CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS

• Main Street East Moline: Expansion of Harmony Fest, including the creation of an art competition
• Moline High School Drama Boosters: Purchase of new body microphones for theatre program
• WVIK Quad Cities NPR: Phase II of community content studio creation
•  YouthHope: Build out of CRE8 Studios to include different spaces for different mediums/programs

EDUCATION GRANTS

• Carolyn Krueger: Pottery classes & scholarships at The ARTery
• artsBASICS: Support for bringing practicing artists into classrooms for special projects
• Azubuike African American Council for the Arts: A Film & A Conversation film series
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley: Art classes and museum field trip
• Junior Theatre Inc: Providing Equity Access to Theatre Arts
• Muscatine Art Center: Support for bilingual monthly programming and summer theatre camp
• Quad Cities Jazz Festival Ltd: Third Sunday Jazz Series + Bill Bell Jazz Festival

PROJECT GRANTS

• Charlotte Boyer: funding for short film
• Curtis Lewis: Development and Production of original musical Funky Soul
• Gaye Shannon-Burnett: Creation of story quilts and accompanying workshops
• Jeff Ignatius: ‘leavings,’ a photography exhibit at The ARTery
•  Jessica Beshears: Creation of Vol. 2 of art ‘zine, ‘Undercurrent’
• Meghan Hollister: Translating Nature, a series of 10 eco-art workshops
• Rowan Schussheim-Anderson: Creation of tapestry for a solo exhibition at the Figge
• Shayla Ray Kent: Plein Air in the Park public art-making sessions
• Thomas Chouteau: Kaleidoscope Odyssey exhibit at the Putnam Museum
• Vinnie DeVore: poetry chapbook, including original illustrations
• Argrow’s House: Art workshops for survivors of domestic/sexual violence
• Autistic & Loved: Art Workshops for tweens & teens w/autism
• Breath of Encouragement: Motown & Friends: A Tribute musical showcasing local performers
• Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre: Creation of new puppet show centered around the Mississippi River
• Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Creation of mural at new offices
• Her Voice Media: Community reading/storytelling project around The House on Mango Street
• Hilltop Campus Village: Mural along Parking lot of Celebrity’s Beauty + Woke Smoothie Shop
• Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center: Youth created mural along 7th Ave in Rock Island
• Mercado on Fifth: Mural on shipping container w/pollinator garden
• Midwest Writing Center: Creation of Write Back, a literary arts incubator
• Narratives QC: Spoken word + visual arts workshops focused on mental health
• Opera Quad Cities: 25th anniversary showcase production
• Quad Cities Pride Alliance: Performers for Pride Festival
• Quad Cities: Pride in Memory: Hiring local musicians for creation of music for documentary film
• STEAM on Wheels: 3-D Pen Family Art Night
• Tapestry Farms: Floral Design training to support continued floral business
• The Third Place QC: Creation of a community mural through collaboration with Art with Atticus and Third Place visitors
• World Relief Quad Cities: Arts in English Summer Camp for Refugee Youth

In 2025, 38 individuals/organizations in Quad City Arts’ six-county region reached over 105,000 people utilizing funds from Arts Dollars. Approximately 100 events were produced, over 16,000 students reached, and 740 artists were directly paid through the funds. Quad City Arts staff does not judge, score, or determine the distribution of Arts Dollars funds, serving only as administrators and moderators to the process. Grantees are determined by a revolving panel made up of community stakeholders representing the arts, public and private sectors, and funding institutions, with final distribution granted by the Quad City Arts Board of Directors.
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CONTACT
Ben Gougeon, Director of Community Engagement
bgougeon@quadcityarts.com 309-793-1213 ex. 100








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The Friends of MLK, Downtown Davenport Partnership, and Quad City Arts are seeking the design and installation of a public mural to be created in Davenport, Iowa. The mural will be on the north-facing wall of the train bridge on the southeast corner of Brady St. and E. 5th St., across from the MLK Interpretive Center. This mural will be the first installation in a series of installations around the Center and park.

