Our mission is to build networks through artists, educators and professionals of all disciplines to help rural communities reach their creative potential.
Rural Arts and Culture
One of the ways rural locations such as Winterset and Madison County can benefit from their unique heritage while building the essential character for a successful future is through the arts. In particular, art projects engaging local to internationally-recognized creative leaders can serve as a distinct cultural commitment.
One of the ways rural locations such as Winterset and Madison County can benefit from their unique heritage while building the essential character for a successful future is through the arts. In particular, art projects engaging local to internationally-recognized creative leaders can serve as a distinct cultural commitment.
Holliwell Covered Bridge (1880) Madison County, Iowa
Art in the public sphere
The fellowships are designated to support artists-in-residence. The residencies will be based in, or close to, Madison County, Iowa. We target people from all disciplines to join us as fellows. The primary criteria in selection for our fellowships is finding people who excel in bringing creative, forward thinking ideas and practices to the public. We believe in the role of art to rediscover, educate and question who we are and who we aspire to be as individuals and communities. The primary outcomes of our mission are the following:
+ Discover innovative and diverse aspects of rural art and culture.
+ Promote rural communities and places of significant creative potential for innovative individuals to live and work.
+ Foster a community culture that is dynamic, ambitious, and dedicated to
community-based art.
Our methods
We strive to make art accessible to the public in a way that truly helps shape the
community and peoples’ lives. The centerpiece of our efforts is the use of local communities as places of creative exploration and engagement. We pursue our mission of creative place-making in various ways.
+ Identify potential projects. This process may involve identifying artists,
locations, themes, or goals that could initiate more discussion and eventual work.
+ Manage venues and projects that support the mission of art in the public sphere.
+ Build connections and partnerships with regional and national stakeholders and leaders in art and creative enterprises.
Guiding principles
+ We value the integrity of art and its value unto itself.
+ We believe in the integrity of artistic expression and will strive to support the
visions of artists and curators.
+ We support art that is inclusive but not necessarily “popular.” We believe
successful art will invoke a wide range of reactions from di erent people.
We always had the idea of using all the objective things around us, the objects we have, things in general, the spaces at our disposal, the outdoors around us, we always had the idea of using all of this for, well, it's hard to say, some sort
of theater, a life. Poetry.
- from How to Imagine by Gianfranco Baruchello
of theater, a life. Poetry.
- from How to Imagine by Gianfranco Baruchello
Installation at Rush Hall at Wilkins - work by Alexander Coster Scott.