A vibrant arts and culture environment is critical to enhancing the quality of life and driving economic development while nurturing a positive view of the community among residents and visitors alike. The mission of the Arts & Culture Alliance is to cultivate a community of arts and culture and we believe a community enriched in arts and culture will attract, retain and engage residents. A Marshalltown Mural Program provides an avenue for our community to make Marshalltown THE place to live, work, learn and play, as well as an opportunity to enhance quality of life and support economic development. The vision of the mural program is to add vibrancy to our community while celebrating our unique diversity, history and geographic location. The program will create an opportunity for an increased focus on quality of life, community pride, beautification and creative placemaking.
Murals impact communities in a variety of ways by providing opportunities for diverse stakeholders to collaborate, communicate a community’s identity, story or history, attract visitors and create a site for community gatherings. Murals have the unique ability to build and instill a sense of community pride and belonging as well as address public safety, infrastructure and/or social challenges, all the while increasing foot traffic and driving tourism. From planning to unveiling, murals provide opportunities for all ages, ethnicities and abilities to participate in community building.
Murals impact communities in a variety of ways by providing opportunities for diverse stakeholders to collaborate, communicate a community’s identity, story or history, attract visitors and create a site for community gatherings. Murals have the unique ability to build and instill a sense of community pride and belonging as well as address public safety, infrastructure and/or social challenges, all the while increasing foot traffic and driving tourism. From planning to unveiling, murals provide opportunities for all ages, ethnicities and abilities to participate in community building.
Interested in a mural on your wall or have a great idea, contact us and learn more!
MARSHALLTOWN STRONG - March 31st, 2020
The wall is located on East State Street, on the corner of North 1st Ave (the back of Great Western Bank's drive through window).
As a symbol of hope, unity and strength during this difficult time, the Arts & Culture Alliance has partnered with Great Western Bank and Tama artist, Dye Davenport, to create a Marshalltown Strong graffiti piece in Downtown Marshalltown. As many of us remember, Dye Davenport and his son Darian created the iconic piece on the Marshalltown Skate Park Graffiti Wall, Stay Strong Marshalltown, in the days following the 2018 Marshalltown tornado. This artwork served as a constant reminder of the strength we have to come together and rebuild as a community in the months to follow.
During the tough times we are experiencing, the Alliance believes the arts provide hope, unity and strength to our community, and what better symbol than on a wall exposed as a result of the damage from the tornado. As we spend the weeks to come at a distance from one another, we hope you will be reminded of the ability of our community to be Marshalltown Strong. Together we have conquered the most challenging times and have come out on the other side better than ever. We have done it before, and we will do it again!
Artist's Facebook Page @The Art Shack
Full Press Release / Times-Republican Article 3/29/20
During the tough times we are experiencing, the Alliance believes the arts provide hope, unity and strength to our community, and what better symbol than on a wall exposed as a result of the damage from the tornado. As we spend the weeks to come at a distance from one another, we hope you will be reminded of the ability of our community to be Marshalltown Strong. Together we have conquered the most challenging times and have come out on the other side better than ever. We have done it before, and we will do it again!
Artist's Facebook Page @The Art Shack
Full Press Release / Times-Republican Article 3/29/20
