Quad City Arts
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Viral sensation HIPLET ballerinas coming to the Quad Cities

2/23/2022

 
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Hiplet Ballerinas on Good Morning America
Beginning Feb. 28, Chicago Multicultural Dance Center’s select Hiplet Ballerina Company will visit the Quad Cities for a week in residence through Quad City Arts’ 2021-2022 Visiting Artist Series.

Hiplet Ballerinas first found fame in 2016 when their videos went viral on BuzzFeed, Good Morning America, and The Huffington Post. Since then, they’ve traveled the world performing in Paris Fashion Week, at half-time shows for the NBA, in Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year’s Day Parade, and more.


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Hiplet Ballerinas on America's Got Talent
Hiplet fuses classical pointe technique with African, Latin, hip-hop and urban dance styles that are rooted in communities of color. It was specifically designed to make ballet accessible to all, by mixing it with current popular songs that will be familiar to audiences who don’t normally attend ballet performances. Performances may incorporate the rhythms of African drums with Tchaikovsky, arabesques and beat-boxing or even Tango en pointe - all while showcasing audiences will recognize from Black Violin to Beyonce. After features on Good Morning America, Buzzfeed, and The Huffington Post the new art form went viral in spring 2016 and has now amassed over a billion views.

During their residence Feb. 28 through March 5, Hiplet will visit 10 elementary schools, a junior high, and a high school, bringing Hiplet's trademark sass, hip movements, and struts against popular music to Quad City school audiences. This educational residency of Hiplet Ballet is sponsored by David and Peg Iglehart.
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Their full-length public performance will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, Galvin Fine Arts Center at St. Ambrose University, 518 Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803. This must-see show fuses classical pointe technique with urban dance, fueled by inclusivity, modern movement, and Instagram-ready style. Come see the company everyone is talking about during this special one night engagement.


Tickets for Hiplet Ballerinas are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors/faculty, $10 for children, and can be purchased online at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/60268  or at the door. For more information, call the Galvin box office at 563-333-6251.

The rest of the spring includes High & Mighty Brass Band March 22-25, Mexican folk/rock quintet Jarabe Mexicano April 4-8, and R&B and jazz group LP And The Vinyl April 25-29. For more information on public events during the spring semester of the Visiting Artist Series, visit https://www.quadcityarts.com/events.html.

The series serves students and community members in Clinton, Scott, and Muscatine Counties in Iowa, and Henry, Rock Island, and Mercer Counties in Illinois.

During the 2019-2020 season when artists last visited the Quad Cities, more than 26,600 students participated in the program. Experiences included drama workshops for high school students with an East Coast theatre ensemble, a technique discussion for junior high band students from a Toronto, Canada jazz ensemble, side-by-side concert performance with a Texas string quartet, hip-hop dance presentations on history and technique for elementary students— all arts experiences that students would otherwise not have access to.

Since 1974, the Visiting Artist Series has engaged Quad City residents of all ages in quality arts experiences with professional performing artists. Artists of various disciplines present demonstrations, workshops, and masterclasses at pre-K sites, elementary, intermediate, and high schools as well as college campuses and community organizations.

The educational residency of Hiplet Ballet is sponsored by David and Peg Iglehart.
For more information on this residency program, visit www.quadcityarts.com/vas.   

In the Spotlight: Ben Gougeon

2/18/2022

 
The Quad City Arts team is growing and we are happy to welcome to our group a new Events Coordinator, Ben Gougeon! Ben has had a very decorated acting career but at the root of his passion is creating theatrical experiences for the public to enjoy. We can't wait to see him add flare to all of our events. Get to know a little bit about Ben and his incredible roles!
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Are you a Quad Cities native? What brought you to the Quad Cities? I actually grew up in northern Michigan, but did go to grad school at Western Illinois University in Macomb. After spending 11 years living and working in NYC as an actor, I relocated to the QCA in 2019 to raise a family with my amazing partner Liz, who was born and raised in the area.

What is your biggest achievement/goal/moment of success to date – personal or professional? Oh gosh. I mean, the most recognizable would certainly be some of the TV acting work I’ve done. One of my favorites there was getting to be on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I love that show! I got to do a scene with Alex Borstein, who plays Susie. She won an Emmy for that season, so I like to think I hold a tiny, tiny part of that…ha! Also, getting to work with Maggie Gyllenhaal on The Deuce was incredible. To work with someone of her stature, and seeing the excellence, professionalism, and grace with which she goes about her business was amazing to witness firsthand. Personally though, it’s hands down the birth of my son. He’s 18 months old and just the most incredible little fellow.
Video clip from Golden Globes Nominated film "The Deuce" (2019)
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Ben on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
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Still of CBS TV Series "Bull"
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Still of CBS TV Series "Bull"

How did you first learn about Quad City Arts? We live in the Broadway District in Rock Island, so frequently walk through the downtown area. I knew it was there, but my first real ‘experience’ with the organization was attending last year’s Chalk Art Festival. We brought the kids down, watched the artists at work, danced to some great music, and had a wonderful time! But as I’ve learned more about the organization, it’s truly amazing all the work and programs that Quad City Arts plays a role in: MetroArts, Riverssance, Festival of Trees, Visiting Artists and the Performing Arts Signature Series, among others. They have such an incredible reach into so many facets of our community.
 
