Formed in 2004, the Arts + Culture Alliance (ACA) exists, in the words of its 2025-2027 strategic plan, to “make a vibrant and welcoming Marshalltown, alive with arts and authentic cultural opportunities.”

In December 2024, the organization announced its plan to relocate its office from the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center (MACC) to 126 W. Main St.

“The new downtown location will allow us to expand our services and offer a wider range of unique programming and experiences to support our creative community, further enhancing its ability to engage with and inspire the Marshalltown community,” said Executive Director Amber Danielson.

For the first time in its history, the ACA is adding a paid marketing and program coordinator position, and is in the process of accepting applications.

A view of the new ACA office looking east along West Main Street. Danielson previously had an office at the Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center (MACC).

“Our services and reach are rapidly expanding, which meant it was time to add to our team to ensure our work will have the greatest impact,” she added. “Currently, we have myself (full-time) and Beau Kenyon (part-time), led by an all-volunteer board. This new role will offer the ability for us to roll out new programs to support the implementation of the Arts and Culture Master Plan, including several new grant programs for local organizations and artists.”

Back in November, the City of Marshalltown voted to provide the Alliance $130,000 annually, used for the Arts and Culture Master Plan. (A sum of $5,000 will be used for the Marshalltown Community Band during the next five years).

“The Arts + Culture Alliance rolled out a revised strategic plan in 2024 to ensure we are positioned to meet the needs of our growing community, with the ultimate goal of implementing the Arts and Culture Master Plan,” Danielson said.

The priorities in the strategic plan are as follows:

• Activate: cultivating initiatives to transform Marshalltown into a hub for vibrancy (i.e. grant programs for local artists, organizations and community priorities)

• Celebrate: engaging and amplifying the local arts and culture community, specifically through takepART Marshalltown campaign

• Connect: be the bridge builder for our community by creating opportunities for professional development and leadership

• Advocate: promote the value and necessity of arts and culture, through ambassador programs, data collection and community engagement

The master plan may be viewed here: www.artsandculturealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FINAL-ACA-Refined-Strategic-Plan-2025-2027.pdf

“The core of this work is the prioritization of public-private partnerships. Through the joint efforts of the public sector resources and private sector expertise, we can unlock a wealth of resources, creativity and engagement, and it is transforming how we approach community development,” Danielson explained. “These partnerships are essential not just for the advancement of local economies, but also for the cultural vitality of our communities. By joining forces, the public and private sectors can co-create spaces, programs and initiatives that celebrate creativity while addressing key social, economic and cultural issues.”

She added that the hope is any organization, business or person can pick up the plan and find themselves within it.

Nancy Adams, a professor of psychology at MCC and a local artist, sees herself in the plan.

“My association with the ACA goes back more than 20 years — to before its inception,” Adams said. “While working for Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation (METF) under then-director, Sue Martin, part of my job was facilitating the creation of multiple (14) community focus groups, with representatives from Marshalltown, as well as from communities in the East and West Marshall school districts. Input from these groups was used to craft a template for how an eventual Alliance might best serve their existing arts and cultural organizations, and support such initiatives that did not yet ‘have a home.'”

Adams’ first personal, versus work-based, collaboration with the Alliance, was partnering with its first executive director, Beth Burkemper, in launching the House of Compassion soup bowl fundraising event.

“I’d experienced it in Arizona and wanted to replicate it here. Having secured support from the MHS ceramics department to provide the bowls, I was searching for a group that could ‘host it’. And the Alliance was the perfect fit,” she said. “After a few successful years under such leadership, the responsibility for the event was switched to HOC and local churches. And it has thrived since.”

Adams will be one of more than 30 Marshall County artists whose work will be showcased at “A Grand Gathering” the official opening of the ACA’s new space downtown. It will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on February 21. Light refreshments and snacks will be served, along with complimentary beer and wine for those 21 and older.

Adams has been commissioned by the ACA to write the history of the Apgar Family for the upcoming Apgar Family Water Plaza in the Linn Creek District.

“I am also currently, in concert with Shel Buzbee, Nick Beard, and the family of the late local artist, Helen Fitz, planning an exhibition of her work, the opening of which will be held Oct. 17, at the new, amazing ACA space on Main Street,” Adams added.

Danielson said local artists are invited to a monthly connect + network + learn event on the second Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning March 13. Artists of all walks of life are welcome, whether you work as a professional artist or as a hobby.

“We work with and fund visual artists (photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, graphic design, textile and fiber), performing artists (theater, dance, music), as well as writers, chefs, gardeners, woodworkers and more,” Danielson said. “While a lot of our efforts invest in public, community, and social practice artists, we value artists across all practices, environments and communities.”

Adams said in addition to activity at the ACA, the community could expect the installation of two large-scale steel paneled artworks on the grounds of Marshalltown Community College.

“The work is intended to highlight the depth and range of talent among our staff and students, and celebrate the joint forces of art and industrial trades that has always made Marshalltown the unique city that it is,” she said. “The realization of these pieces will be the result of collaborations among various campus divisions and departments including the social sciences, fine arts, machine trades, construction tech, welding, buildings and grounds and campus administration. Students studying design submitted ideas (the finals of which have been chosen), and those in our trades programs will have an opportunity to assist in the fabrication and installation of such.”

The goal is to have both pieces completed by late spring/early summer 2025.

The ACA is finalizing its calendar of events and programming. Sign up for its newsletter here: www.artsandculturealliance.org/subscribe.