This mural project seeks to honor the resilience and vibrancy of Black Davenport in the late 1880’s through the early 1900s, focusing on the intersection of race, community, entertainment, and labor. Using archival imagery from the era, the artist should highlight daily life, entrepreneurship, and social gatherings in a style that emphasizes warmth and dignity for all.

This mural project is jointly undertaken by the Friends of MLK (FOMLK), Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), and Quad City Arts (QCA).

TIMELINE

• March 25, 2026 - All questions shall be submitted via email to rfq@quadcityarts.com
• Monday, March 30, 2026 - Deadline for submissions at 9:00am online at form.jotform.com/260627026956159 or via email to rfq@quadcityarts.com.
• March 31-April 15, 2026 - Qualifications review, 3 finalists selected. Finalists to receive $500 stipend.
• May 2025 - Final designs submitted and selected. Selected artist to meet with mural selection committee to go over design, logistics, timeline, and budget.
• June 2025 - mural completed, subject to weather* 
  • This timeline will be agreed upon with the building owner and the artist, and weather pending.
  • Targeted completion deadline of June 18, with a dedication ceremony on June 19.

TO APPLY 
Email a PDF to rfq@quadcityarts.com including the following information or submit online at form.jotform.com/260627026956159

• Name, phone number, email, and 2 references with contact info.
• Website, Instagram, or other online profiles, if applicable.
• Include 3-5 images of completed murals, including your most recent. Min. 900x900 jpg. No images embedded within PDFs, please.
• A brief bio about you as an artist and your process.

2025 was a year of collaboration. Working together with our patrons, our cities, our artists, our youth, the Cultural Trust and its Legacy Partners, many exciting projects and events came to fruition for Quad City Arts.

Our Mission remains the same: Quad City Arts is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City Region through the arts. Our Vision is to foster a thriving arts community by intentionally building our role as an arts presenter, advocate, connector and resource hub.

Both our Mission and Vision helped foster and further artistic growth in our community this past year.
In 2025 alone we:

• Welcomed 9 new members to our Board of Directors. Talented, passionate, and creative people to guide the organization into the future.
• Celebrated multiple program anniversaries.
• Placed many murals created by area artists throughout our cities, bringing awareness to a new generation of artists.

Our schools continue to enjoy sharing the Visiting Artists programs with their students and staff . The public performances allow students to share their excitement of these shows with friends and family-building that connection with art and collaboration with our school communities.

As we look forward to 2026, we see more growth, innovations, and artistic celebrations with all those who continue to support Quad City Arts. We are looking forward to the Leading Light project with Moline, gallery openings with new artists, and many more exciting projects.

Thank you for your patronage, your support and investment in Quad City Arts.

Sincerely,
Quad City Arts’ Board of Directors

​Metro Arts provides area youth ages 15-21 with a five-week paid summer apprenticeship. These apprentices will create community arts projects that positively impact the community, including mural and street painting as well as poetry. 

MURAL PAINTING & STREET ART
Under local professional muralists, apprentices collaborate with clients to design and paint vibrant murals or street art around the Quad Cities.  Apprentices will get feedback from clients on design elements, then work as a team of artists to create two or more concepts to be presented. Once a design has been approved by the client, the apprentices will spend 4 weeks painting the mural or street art installation on-site. Note: these projects are likely to be outdoors, and require apprentices to spend extended time in the elements, including direct sun, extreme heat, humidity, rain, etc., and involve lifting and possible work on scaffolding or lifts. 

POETRY
Apprentices will work closely with a professional poet and educator to learn the art of poetry, both on the page and the stage. This year’s poetry group will be two-pronged, as apprentices will learn the craft of poetry writing for both posterity and performance. Under the guidance of our lead artist, poets will collaborate with our Murals/Street Art team to create pieces that will be incorporated into the public art being created. They’ll also create pieces for spoken word performance at venues throughout the Quad Cities. 