What are you most excited for in your role at Quad City Arts? Getting the chance to see and meet all the incredible artists that Quad City Arts works with, both locally and those they bring into our community. One of the things I really miss about New York is the sheer amount of cultural events, performances, and experiences that are at your fingertips, and it’s great to see an organization that’s dedicated to supporting and promoting artists in so many mediums.
 
What is your favorite arts experience in the Quad Cities? That’s a tough question to answer, as I moved here just a few months before the COVID struck and the world shut down, and with our little guy, we’ve been very selective with what sort of public experiences we’ve engaged in. But I really love the Figge, and saw a wonderful production of The Goat; or Who Is Sylvia? by the QC Theatre Workshop. Also, the QCSO is phenomenal!
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Ben as Watson in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" production, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock, MO
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Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock, MO

What is your favorite arts experience outside of the Quad Cities? One that really sticks out is The Hypocrites production of Marie Irene Fornes’ Mudin Chicago in 2007. Also, I was travelling in Poland in 2012, and stumbled upon a production of Stanislaw Witkiewicz’s Anonymous Work by Teatre Witkacy in Zakopane. It was all in Polish, and I didn’t understand more than a handful of words, but the work was so specific and impassioned that it didn’t matter. Both were incredible examples of alive, immediate theatre. Art-wise, seeing Jackson Pollack’s One: Number 31, 1950 in person at MoMA was pretty overwhelming.
 
Who is your favorite artist? (This can be any artist – visual, performing, etc.) Visually, I love Picasso. The lens through which he paints is so unique and insightful, even today. His work always jumps off the wall for me. Seeing Guernica in person is on my bucket list; that piece is incredible.
 
What is one thing that might surprise people about you? I’m an avid Detroit sports fan, especially the Tigers and Pistons. I love fantasy sports, especially basketball, and consider myself a bit of an NBA junkie. Also, I’m amazingly good at Candyland.
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Ben answering tough questions on the 2017 film "The Price"

​This wouldn't be a true questionnaire without throwing a few questions in from our Seven With Kevin Series! What are you currently watching on Netflix or TV? We just finished watching the first half of Ozark’s final season, and I absolutely love that show. Also, Somebody Somewhere on HBO has very quickly leapt into my pantheon of favorite series, which includes Transparent, I Love Dick, and Breaking Bad.

Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars all day. I was born in 1977, so it’s in my DNA. Part of the reason I wanted to be an actor was because I wanted to be the next Harrison Ford. I’ve ended up shooting for Sean Astin or Stephen Root, but hey, genetics (and a love of cookies)!

Where is the best pizza in the Quad Cities (or where you are from)? Well, I’ve not had Harris Pizza yet, which I’ve heard great things about, but we’re partial to Happy Joe’s and Papa Murphy’s. However, Monarch is hands down the best meal I’ve had in town, and Red Band’s Egg and Chorizo Sandwich is addictive!

What is your favorite book? I’m a big LOTR fan, any Samuel Beckett, and House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. That book blew my mind with its construction. Phillip Roth’s American Pastoral is also really high on the list.

Where is your go-to place for inspiration? Nothing is more exciting than an empty space. Walking in and imagining what might fill it. Anything from store fronts to warehouses to homes. I’m always looking for a place to create a theatrical event.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? So many!! I grew up wanting to be a marine biologist or oceanographer, and then realized it wasn’t the right fit the first time I got into open water. But I’d love to swim with and study and photograph blue whales. The sheer majesty and scale of them makes you realize your place in this enormous world. Maybe I’ll settle for being a crew member with Sea Shepherd.

If you could have a drink with any artist living or dead who would it be? Samuel Beckett. His writing hits me in such a visceral way that, to me, always speaks to the hope in humanity that we need to continue to cultivate.

When you see Ben around, make sure to welcome him to the Quad Cities! He is currently hitting the ground running and planning our summer events, as well as helping out with the Visiting Artist Series. We're lucky to have such a cool new team member! ​

Visiting Artist Series concerts announced for February

1/27/2022

 
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Two public concerts have been announced in conjunction with the February artists in residence from Quad City Arts’ 2021-2022 Visiting Artist Series.

