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CHARLES CITY PRESS | WWW.CHARLESCITYPRESS.COM | FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025
Arts Center looks at new programming opportunities ahead of eventful year
By Travis Fischer tk fi scher@charlescitypress.com It’s been a busy year for the Charles City Arts Center. Thanks to grants from the Floyd County Community Foundation and the city’s Cul- ture & Entertainment fund, the featured exhibits in the Arts Center can be appreciated in a new light as the building’s dis- play areas have been fi tted with new overhead illumination. “That was a huge improve- ment,” said Arts Center Director Emily Kiewel. Kiewel says that they are now directing their attention toward the basement area of the build- ing to facilitate new programs. The pottery room, in particular, is being reorganized and work is being done on the kiln. “We’d really like to redo that whole basement room,” said Kiewel. Additional staf fi ng thanks to a grant has allowed the Arts
Center to expand its offerings, allowing more open hours for people looking for a place to make their art and dedicat- ed programming for kids and adults. Another big change for the Arts Center this year came in the form of a new format for the annual Member Apprecia- tion Dinner. While traditionally Arts Center members have gone out for dinner, this January the patrons were wined and dined at the Arts Center itself with a ca- tered meal and live music. “We’ve been trying to fi gure out how to do that for a couple of years now,” said Kiewel. The appreciation dinner is far from the only event on the Arts Center’s calendar this year. In the immediate future, the Arts Center will be hosting the Iowa Arts Council’s Regional Arts Forum on Tuesday, March 25. One of seven regional events across the state, the morning
forum will invite local artists, leaders, and community mem- bers to discuss opportunities for enhancing arts and culture in the state, with recommendations for funding allocations being passed on to the Arts Council, Iowa Economic Development Authority, and General Assem- bly. Later, the Arts Center will be holding its one-and-only Glob- al Café of the year at the Elks Lodge. Further on in the summer, the Arts Council will be working on getting a couple new murals painted in the community. Late summer will also feature the 52nd annual Art-a-Fest on Aug. 16. Planning for the event has just begun, but registration is open for up to 50 vendors to show- case their work. Then, in October, the Arts Council will hold its regular Monster Bash costume party. “It’s like the best party in
Press photo by Travis Fischer New display lighting was installed at the Charles City Arts Center in the fall, bringing in needed extra illumination for exhibits.
town,” said Kiewel. In between, the Arts Cen- ter will continue to display the work of featured artists through- out the year. Coming up in April, area students will have their work displayed through the month for the High School Art Show.
In May, the normal month- long display will be extended to six week shows, allowing for more time for each artist to be featured, starting with Riva Nayaju on May 2, followed by Julie Hughes on July 4, and Danelle Clark on Sept. 5. November will be a particu-
larly special feature as the Arts Center is again teaming up with the Waterloo Center for the Arts to have a collection brought over. “I’m really excited to see what we’re going to get,” said Kiewel.
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