- United States of America
- May 16, 2024
- desmoinesartcenter.org
Company Information
Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, American Association of Museums accredited institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 270,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century: Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th- and 21st-century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. Focused on excellence and global in scope, the Art Center's collection includes exceptional works by Francis Bacon, Helen Frankenthaler, Edward Hopper, Yayoi Kusama, Henri Matisse, Wangechi Mutu, Georgia O'Keeffe, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Ebony Patterson, and Ai Wei Wei, among thousands of others.
The experimental spirit of the art for which the Art Center cares is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission, identity, programs, and operations. Accessibility is central to the Art Center's values. The Art Center is proud to be one of the only cultural organizations in the community with a universal free admission policy, in place since 1998, which ensures that all visitors are able to participate in exhibitions and related educational programming.