This year’s Metro Arts program will start on Monday, June 8 and end on Thursday, July 9. Apprentices will meet for up to four hours Monday through Thursday. The program is meant to provide access to the arts, accepting entry level artists, with all supplies and equipment provided by Quad City Arts and its partners. To date, this year’s partners include the Illinois Arts Council, the City of Rock Island, and the Brissman Foundation. Lead artists for this year’s program include Sarah Robb (Murals/Street Painting) and Aubrey Barnes (Poetry), and projects will be happening in Rock Island, Davenport, and Milan.

In addition to honing apprentices’ artistry, Metro Arts teaches applicants the beginnings of the business skills needed to succeed in the arts. From a competitive interview process to client proposals and pitches, Metro Arts can be the start of a young artist’s pipeline into the professional world. Quad City Arts’ Director of Community Engagement Ben Gougeon sites that a number of Metro apprentices go on to have showings around town or receive Arts Dollars grants as they continue their work in their chosen field.

Gougeon states that in addition to Metro’s impact on young artists, it has also “…been a study in collaboration with non-profits, municipalities, and the private sector for over 25 years. Public art doesn’t happen by magic. It takes a lot of people working together to manifest a vision. Time, interest, funding; these all need to align to get a Metro Arts program off the ground. But, as Sarah [Robb] and I like to say, ‘Where there’s a wall, there’s a way.’”

​​Metro Arts is celebrating its 26th year in 2026, and the ripples from 2025, the program’s silver anniversary, are still reverberating. Art is Work, the documentary film created by Documentary Filmmaking apprentices and lead artist Stacy Barton, is currently appearing in film festivals around the region. It also had multiple airings on WQPT.

CONTACT:
Ben Gougeon, Director of Community Engagement
bgougeon@quadcityarts.com | 309.793.1213 ext. 100










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Grant Overview
Arts Dollars grants are open to all artistic disciplines and focus on enriching the Quad Cities region through community engagement, arts education, and organizational development. The application process is competitive, and Quad City Arts staff are available to provide guidance and support to applicants.

Grant Categories

• Project Grants:
  For arts projects or programming that prioritize community engagement.
  • Individual artists may apply for up to $2,500.
  • Nonprofit organizations and schools may apply for up to $5,000.
• Education Grants:
  For initiatives that provide K-12 students with meaningful arts education experiences.
  • Individual artists may apply for up to $2,500.
  • Nonprofit organizations and schools may apply for up to $5,000.
• Capacity-Building Grants:
  For activities that enhance organizational capacity, strength, and long-term impact.
  • Nonprofit organizations may apply for up to $5,000.
    
    

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
• Recipient Notification: No later than March 17, 2026

How to Apply
Detailed guidelines, category descriptions, and application materials are available online at: https://www.quadcityarts.com/arts-dollars-grants

Impact
Arts Dollars is more than a grant program—it’s one of the most direct ways we invest in the people, stories, and creative ideas that shape the Quad Cities. Each year, these grants empower artists, teachers, and nonprofits to bring projects to life that might not otherwise have the resources to move forward.

In 2024 alone, Arts Dollars supported 33 projects that reached more than 136,856 people across the Quad Cities region, demonstrating the program’s broad community impact and reach.
 
Arts Dollars funding strengthens our region in three key ways:

• Expanding access to the arts. Arts Dollars helps ensure that meaningful arts experiences reach every part of our region, both rural and metro arts areas, for all demographics.
• Supporting local artists as working professionals. By funding artist-led projects and collaborations, these grants provide tangible support for creative workers to develop new work and engage local audiences.
• Creating community connection through shared experiences. Funded projects—murals, performances, workshops, festivals, and more—bring people together and celebrate the voices and stories that make the Quad Cities unique.

 
For Quad City Arts, the goal is simple: to keep creativity thriving across the region through opportunities that strengthen artists, schools, and communities year after year.

Funding
Funding for the 2026 Arts Dollars cycle is provided by the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency (a state agency), and the Quad Cities Community Foundation--Isabel Bloom Art Education Fund. All Quad City Arts programs are funded in part by Festival of Trees, individual donations, and operating grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.

For more information or assistance with Arts Dollars applications, contact Ben Gougeon at bgougeon@quadcityarts.com or 309-793-1213 ext. 100.

