A new ornament competition is coming to the Muscatine Art Center as a fundraiser for Friends of the Muscatine Art Center. Crafters, artists, and craftsmen of all ages are encouraged to compete, and cash prizes will be award in two categories – one for adults and one for 18 and under. The Heartfelt and Handmade Ornament Competition will be on view from November 18th through December 14th.

Kids, ages two to seven, can train to become mini art masters starting in September at the Muscatine Art Center. The new program replaces Art for Tots which was geared toward preschool aged children. Mini Masters opens up the opportunity for kids through first grade to join in creating art. “This past summer I had quite a few kids return after kindergarten asking to join Tots class,” says Muscatine Art Center Program Coordinator, Teresa Stenstrup.

The Muscatine Art Center is pleased to announce that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Cultural Leadership Partners (CLP) program from the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Grant funds will support wages for weekend staff and specific museum purposes such as purchasing archival materials and presenting public programs.

(Moline, Ill.) Living Proof Exhibit, which celebrates the creative spirit of cancer survivors, is teaming up with the Muscatine Art Center to display a juried exhibition and provide two free Creative Sessions to cancer patients, survivors, and families touched by cancer.

Storybooks present enjoyable, meaningful, interactive math explorations to children and adults in Go Figure!--a national traveling exhibit that opens at the Muscatine Art Center on Saturday, August 5, 2017. Go Figure! transforms charming children’s books into a kid-sized world where children and adults can have fun exploring math with familiar characters such as Arthur, Frog and Toad, and Goldilocks and Three Bears.

Burlington, Iowa artist, James Walker Henry, will open an exhibition in the Musser House gallery at the Muscatine Art Center on August 13, 2017. For the last thirty-five years, Henry has created over five hundred surreal works of art that address social and political issues. He explores current events and ideas through paint and brush. He was first introduced to surrealist artists and the style of surrealism while taking art history courses.

On August 5, 2017, the Muscatine Art Center will open the exhibition, “Carol Steinmetz: An Artist’s Spectrum”. Local artist, Carol Steinmetz, has developed her artistic style over the last four decades. The exhibition spans her career from her works in oil to her well known florals, barns, and local landmarks and through her recent exploration with abstract and mixed media. A reception for the artist will be held on Sunday, August 13th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

All are invited to the Annual Ice Cream Social presented by the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center. This family-friendly event will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 1 to 5 p.m. As always, there will be plenty of ice cream, desserts, children’s activities, and live entertainment.

The Muscatine Art Center is one of more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense

Muscatine Art Center

After more than a year, the historic Musser-McColm House at the Muscatine Art Center is reopening, and the public is invited to celebrate on Thursday, June 1st from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. A ribbon cutting will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of the historic house.

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