Celebrating a Year of Art & Community – 2024 Year End Review

As we close the chapter on 2024, we’re reflecting on a year of creativity, connection, and impact made possible by supporters like you! From expanding public art initiatives to making the arts more accessible through grants and programming, your involvement has fueled our mission. With major milestones ahead—including 40 years of Festival of Trees and 25 years of Metro Arts—we’re excited for what’s to come. Read our 2024 Annual Report below to see the highlights, the impact, and how you can be part of another inspiring year ahead!
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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!