ABOUT US
Des Moines Arts Festival is a 501c3 NonProfit Organization
OUR MISSION
Impact Lives Through the Arts
OUR CORE VALUES
Inspire Appreciation of the Arts
We cultivate, educate and engage our audience toward a heightened appreciation of the arts.
Celebrate Original Art
We produce an annual celebration of outstanding original visual art - that is created by the hand of the artist - in a festival atmosphere.
Impact Community
We foster and celebrate the involvement of all people.
Promote Collaboration
We promote and inspire meaningful collaboration to strengthen the arts community.
Deliver the Highest Standards
We value professionalism and quality. We operate in a fair and honorable manner with transparency. We are strong financial stewards. We manage with responsibility and maximize value to our partners.
Innovate Strategically
We champion new and emerging ideas.
OUR VISION
Strengthen a Vibrant and Creative Community
OUR STORY
The Des Moines Arts Festival® traces its beginnings to 1958 when the Des Moines Art Center hosted the All Iowa Art Fair to help celebrate their 10th anniversary. Between 1958-1982, the event was given many names including All Iowa Art Fair, Iowa Artists Exhibition, Iowa Artists Annual Show, and Iowa Art Show. In 1983, the festival was officially identified as Art in the Park. In 1992, the event was moved from the grounds of the Des Moines Art Center to the Iowa State Fairgrounds until in 1998 it was moved downtown along the Des Moines River. The festival went through another name change to become the Des Moines Arts Festival.
The first All Iowa Art Fair attracted little more than a few hundred people. Nearly five decades later, the Festival has established itself as the signature arts and culture event in Iowa and one of the most prestigious and admired festivals in the world. With an annual attendance exceeding 200,000, the Festival has welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors since moving downtown in 1998.
Board of Directors
Chair
Bill Burma
Grand View University
Chair-Elect
Brian Laurenzo
Brick Gentry P.C.
Secretary
Marsha Aldridge
Nationwide
Director
Connie Boesen
Des Moines City Council
Director, Executive Committee
Chaden Halfhill
Silent Rivers Design+Build
Director
Kristina Huntsman
Event Management Team Representative
Director
Chris Kramer
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Director
Michele Wilkie
Prairie Meadows
Director
Carl Voss
Des Moines City Council
Immediate Past Chair
Robert Larson
Catholic Diocese of Des Moines
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Treasurer
Natalie Tomaras
American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co.
Director
Marquas Ashworth
Musician & Entrepreneur
Director
Barbara Decker
Catholic Charities
Director
Kate Hightshoe-Lambert
QCR Holdings, Inc.
Director
Stephen King
Executive Director
Director
Matthew McKinney
West Des Moines City Council, Brown Winnick Law
Director, Executive Committee
Ann Priftis
Krause Gentle Co.
Director
San Wong
Iowa Department of Human Rights
OUR TEAM
Executive Director
Stephen King, CFEE, MA
Director of Community Relations
Colleen Murphy, CFEE
Volunteer Coordinator
Stacey Nay
Program Intern
Kelsie Kinne
Director of Guest Engagement
Daphne Dickens, CFEE
Social Media + Photography
Madeleine King
Program Intern
Zoey Lohse
Graphic Design Intern
Heath Wheeldon
2022 Event Management Team
Artist Relations
Jennifer Johnson
Jaclynne Maranell
Sean Masters
Ann Rolow
Andrew Tincher
Katelyn Brockmeyer
Banner Queen
Sage Halfhill-Boone
Beverage Team
Alec Davis
Shamaine Chambers King
Luke Dickens
Dan Hofsteter
Andrea Lowe
Betsy Mitchell
Johnathan Preston
Betsy Ridicil
Kurt Weakland
Melissa Winters
Food Vendor Relations
Caitlin Clement
Sidney Pezley
Kate Steffen
Molly Vriezelaar
Interrobang Film Festival
David Derong
DMACC Video Production Students
IT/Technical Support
Dierdre Large
Ryan Rohlf
Merchandise
Renae Irvin
Erika Menke
Emma Pantini
Jeremy Weiss
Office Managers
Carrie Blackburn
Katie Dale
Amanda Joseph
Stephanie Pearl
Chris Slack
Production
Tony Behnke
Seth Conn
Megan Hanson
Kristina Huntsman
Katherine King
Raegan Nervig
Kayla Wagener
Production
Tony Behnke
Seth Conn
Megan Hanson
Kristina Huntsman
Katherine King
Raegan Nervig
Kayla Wagener
Sponsor Relations
Tiffany Espelund
Kent Maahs
Emily Lyon
Kate Mohr
Lynn Swanson
Julia Verhoef
Stages
Natalia Espinosa
Laurie Miller
Stephanie Reynolds
Student Art Exhibition
Alicia Lynch
Peggy Cokeley
Sustainability
Jessie McBroom
Farrah Phillips
Sam Christianson
Volunteer Relations
Sally Corcoran
Jessica Perez
Angeline Powers
Madalyne Rutledge