Interactive Arts Activities at the 2023 Des Moines Arts Festival®
6/13/2023(Des Moines, IA) – The Des Moines Arts Festival® presented by Nationwide has announced the lineup of interactive arts programming and special happenings at the Festival, June 23-25, 2023. The award-winning Festival will be held in Western Gateway Park surrounding the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The activities are free as is admission to the Festival.
Planned events include both hands-on and stop-and-watch activities open to Festival guests of all ages for the duration of the three-day Festival. To get the most of your visit, the Festival suggests visiting desmoinesartsfestival.org/interactivearts.
“This year’s Des Moines Arts Festival has more FREE interactive arts activities than ever before,” said Stephen King, Executive Director of the Des Moines Arts Festival. “Families don’t have to choose between activities – they can really do them all.”
This year’s Festival features 25 hands-on activities, 42 films, 24 live music performances and 24 artist demonstrations. Pop-up performances from musicians, dancers and performance artists will also occur throughout the weekend.
2023 DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
All activities are open during the Festival hours unless otherwise noted.
The Billboard Mural Project presented by Athene
Location: Southwest corner of Grand Ave. and 13th St.
The Billboard Mural Project presented by Athene is a giant interactive art experience where Festival guests contribute to the creation of a large mural over the three days of the Festival. Guests entering the art activity area will receive one small square image of the original painting, a blank panel and the opportunity to transfer their interpretation of the small square onto the larger. When finished, the panels are affixed into a billboard-sized frame, piece by piece. A limited number of panels are available each day.
Community Outreach Program presented by MidAmerican Energy Company
Location: The Creative Zone: Grand Ave. between 15th and 16th Streets
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; Festival Hours on Sunday
The Community Outreach Program presented by MidAmerican Energy Company provides 20 area non-profit organizations a forum to share their mission with Festival guests through a range of free kid-and-family-friendly interactive arts activities—such as painting kindness rocks, creating their own comic strip, and contributing to a giant community heart. Find out more here.
Community Garden Wall presented by Principal
Location: Northwest corner of Grand Ave. and 13th St.
Visit the Principal booth to contribute to a Community Garden Wall. Guests will make tissue paper flowers and add their flower to the wall – making the art grow! Guests may also leave with a special garden themed takeaway.
BOOM ART! With MidAmerican Energy Company
Location: The Creative Zone: Grand Ave. between 15th and 16th Streets
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; Festival Hours on Sunday
One of the Festival’s don’t-miss activities is the at the popular BOOM Art! The interactive mural project sponsored by MidAmerican Energy Company, offers Festival guests the chance to contribute to an enormous coloring-book styled mural. As each 10-foot section comes to life, the mural is hoisted up to 30 feet in the air by MidAmerican’s zero-emission/all-electric bucket trucks. Markers provided, no skills required.
Prairie Meadows Spin Art
Location: The Creative Zone: Grand Ave. between 15th and 16th Streets
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; Festival Hours on Sunday
Kids of all ages can create colorful masterpieces using paint and a rotating canvas. Sponsored by Prairie Meadows and the Altoona Lions Club.
Strolling Street Theatre
Location: Across the Festival Site
Performers Bill Robison and Roberto the Magnificent will be strolling the Festival site providing spontaneous audience interactions and entertainment wherever they go.
Art Alley
Location: 13th Street between Locust St. and Grand Ave.
The Art Alley is a place to create your own chalk masterpiece. Guests are encouraged to fill the street with colorful chalk drawings.
Interrobang Film Festival
Location: Central Library – 1000 Grand Ave.
The Interrobang Film Festival will feature 42 films, an Iowa Filmmakers Panel and new, this year, TALKBACKS. These are special sessions where the films director, producer or writer is on hand following the film showing to discuss the film with the guests and give the inside scoop. See the full line-up here.
Live Art Demonstrations
Location: Artist booths across the Festival site
You won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to watch and listen to professional and emerging artists at work in a range of mediums, including ceramics, painting, drawing, and mixed media.
Live Entertainment
Locations: Hy-Vee Main Stage on the Western Gateway Park lawn; Roots Stage parking lot between Des Moines Radio Group and Flynn Wrights.
Bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the Festival’s free concerts, featuring Sister Hazel, The 502s, Buffalo Nichols, Joshua Ray Walker and more. See the full line-up here.