​Classical crossover string trio Time For Three will conclude their three-day Quad City residency with a public concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at Bettendorf Performing Arts Center, 3333 18th St., Bettendorf. 
String trio Time for Three has recently helped score the Netflix drama Land, the film marks the directorial debut of actress Robin Wright who also stars in the movie. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students. Seating is limited to 150 tickets total. Tickets can be purchased through Quad City Arts at https://sforce.co/3r08Wt6. Time For Three’s residency will be Feb. 15-17 and will serve six schools in the greater Quad City area.
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​On Saturday, Feb. 26, visiting artist and accomplished pianist/composer Barron Ryan will team up with his Steinway-sponsored father for a performance by Ryan & Ryan of their “Going Gershwin” program 7 p.m. at the Concert Hall at Geneseo High School, Geneseo, Ill. General admission tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students. Barron Ryan has recently been named by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of "Ten Innovators to Watch". Tickets are available online at https://sforce.co/3tZDY6i. Barron Ryan will visit the Quad Cities Feb. 21-25 and present to area schools, the DeWitt Community Library, Black Hawk College, and the Jackson Concert Series at Wesley United Methodist Church, Muscatine, among others.

These public concerts reflect hosting partnerships that allow Quad City Arts to reach a different audience, expanding on our outreach efforts in new venues. These partnerships are aimed at activating new spaces and reaching more people.

The rest of the spring includes classical ballet and hip-hop fusion dance company Hiplet Ballet Feb. 28 through March 5, High & Mighty Brass Band March 22-25, Mexican folk/rock quintet Jarabe Mexicano April 4-8, and R&B and jazz group LP And The Vinyl April 25-29. For more information on free public events during the spring season of the Visiting Artist Series, visit https://www.quadcityarts.com/events.

The series serves students and community members in Clinton, Scott, and Muscatine Counties in Iowa, and Henry, Rock Island, and Mercer Counties in Illinois. During the 2019-2020 season when artists last visited the Quad Cities, more than 26,600 students participated in the program. Experiences included drama workshops for high school students with an East Coast theatre ensemble, a technique discussion for junior high band students from a Toronto, Canada jazz ensemble, side-by-side concert performance with a Texas string quartet, hip-hop dance presentations on history and technique for elementary students— all arts experiences that students would otherwise not have access to.

Since 1974, the Visiting Artist Series has engaged Quad City residents of all ages in quality arts experiences with professional performing artists. Artists of various disciplines present demonstrations, workshops, and masterclasses at pre-K sites, elementary, intermediate, and high schools as well as college campuses and community organizations.

For more information on this residency program, how to schedule artists at a school or community site, visit www.quadcityarts.com/vas.  
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A call to visual artists: What would you create with $5,000

1/21/2022

 
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What would you create with $5,000? – Would you buy new equipment to take pictures of the beauties in the city? Would you paint a mural that touches the sky? Would you create your next masterpiece? Quad City Arts is offering a new grant to help local artists keep creating.
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​Quad City Arts’ annual Arts Dollars Grant Program is back this year with several grants including a new Visual Artists Grant. This Visual Artists Grant, funded by an anonymous donor, offers $5,000 dollars to visual artists in support of their creative endeavors. The grant is open-ended and can be used however each recipient sees fit, up to 20% can go straight to the artist pocket as payment to them and the other 80% can be used for a number of things including buying supplies, studio rent, marketing, and ANYTHING that helps the artist continue to create. Each selected artist will also be required to attend two meetings in which are put in place to support the artist through the progression of the year.​
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Quad City Arts strived to support artists and help them continue to cultivate art here in the QC. With an accessible and uncomplicated application, this Visual Artist Grant is open to any and all visual artists in the area. The application asks for a short artist’s narrative, the artist's resume, and work samples. If you see yourself as a visual artist, apply! With a diverse community panel of judges making the decision, any artist could receive this grant.
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Gabi Torres in her Clinton, Iowa studio.

Previous Arts Dollars Grant recipient Gabi Torres shares what this opportunity meant for her, “I am really grateful for what the Quad City Arts has been doing in supporting local artist, it has been a game-changer for me personally…it felt wonderful and amazing [to be awarded]. This was the first grant I had received as an artist so it was very validating and so encouraging.” Through the grant, Torres is working to bring more modern art to the Clinton area. In doing that, she has begun working with the Sawmill Museum in Clinton where later this year she will have a free to the public, interactive exhibit displaying a collection of her abstract work.

