With its top-ranked arts programs, the University of Iowa attracts some of the best students and faculty in the country. The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) is committed to working with faculty and students to advance their art practices and sharing the UI’s arts resources with the rest of the state.
The Grant Wood Art Colony (GWAC) celebrates the life and legacy of Iowa's most famous artist, Grant Wood. After painting one of the most recognizable images in the world, American Gothic, Wood joined the University of Iowa faculty. The Colony annually provides three fellowships in Painting & Drawing, Printmaking, and Interdisciplinary Performance. GWAC Fellows have shared their talents in K-12 schools, museums, and performance venues and have mentored student artists who are honing their skills in engaged practice.
GWAC sits within the Office of Community Engagement to encourage cross-disciplinary exploration and innovation between the Grant Wood Fellows and Iowa's faculty and students.
Arts Share coordinates 300+ events annually, including workshops and performances, in communities across the state. From scheduling ensemble tours such as UI Dance Company, the Iowa Steel Band, and Darwin Turner Action Theatre to readings by writers from the world-renowned Writers Workshop, the Arts Share program is committed to filling gaps in arts programming and bringing arts to under-served communities.
To learn more about opportunities to bring arts to your community, don't hesitate to contact Arts Share at [email protected] or contact the Arts Share director at [email protected].
Artists from Performing Arts at Iowa, Writers’ Workshop and International Writing Program, the School of Art & Art History, and more are available for workshops, performances, and public art commissions in communities throughout Iowa. The Grant Wood Art Colony (GWAC) and Arts Share work collaboratively on art projects and mentorship programs.