(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), last week, announced awards of $1,678,389 from seven grant programs to strengthen the arts, culture and creative industries across the state and provide Iowans with access to enriching cultural experiences. Among the grant recipients in southwest Iowa, is the following:

• Malvern Area Betterment Association – $2,000 Creative Catalyst Project Grant for “Clay for Community”
• Creston Community High School – $4,000 Creative Catalyst Project Grant for “School to Studio”
• Zack Jones of Malvern – $4,000 Art Project Grant for “Harvest Series: Music and Visual Artists at Malvern’s Art Church”
• Kelly Devitt of Creston – $2,000 Art Project Grant for “Solo Exhibition and Student Experience at Octagon Gallery”
• American Midwest Ballet of Council Bluffs – $5,000 Art Project Grant for “Season 15 Education and Community Engagement”
• Council Bluffs Guild of the Omaha Symphony – $5,000 Art Project Grant for “2024/25 Omaha Symphony Education Programs for Iowa”
• Creston: Arts – $5,000 Cultural Capacity Building Grant for Operating Support
• Pottawattamie Arts Culture & Entertainment – $20,000 Cultural Leadership Partners Grant for Operating Support
• Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn – $20,000 Cultural Leadership Partners Grant for Operating Support

IEDA approved 173 awards to Iowa organizations and Iowans in more than 60 communities from the Art Project Grant Program, Cultural Capacity Building Grant Program, Cultural Leadership Partners Program, Greenlight Grant Program, Iowa Artist Fellowship Program, Iowa Community Cultural Grant Program and Iowa Screenwriters Grant Program.

The matching grants leverage local and private investment and support a wide range of creative projects in Iowa schools, arts and cultural venues and communities. Projects awarded funding range from arts and cultural festivals and live theatre performances to exhibitions, film productions and community public art projects.