Creative Ideas, People, and Projects in the Midwest and Beyond
Stories from Arts Midwest-
Stories
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The Creative Potential of Growing the World’s Tallest Sunflower
September 3, 2026
The new documentary ‘Bloom’ details the art of growing by a self-proclaimed ‘accidental’ world record holder—Indiana style.
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More than a Mural: Exploring Interconnection with Marlena Myles
Everything ties together, says the artist, whose new mural at the University of Minnesota is a connector and resource for students and educators alike.
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Iowa Artists Float Water Quality Solutions with New Sculpture
Parts Per Million Collective merge contemporary art and citizen science in a public art piece on the pond at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm.
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Artists Lead Local Cultural Exchange at Wisconsin Children’s Museum
Wisconsin families are celebrating local Mexican and Hmong cultures through artist residencies, food, and play.
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Child Raising and Art Making? These Iowans Do It All—Together
The Iowa Artist/Mother Collective supports artist-caregivers navigating creativity and child-rearing, often with beautifully blurred, and sometimes difficult, lines.
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No Tuition, All Heart: This Chicago Music School Hits the Right Note
Started in 1976 in a former beauty parlor, The People’s Music School has welcomed thousands of students through their doors. None of them have had to pay a cent.
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Civil Rights Landmark Opens to the Public in Michigan
An ordinary home—and the extraordinary people who lived there—will give visitors firsthand access to one of America’s most important and transformative eras.
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Minnesota Theatre Now Casting: Exactly Who You Are
BOLD-choice Theatre puts community actors on stage, giving voice to authenticity, agency, and acceptance.
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We’re always looking for collaborators (writers, photographers, illustrators, and community video documenters) to help us tell the next great Midwest story.
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Learn MoreAbout Our Storytelling
Welcome to Arts Midwest’s storytelling work (previously known as the Creativity News Desk).
We amplify Midwestern creativity and the voices of diverse Midwesterners from all backgrounds. Our goal is to help reshape the narrative of the Midwest, moving far beyond “flyover country,” by showcasing our region’s innovation, art, and creativity.
Our stories are created by staff creators and a network of freelancers, and we’re always looking for new collaborators.
Arts Midwest retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our storytelling work. We maintain a firewall between our coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services, or opinions.
We accept gifts and grants from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities. Arts Midwest may consider donations to support coverage that aligns with the goals of the news desk and our organizational values. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.
We recognize the importance of transparency. We commit to disclosing the names of all donors who support this initiative.
The Creativity News Desk and the Creative Midwest Media Cohort were launched with the generous support of Good Chaos.
Our storytelling work is currently supported by Arts Midwest’s gift from MacKenzie Scott, an unrestricted contribution received in 2021; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the McKnight Foundation.
Questions about storytelling?
Our team is here to help. Get in touch with your questions.
Contact Our Team