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.
Cultural Leadership Partners demonstrate an exemplary record of programming, managerial excellence and community service on a year-round basis to the citizens of Iowa. “It is an honor to lead an organization that has earned the CLP designation,” explains Muscatine Art Center Director, Melanie Alexander. “The grant to the Muscatine Art Center provides critical operating support and helps to ensure that the Art Center can serve the public on both Saturdays and Sundays.”
The Muscatine Art Center re-opened the historic Musser House in spring 2017 following more than a year of facilities projects and other upgrades. “Changes to the second floor of the Musser House and the addition of technology were planned improvements intended to attract several targeted audiences,” states Alexander. “We added the ‘Learn to Look’ gallery so kids and families could engage with our collections. We de-installed the historic toy room and have begun featuring special collections such as the Norman Baker collection which is presently on view. Just as important as offering visitors something appealing is maintaining open hours when people have free time.”
The Muscatine Art Center is one of dozens of organizations across the state of Iowa to receive recognition as Cultural Leadership Partners (CLP). The Cultural Leadership Partners Program provides multi-year, general operating support to major arts and cultural organizations located in Iowa.
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The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its three divisions – the Iowa Arts Council, Produce Iowa – State Office of Media Production and the State Historical Society of Iowa – empower Iowa to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting Iowans to the people, places and points of pride that define our state. The department’s work enables Iowa to be recognized as a state that fosters creativity and serves as a catalyst for innovation where the stories of Iowa are preserved and communicated to connect past, present and future generations. For more details, visit www.iowaculture.gov.
