As we look back on 2024, we are grateful for the community support that has allowed Quad City Arts to foster creativity, connection, and transformation in our region. The generosity of our donors, volunteers, and community partners has enabled us to expand accessibility to the arts and make a lasting artistic impact on our cultural landscape!

Leading The Way:  As a resource for public art, Quad City Arts works with city officials to facilitate murals, sculpture installations, and placemaking initiatives. In 2024, we helped launch the RFQ for the multimodal station in Moline and played a key role in the Bass Street Landing mural and Rock Island Arts Alley renovation. Through Metro Arts, we completed murals at the Putnam Museum and the Goodyear Building in Rock Island. These efforts beautify our community, improve the quality of life, and drive economic impact, as showcased by the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study from Americans for the Arts.

Art is for Everyone: Quad City Arts is committed to ensuring everyone has access to creative expression. In 2024, our public performance series, Quad City Arts Presents, introduced tiered ticketing to make performances more accessible. We also facilitate free opportunities to experience art, from daily gallery access to shows in libraries and community centers. Through Arts Dollars, we also provide grants that help artists and small arts organizations execute their visions. 
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Events You Love: Even if you’ve never been to our galleries, we know you love our annual arts programming. Chalk Art Fest brought over 120 youth and adult artists to Schwiebert Park, Rock Island. Riverssance welcomed 87 fine artists to Lindsay Park, Davenport. More than 800 people danced the night away at the SkyBridge in Davenport for Silent Disco during Alternating Currents. Festival of Trees wrapped the RiverCenter in holiday decor, with nearly 2,445 artists performing, creating, and celebrating Quad City Arts’ annual programming.

None of this would be possible without our dedicated supporters, volunteers, artists, and partners. Your belief in the power of the arts fuels our mission and keeps creativity thriving in the Quad Cities. 
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Looking forward to 2025, we anticipate a year of transitions. This year we will onboard nine new Board Members and a new Executive Director. With new leadership, Quad City Arts will be well positioned to scale up arts and culture programming for the Quad Cities.

Simultaneously, we are thrilled to celebrate two major milestones that have shaped the arts in our region:
Celebrating 40 Years of Festival of Trees: This beloved holiday tradition continues to unite the community, bringing together thousands to celebrate creativity and raise funds to bring Visiting Artists into local schools. We look forward to honoring the legacy of Festival of Trees while introducing new and exciting experiences for all to enjoy.

25 Years of the Metro Arts Apprenticeship Program: For twenty-five years Metro Arts has provided young artists with paid opportunities to develop their skills, work on public art projects, and gain professional experience in their creative field. This program remains a vital part of our mission to nurture the next generation of creatives.
With the support of our community, we look forward to a year of growth, inspiration, and impact. Together, we will continue to enrich the Quad Cities through the arts and ensure that creativity remains at the heart of our region!

Learn more about Festival of Trees sponsors and volunteers who supported the arts in 2024, visit: www.quadcityarts.com/annual-report-2024


Get Involved!
As we embark on an exciting year ahead, we invite you to join us as a volunteer! Volunteers support Quad City Arts’ staff and bring our activities and events to life. Share your interests and join us in shaping a vibrant year ahead!

Quad City Arts Unveils 2025 Arts Dollars Grant Awardees, Empowering Artists and Organizations with nearly $150,000 in Funding

Quad City Arts is pleased to announce 2025 Arts Dollars grant awards to 29 organizations and 9 individual artists. Since 1990, Quad City Arts has supported the local art community by awarding more than $1,600,000 in grants to local artists, non-profit organizations, and schools. 

Funding Sources
Arts Dollars funds are generously provided by the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Quad Cities Community Foundation - Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency. In total, Quad City Arts granted almost $150,000 to local artists and organizations during this grant cycle, up from $115,000 in the 2024 cycle. 

Grant Recipients
The 2025 Arts Dollars grants encompass a wide array of projects, each uniquely contributing to the cultural tapestry of our community. This complete list of recipients showcases the breadth of creativity and commitment to community enrichment among Quad Cities' artists and organizations

Capacity Building Grants: 

• MC Art Collective—Art Week in Aledo 
• WVIK—Community Content Studio 
• Seton Catholic School Art Club—Smartboard for Arts Classroom 
• Together Making a Better Community—Sound Equipment for their new auditorium 

Education Grants: 

• Amber Dale—Pinhole Photography Workshops 
• Crossroads Cultural Connections—Visiting Artist School Program 
• Junior Theatre Inc—Affordable Arts for All: Production Rights for Junior Theatre 
• Muscatine Art Center—Summer Enrichment Series 
• Spring Forward Learning Center—Painting Classes w/Zay Williams 
• United Township High School—Creation of High School Mariachi Band 

