Public Art
At ACB, we are proud to be at the forefront of public art projects in our community. We believe that public art has the power to enhance and enliven public spaces, spark meaningful conversations, and strengthen our cultural identity. Our team is passionate about bringing art out of traditional gallery spaces and into the public realm, where it can be experienced and appreciated by all. Through our public art projects, we are committed to creating engaging and thought-provoking works that beautify our community and make it a more vibrant and inspiring place to live. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of what public art can achieve and to contribute to the cultural richness of our community for years to come.
3rd Street Mural Project
In the spring of 2022, thanks to the support of a Community Foundation of Des Moines County grant, we launched our 3rd Street Mural Project on the exterior of our building. We look forward to completing this mural project in 2023 working in collaboration with local artists and community members.
We are so excited to be dedicating this mural to Tammy McCoy, who served as Executive Director of ACB from 2014 to 2022. This dedication will happen later on in 2023!
Mayfly Mayhem Project
The Iowa Arts Council recognized ACB's commitment to creativity and community by awarding us a grant in 2022 for our Mayfly Mayhem public art project. This project will come to life in 2023 through a collaboration with local artists and organizations, who will create beautifully stenciled mayflies to be showcased on various buildings throughout downtown. In addition to adding a playful touch to this unwelcome yearly visitor, we hope to foster community engagement and drive tourism. We look forward to sharing this exciting project with the community and continuing to find creative ways to connect art, humor, and community pride.
Celebrate the Arts
In celebration of the Art Center’s first 50 years, a public sculpture was unveiled in Spring 2018 on the corner of 3rd and Jefferson, a cultural hotspot; Art Center of Burlington, Capitol Theater, and Burlington Public Library all within the vicinity. The larger than life aluminum sculpture created by Chris Bennett stands just over 12 feet high. It features four, double sided pod shapes that stack in opposite directions on a red painter's brush. Each pod shape displays a sculptural relief of an icon representing a major artform surrounded with colorful confetti. This sculpture is the first of many pieces of public art representing the cultural hub that Burlington has become.
