025
Photographer Asa Featherstone, IV reflects on his instant film photo series—started as a way to meet people during an artist residency—and how it became a celebration of everyday stories.
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How Sign is Transforming a Wisconsin Stage
May 22, 2025
Via deaf artists, American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, is redirecting the spotlight.
Grant Opportunities and Programs
We support efforts that connect people, ideas, and solutions through creativity. Learn more about our grantmaking initiatives and our community programming.
U.S. Regional Arts Organizations Joint Statement on the National Endowment for the Arts
Speak up for the arts. Learn what’s happening at the National Endowment for the Arts and respond.
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What American Community Survey Data Says About Midwest Artists
From earnings to extra bedrooms, here’s what new Census data tells us about how Midwestern artists are living, working, and creating today.
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Social Media That Actually Works: A Guide for Small Organizations
A practical guide to help small teams build meaningful, sustainable social media strategies without burning out.
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Shakespeare for All in Rural Appalachia, Rooted in Soil and Soul
Nestled in the rural mountains of Southwest Virginia, the nearly century-old Barter Theatre helps actors and creative staff to put down roots and build connections in their community.
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