History & Mission
We are a non-profit arts organization...

Quad City Arts Council was founded in 1970 in Illinois as an arts advocacy organization that operated a visual arts gallery and re-granting program featuring local performing artists. Visiting Artists, Inc., born from the Council's residency program, was chartered in Iowa in 1974 and presented multi-disciplinary performing arts residencies in schools, factories, and community centers. In
1985 Festival of Trees was created as a fundraiser for Visiting Artists, Inc. In
1988, these entities along with the Bix Arts Festival recognized their common interests and merged to form Quad City Arts. The four groups are still
represented in the agency's four-sided logo and their roles remain evident
today.
 
 Acting on an urban renewal opportunity in 1990, Quad City Arts began the renovation of a department store for its offices and gallery space that became the cornerstone project in the revitalization of Rock Island's downtown, The Arts & Entertainment District. Quad City Arts currently operates out of this location and is local non-profit arts organization serving the residents of Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois and Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa. The organization's dual role of presenting the arts and humanities, as well as serving as an arts resource, allows them to serve more than 350,000 people annually in the Arts Center in Rock Island and at over 300 community rural and urban community sites.
 
All Quad City Arts programs are funded in part by our largest fundraiser, Festival of Trees, Quad City Arts Partners (memberships), and operating grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Our Mission

“Quad City Arts is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the presentation, development and celebration of the arts.”

Our Goals

Engage the community in the arts and humanities through the highest quality, comprehensive programs and services; Provide opportunities for artists as contributors to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of our community; Serve as an advocate for the arts by building an appreciation and recognition of the role of arts and artists; Create wide-spread accessibility of the arts through increased efforts in building diversity of people, programs, and venues; Provide support systems that will ensure the development, maintenance, and longevity of the arts and humanities.