Project Grants: 

• Antonio Varela—Generaciones; photo/video project on Latin leaders of the QCA 
• Autistic & Loved Foundation—Mural for Sensory Gym 
• Azubuike African American Council for the Arts—Pulling Focus Film Festival 
• Ballet Quad Cities—Creation of a new Dance Me A Story program 
• Black Box Theatre—Solo Fringe Festival 
• Bix Beiderbecke World Museum & Archives—100th Anniversary of ‘Davenport Blues’ concert feat. Gunhild Carling 
• Curtis Lewis—Development and Production of one-act play ‘The Half’ 
• Daniel J. Flosi—Printing of fine arts chapbook ‘Riverend Series’ 
• Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre—North Meets South Festival 
• Fresh Films—Summer Film Intensive 
• Gaye Shannon-Burnett—Story Quilts for African American Fiber Arts Exhibition 
• Greg Hipskind—Summer Kickoff Concert for QC Rock Academy 
• Haus of Ruckus—Funding for 4th Season 
• Her Voice Media—Fireside Stories 
• Hot Glass Inc.—Glass Sculpture for Moline Public Library Garden 
• Jessica Beshears—Creation of Undercurrent Magazine 
• Lucas Berns—Development of ‘Artifical and Still’ collection of digital weaves 
• Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center—Photo Voice photography project 
• Mercado on Fifth—Dia de los Muertos cartonería workshops 
• Narratives—Narratives QC Spoken Word Poetry Program 
• Opera Quad Cities—Production of Die Fledermaus 
• OUTLETProgramme—OUTLETProgramme Concert Series 
• Polyrhythms—Third Sunday Jazz Series 
• Quad Cities Pride Alliance—Performers for Pride Festival 
• Rock Island Public Library—Art Literacy art exhibitions 
• Shellie Moore Guy—The Family Tree writing/family history workshops 
• Vince Jetter Community Center—Cultural Arts programming 
• World Relief Quad Cities-- Arts in English Summer Camp for Refugee Youth

Quad City Arts is committed to advocating for the arts as a vital component of a vibrant community. We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners, supporters, and the talented grant recipients of 2025. Together, we continue to make the Quad Cities a place where art and culture flourish!

​Brian Allen has been named the new Executive Director of Quad City Arts. Allen joins the organization from the German American Heritage Center, where he served as Executive Director, bringing experience in arts administration, cultural programming, and community engagement.

“We are thrilled to welcome Brian Allen to Quad City Arts,” said Nate Augustine, Board Chair of Quad City Arts. “His passion for the arts, deep commitment to community collaboration, and leadership make him the ideal choice to guide our organization into its next chapter.”

Allen has a strong background in cultural programming and nonprofit management, having successfully led initiatives that celebrate heritage, arts, and education. Most recently, as Executive Director of the German American Heritage Center and Museum, he launched innovative programs and exhibitions designed for children and families, expanded audience engagement, and forged impactful partnerships throughout the Quad Cities. His leadership helped grow the organization’s reach and deepen its connection to the community.

Previously, at the Figge Art Museum, Allen managed the Studio School and education galleries, where he successfully led the merger of the studio program with the Bereskin Academy, streamlining arts education opportunities for local students. He also curated community-driven exhibitions in collaboration with area school districts, colleges, and organizations, reinforcing the museum’s role as a hub for creative learning.

“I am honored to guide Quad City Arts into its next chapter, where creativity and purpose collide to create a vibrant future,” said Allen. “The arts have played a vital role in my career, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to foster new opportunities for artists. I look forward to working with the talented team at Quad City Arts to continue making an impact in the Quad Cities region.”

Throughout his career, Allen has championed relevance—ensuring that art and cultural experiences are accessible, engaging, and meaningful to people from all walks of life. He looks forward to leading an organization that not only embraces relevance but also integrates art into the very fabric of the community.

A passionate advocate for community engagement, Allen has a long-standing commitment to service. A former AmeriCorps member (2008), he currently serves on the boards of Arts Basics and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Quad Cities Chapter) and volunteers with his local Cub Scout committee.

Allen holds an MA in Museum Studies from Western Illinois University (2013) and a BFA in Painting and Drawing from Illinois State University (2008). His studies in San Francisco and Tokyo have broadened his global perspective, influencing his approach to arts enrichment. A recognized leader in the field, he has presented at national and regional conferences, including the Association of Midwest Museums (2025, 2018) and the National Art Education Association (2021).

As Executive Director, Allen will oversee the organization’s programs, community partnerships, and strategic initiatives, ensuring that Quad City Arts remains a hub for creativity and cultural enrichment. His leadership comes at an exciting time as the organization continues to grow its offerings, including public art projects, programming, and signature events such as Festival of Trees.