Quad City Arts announces the 2025–2026 Visiting Artist Series lineup, continuing a five-decade tradition of bringing world-class performers and creators into classrooms and communities across eastern Iowa and western Illinois. 

Like many arts organizations, Quad City Arts is navigating funding challenges that require thoughtful adjustments to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. This year’s series is not about doing less — it’s about focusing on what the organization does best: connecting people to extraordinary artists who spark curiosity, creativity, and connection through the arts. 
 
In addition to school and community workshops, each artist will present public performances, giving audiences across the Quad Cities the chance to experience these incredible talents live on stage. Performance dates and ticket information will be announced soon on the Quad City Arts website and social media channels. 
 
The season offers a vibrant mix of artists who honor traditional forms while bringing them into the present with fresh, relevant interpretations. Whether it’s classical piano infused with jazz and pop, cultural dance reimagined for today’s stage, or centuries-old musical traditions blended with modern rhythms, each artist bridges the past and present in ways that resonate with contemporary audiences. 
 
The 2025–2026 lineup includes: 

• Sons of Mystro – Classical Crossover / Hip-Hop 
  Educational Engagements: Sept. 22–26, 2025 
  South Florida brothers Malcolm and Umoja fuse reggae classics, American pop hits, and original compositions through electric violin, backed by DJ and drums. Mentored by Black Violin, their performances push the boundaries of the instrument while honoring cultural roots. 
  
  

• Nobuntu – Traditional & Contemporary Zimbabwean Rooted Music 
  Educational Engagements: Nov. 12–14, 2025 
  This award-winning female a cappella ensemble blends pure harmonies, mbira (thumb piano), and authentic dance to share the spirit of humility, unity, and family. Nobuntu’s work extends beyond the stage to social impact initiatives like The Nobuntu Pad Bank. 
  
  

• Barron Ryan – Pianist & Composer / Classical Crossover 
  Educational Engagements: Feb. 23–27, 2026 
  Named one of Smithsonian Magazine’s “Ten Innovators to Watch,” Barron blends classical mastery with jazz, pop, and funk influences, pairing jaw-dropping technique with humor and storytelling.
  
  

• Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande – Mexican Folklorico Dance 
  Educational Engagements: May 11–15, 2026 
  With dazzling costumes and precise choreography, this internationally acclaimed company celebrates Mexico’s regional dance traditions, sharing the cultural stories behind each performance. 

 
In addition to performances, each artist will lead school and community workshops, giving audiences of all ages the chance to engage with their craft. 

Quad City Arts will also host a series of community listening sessions this fall to gather ideas and feedback for a reimagined Visiting Artist Series that remains both artistically vibrant and financially sustainable. These sessions are a unique opportunity for community members, arts supporters, and educators to help shape the series for decades to come. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to contact Executive Director Brian Allen to be included in the conversation. Through intentional planning and community dialogue, the community can help ensure that the Visiting Artist Series continues to connect people of all ages. We are confident that together we can reshape this program to not only be financially sustainable but also responsive, relevant, and inspiring for years to come. 
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 “This is a moment of reflection, and more importantly, a moment of collaboration,” Brian Allen, Executive Director of Quad City Arts, noted. “The Visiting Artist Series has always been about more than performances — it’s about opening doors to new perspectives, cultures, and possibilities.” 
 
School staff can schedule residency engagements for this fall and next spring by visiting https://www.quadcityarts.com/vas-scheduling.  
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About Quad City Arts 
Quad City Arts is a nonprofit local arts agency dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts.   

The 2025-2026 season of Visiting Artist Series is supported by Scott County Regional Authority, National Endowment of the Arts, Rock Island Community Foundation, and Quad City Arts' Annual Fund. 
 
For Programming Questions Please Contact: Ben Gougeon, Director of Community Engagement, bgougeon@quadcityarts.com or (309) 793-1213, ext. 100
 
For Additional Questions Please: Brian Allen, Executive Director at Quad City Arts,  ballen@quadcityarts.com or 309-793-1213, ext. 101. 
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