Around Des Moines

When I first heard that the Des Moines Arts Festival was celebrating its tenth year, I thought someone had gotten the math wrong. After all, it was here in one form or another when I first came to town in the late 1980s. So I investigated.

It all began as “Art in the Park” back in 1958 when the Des Moines Art Museum first hosted the event on its lush grounds. Each summer several hundred art lovers made the trek to view and purchase a wide array of arts, made predominantly by artists from Iowa and neighboring states.

By 1998, the summer art event was heading into a growth spurt, and so the newly renamed “Des Moines Art Festival” was transplanted onto the trio of downtown bridges over the Des Moines River. There it continued to grow in size and sophistication.

Now the juried art fair is located in the Western Gateway area of downtown Des Moines where it draws crowds of over 200,000.

Over the years, it has garnered a reputation as the signature arts and culture event in Iowa and the festival continues to blossom. The 2007 event showcases over 500 visual artists and promises increased emphasis on the performing arts. And, although the festival now features national and international artists, much Iowa talent still shines through.

For more information about the Des Moines Arts Festival, being held this weekend, visit http://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org/

Guest Author: Brenda Friedrich

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