Location: Iowa

In February 2025, the Iowa Cultural Coalition shared a report to inspire Iowans around a shared vision: Iowa grows with creativity.

An Iowa community’s demand for art has surged in the last few years, prompting Eastern Iowa Arts Academy to shift programming to a 111-year-old elementary school.

Jetter works broadly across cultural genres to continue her family’s long legacy of promoting Black history and culture in a town where it’s otherwise dwindling.

Stephanie BadSoldier Snow is a multifaceted artist, anthropologist and mother building community and cross-cultural exchanges through traditional knowledge and the arts.

The art of Midwestern pizza goes way beyond deep dish. Here’s a slice of some ‘za traditions from across the region.

Growing up in a majority-Hispanic Midwest city of 3,800, artist Chuy Renteria has turned to ‘dance fighting’ and writing (including a memoir) to feel, defy, and ponder.

Iowa’s Color the Wind Kite Festival, the biggest of its kind in the Midwest, is in its second decade of flying massive kites in the middle of winter.

Spoken word poet and educator Caleb Rainey commits to ‘staying ready’ in the wake of a breakout year.

We asked y’all for local band recommendations, plus a few favorites from staff here at Arts Midwest. Listen up!

Through CultureALL’s Open Book program, Iowans can “check out” real people who share their personal stories and spark conversation.