ABOUT
OUR HISTORY
1981
The Ankeny Friends of the Arts started as an arts program for the Ankeny community and the northern Des Moines metro area in 1981.
8,000
Throughout the building of this facility we have been able to offer more opportunities for the community and now we average over 8,000 visitors each year. The center has two galleries which exhibit Iowa artists only and present K-12 Art Exhibits for local school districts.
All exhibits are free and open to the public.
In 2002 we were presented with a great opportunity to move into our current building at 1520 SW Ordnance, and the Ankeny Art Center was established.
2002
In addition to exhibiting local artists, the Ankeny Art Center also offers classes in pottery, painting, and drawing for both children and adults. On average, 40% of the students in our classes are underprivileged by federal standards and we strive to give these children the opportunity to attend through our reasonable class tuition. In the summer we offer four art camps for children; each of them lasting for one week. Over 350 children attend our summer art camp and they come from a 30 mile radius.
Funding for our operating costs comes from a combination of memberships, fundraisers, and grants.
Our members are at the heart of what we do. Their contributions help to sustain our programs, classes, gallery exhibitions, and special events, while also building a vibrant community of artists, students, and art appreciators. In return, members enjoy benefits such as 20% off classes, early access to registration, and the opportunity to showcase their work in our annual Members’ Art Exhibition.
For other expenses, such as staff salaries, contracted educators, and building costs, we rely heavily on our biggest fundraiser: Santa’s North Pole Village Craft Sale. Recently relocated to the Prairie Trail Sports Complex, this beloved tradition has been a part of Ankeny for more than 40 years. As one of the Midwest’s largest and longest-running craft fairs, it hosts nearly 200 vendor booths, welcomes more than 3,500 shoppers, and generates nearly 30% of our annual operating revenue—all in a single day!
Grants also play a vital role in sustaining our operations. They not only support day to day operational costs, but allow to host large-scale events, such as the Ankeny Art Center Arts Festival. These events have a tremendous impact—offering the community enriching experiences while giving artists an invaluable platform to showcase and sell their work.
The Ankeny Art Center is deeply grateful to the people and organizations that make our mission possible. The arts are an essential part of life, and we are honored to share them with Ankeny and the surrounding communities.
