Summer of the Arts

April 23, 2024

Hello Lisa,

In just two and a half short weeks, I'll be sitting on the Ped Mall enjoying the sites and sounds of the Iowa Steel Band at our first Friday Night Concert Series performance of 2024! Will you join me? This first show has a slightly different time -- the group will play from 6:30-8 PM but I guarantee the time will be jam-packed with fun! This is the last concert of the year in Iowa City for these UI students and they have as much fun performing as we have watching them!

I'd like to thank McGrath Toyota of Iowa City for their continued support as the presenting sponsor of the Friday Night Concert Series. Last year, The Graduate Hotel stepped up as well so we can run this series through September. This year, some of your favorite downtown businesses stepped up to support this series as well -- thank you to Bread Garden Market, ReUnion Brewery and Joseph's Steakhouse for sponsoring the Friday Night Concert Series stage -- great opportunities for food and beverage before or after the concerts!

I hope you'll join us on the Ped Mall, downtown streets, neighborhoods parks and more this year! Thank you for being a part of Summer of the Arts! #WeAreSummeroftheARTS

Lisa J. Barnes, Executive Director

Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 21-27

The staff at Summer of the Arts want to say THANK YOU to all of our volunteers: our events could not go on without you, and they would not be the same without the support we receive from our community.

This includes the volunteers that we may see once over the course of the season, the high school students we see for two or three years as they gain Silver Cord hours, to retirees who want to help out, to the parents who bond with their children, to the college students and young adults who find their way to us.

We also have behind-the-scenes volunteers who make our events successful. This includes our Board of Directors who guide the organization, and our festival committee members, who shape each event and series. In 2023, 348 individuals contributed over 2,500 hours of their time to Summer of the Arts. According to a 2022 Value of Volunteer Time report released by Independent Sector and the Do Good Institute, one hour of volunteer time in Iowa is worth $28.09. That’s $70,225 worth of time, care, and effort that community members give to us, and it is truly humbling.

Arts Fest Volunteers Needed!

We need your help at the Iowa Arts Festival! Sign up to volunteer in the Beverage Garden, Merchandise Booth, or Water Booth! Help us out with Ped Mall activities on Saturday and Sunday! Please note: Beverage Garden shifts coming soon!

There's a NEW process this year:

Step 1: Fill out the Volunteer Application

THEN

Step 2: Sign up for Arts Fest shifts

It's easy, we promise!

Step 1: Volunteer Application

Step 2: Sign Up for Volunteer Shifts

April 25: Eat for the Arts at Hudson's

Grab an app with your sandwich, salad, burger, hot dog or mac and cheese!

April 25th is Eat for the Arts at Hudson's Tap. 15% of all sales that day go to support Summer of the Arts and our free arts programming.

Our favorites include cheese curds, the Thornton with black bean burger, Cajun Mac, and the Short Rib Philly.

Hudson's Menu

It's easy to set up monthly donations to Summer of the Arts through our donation portal! Just select recurring monthly when you make your donation. These regular investments make a HUGE difference to the sustainability of our organization!

You can also donate through Venmo: SOTAIC

Thank you!

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors!

SUMMER OF THE ARTS www.summeroftheARTS.org