About
Who We Are
The mission of Summer of the Arts is to bring people together in the Iowa City Area to experience, learn about, and enjoy free arts and cultural programming.”
Since 2005, Summer of the Arts has hosted arts and cultural festivals for all ages. We create synergy with marketing, fundraising, and operations while maintaining the unique identity of each of our events.
Our generous sponsors and donors ensure we are able to offer free, high quality entertainment every summer for our community to enjoy.
Support
If you enjoyed this year’s festivals, please consider making a donation to Summer of the Arts so we are able to continue providing FREE, family-friendly programming to the Iowa City area!
Your support is crucial to keeping art accessible to all community members.
Summer of the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing accessible arts and culture festivals for individuals of all ages in the Iowa City area. We aim to provide inclusive experiences that celebrate creativity, foster community, and offer a space for everyone to engage with the arts. With the generous support of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers, we are able to organize a wide variety of unique events that are both a ticket and a spotlight for all.
Since our founding in 2005, Summer of the Arts has remained dedicated to bringing people together through free arts and cultural programming. As of 2024, we’ve created and maintained 50 events over a 21-week period highlighting 519 Iowa performers on our stages and 132 Iowa fine artists at Iowa Arts Festival and Holiday Thieves Market. We believe that art should be accessible to all, and we work to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy and participate in the events we offer. Our team is passionate about maintaining a distinctive identity for each event, and we pride ourselves on creating an environment where creativity thrives, and inclusivity is celebrated.
Through our work, we originate unforgettable experiences that leave lasting memories for all who attend. In 2024 alone, Summer of the Art’s hosted over 74,000 attendees across our seven events made possible with the help of 1,857 volunteer hours. As we continue to grow and evolve, our commitment to fostering a strong, vibrant, and diverse arts community remains at the heart of everything we do.
Initiatives
Art’s Accessibility: Art accessibility is essential because it ensures that everyone has the opportunity to engage with and benefit from the arts. When art is made accessible, it fosters inclusivity, encourages creativity, and strengthens the bonds within communities. We aim to provide shared experiences that can inspire and uplift individuals of all walks of life.
Community Engagement: Community engagement is crucial because it fosters a sense of belonging and collective responsibility among residents. By actively involving community members in events and initiatives, we strengthen relationships, encourage collaboration, and create a space where diverse voices are heard. In doing this we aim to enrich the social atmosphere of the area.
Board & Staff
Officers
President: Creighton Gaynor, Natural Talent Music LLC
Vice President: Miguel Rodriguez, GreenState Credit Union
Treasurer: John Ruppel, MidwestOne Financial Group
Secretary: Natasha Wendt, Urban Acres Real Estate
Past President: Shaner Magalhães, Urban Acres Real Estate
Staff
Lisa Barnes, Executive Director
Andrea Truitt, Director of Engagement
Eric Johnson, Development Director
Marigona Gashi, Communications Manager
Terri Reeve, Production Designer
Megan Burns, Graphic Designer
Michelle Carpenter, Festival Intern
Kaitlyn Hooker, Festival Intern
Directors
Emma Barnum, United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties
Mary Blackwood, University of Iowa (retired)
Kylie Buddin, United Action for Youth
Kevin Felker, Prairie Kitchen Store
Melissa Flowers, Hills Bank & Trust
Juliann Gibson Lux, Tippie College of Business
Quanda Hood, CCA Fame
Holly Jones, UI Center for Advancement
Adam Kahler, Graduate Iowa City Hotel
Jen Knights, Performing Arts at Iowa
Tyesha Perry, Skogman Realty/RSFIC
Abby Restko, Glassando
Angela Romero, Stanley Consultants
Robin Springer, Robinia Presents
Billy Valencia, Eco Lips
Tammie Walker, UI School of Music
Juli Seydell-Johnson, City of Iowa City (ex-officio)
Diversity Statement
A spotlight and ticket for all at Summer of the Arts.
Summer of the Arts is dedicated to combating inequality, bias, and exclusion in Iowa City and beyond. We stand with marginalized communities, striving for greater understanding and empathy through inclusive art and performance.
Our commitment includes accepting everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, or ability while actively condemning injustice and violence. We pledge resources to improve interactions with marginalized groups and prioritize creating just, equitable, and inclusive spaces through the power of the arts.
We believe in ongoing collaboration and education to drive meaningful change, inviting all voices. Artists of every kind have a spot on our stage, and every person has a seat in our audience.
We see you. We hear you. And more than ever before, we stand with you.
History
Since 2005, Summer of the Arts has hosted arts and cultural festivals for all ages. We create synergy with marketing, fundraising, and operations while maintaining the unique identity of each of our events. Our generous sponsors and donors ensure we are able to offer free, high quality entertainment every summer for our community to enjoy.
Iowa Arts Festival
The Iowa Arts Festival is an award-winning, weekend-long community celebration that has featured hundreds of local and national visual artists. We are proud that over the years, we’ve been able to feature high school and college artists in our Emerging Artist Pavilion. The Iowa Arts Festival has also included music performances, food vendors serving regional and ethnic dishes, and creative, educational activities and entertainment for children. The Iowa Arts Festival has been and continues to be the most anticipated art event of the summer!
Iowa City Jazz Festival
The Iowa City Jazz Festival began in 1991. The weekend celebrates jazz with two days of live jazz performances and delicious food. Over the years, we’ve seen a variety of well-known local jazz musicians along with up-and-coming talent alongside national and international artists to encourage and educate a jazz audience of all ages.
Friday Night Concert Series
Running mid-May through August, this festival kicks off the summer season with live performances every Friday night.
Free Movie Series
The Free Movie Series started as a pilot program by M.C. Ginsberg and the James Gang in 2005. Now offered by Summer of the Arts, the Free Movie Series typically features a full-length movie each Saturday night during the summer starting at sundown.
Music on the Move
In 2020, Iowa blues legend Kevin Burt approached Summer of the Arts with an offer to do a series called “A Truckload of Soul,” a mobile and safe concert series we could do during the COVID-19 pandemic that brought music to people in different neighborhoods. We loved this event so much that we decided to continue bringing music to neighborhoods across the Iowa City area. In 2022, we partnered with the City of Iowa City’s Parks and Recreation Department to offer music at their Rec N’ Roll events.
Rhythms at Riverfront Crossings
New in 2024! This series brings some of the area’s larger, well-known acts to Iowa City’s newest park. There will also be children’s activities and a beverage garden provided by Big Grove Brewery.
Holiday Thieves Market
The Holiday Thieves Market was formerly organized by a student art council from the University of Iowa. The University granted Summer of the Arts permission to use the name Holiday Thieves Market after the success of our 2019 holiday art market. Today, the market features over 100 artists from the Midwest and beyond exhibiting and selling their original artwork in painting, ceramics, photography, woodworking, drawing, metal, glass, jewelry, fiber and more. The event includes an Annual Wine and Craft Beer Tasting.