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Torres also shared her feelings towards the new Visual Artist Grant being offered this year, “It is a tremendous opportunity. In talking with lots of artists we’ve all agreed that the grants aimed to help support the buying of materials or a specific project are amazing and wonderful, but it is difficult for us because very few grants support the artist and their time and their actual labor this grant opportunity is different [since 20% can go straight to the artist pocket]. The Visual Artist Grant is a wonderful opportunity for artists in the whole Quad Cities greater area, it is trailblazing.” 
 
Applications are due January 31, 2022
Recipients will be notified no later than March 15, 2022


APPLy Before January 31

QUAD CITY ARTS’ ARTS DOLLARS GRANTS TO OFFER NEW GRANT TO VISUAL ARTISTS

12/15/2021

 
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Quad City Arts is pleased to announce Arts Dollars grants for the 2022 cycle. Applications are welcome from individual artists, K-12 schools, and non-profit organizations partnering with artists. All art forms are eligible. Since 1990, Quad City Arts has supported the local art community by awarding more than $1,000,000 in grants to local artists, non-profit organizations, and schools.
 
This year, Quad City Arts has received additional funding from a funder who wishes to remain anonymous to fund Visual Artist Grants. In total, Quad City Arts will grant $140,000 to local artists and organizations during this grant cycle. The application process is competitive, and applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline. Quad City Arts staff are available to assist with the application process.

GRANT CATEGORIES

NEW THIS YEAR - Visual Artist Grants supports visual artists who demonstrate exceptional creativity in the arts, innovation, and contribute to the vitality of the Quad City Region. Selected artists will be offered professional development designed specifically for artists and be granted $5,000 where up to 20% can be allocated to artist salary.
 
Project Grants support arts projects or programming that primarily emphasize community engagement. Individual artists may apply for up to $2,500. Non-profit organizations and schools may apply for up to $5,000.
 
Education Grants support projects or programming that primarily provide opportunities in arts education for K-12 students. Individual artists may apply for up to $2,500. Non-profit organizations and schools may apply for up to $5,000.
 
Capacity-Building Grants fund activities that increase an organization’s overall capacity, organizational strength, and long-term community impact. Non-profit organizations may apply for up to $5,000.
 
Deadline for applications: January 31, 2022
Recipients will be notified no later than March 15, 2022.

 
APPLY TODAY
Funding for the 2022 Arts Dollars cycle is provided by the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, and an anonymous funder. 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.
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View last year's Art Dollars Grant Awardees and list of funded projects on our blog.

Be Part of The Biggest Holiday Event in the Quad Cities By Volunteering!

11/2/2021

 
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Be a part of Festival and experience the team work of one of the BIGGEST events in the Quad Cities!

It takes a village of over 2,000 volunteers to bring the magic of Festival to our community each year and we are thankful for all who donate their time to make it a success. Sign-up for a shift and receive FREE TICKET to come back and visit us again with family and friends.

Volunteering is perfect for:
  • Corporate groups
  • High school and college students
  • Church or social group volunteers
  • Committed community volunteers
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Sign up to volunteer
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Not sure what spot to volunteer for? ​

Here are quick descriptions to help you pick a volunteer spot:

Reindeer Games – Oversees a craft of game for younger visitors of Festival and ensures that everyone stays safe and has fun. Ideal for groups who want to volunteer together or high school students who need volunteer hours!

Be Original Gallery – Assist our Visual Arts Director and our staff with the curation and sales of items from our Rock Island gallery conveniently located at Festival!

Floater – Are you interested in helping but don’t really care where? Be a floater! This person helps cover the gap for us if we run short on volunteers. They also help keep Festival running smoothly by being a messenger and covering breaks.

Sales Floor Assistant – Helps bidders place their bids at Festival of Trees and helps direct visitors where they need to go. Ideal for someone who is comfortable using an iPad.

Raffle Ticket Sales – We need help selling raffle tickets for the over 100 raffle baskets at Festival of Trees! This is ideal for someone who enjoys talking to visitors and even for a small group of friends or family who want to volunteer together.

Raffle Ticket Collection – We need help collecting all the raffle tickets throughout the event! This is ideal for someone who has a shorter window of time to volunteer but still wants to do their part.

Raffle Ticket Counting – We need help counting all the raffle tickets throughout the event! This is ideal for someone who has a shorter window of time to volunteer but still wants to do their part.

Gingerbread Village – Be the mayor of Gingerbread Village for a few hours! Keep an eye on the gingerbread creations and assist visitors who wish to make a purchase. Ideal for someone who is looking for a more low-key experience!

Treat Shoppe – Help us make sure our Treat Shoppe is fully staffed!

Admissions Volunteer (3rd St, 2nd Floor, Performer’s entrance) – Be the first person to greet visitors as they arrive at Festival of Trees! This person should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment and with using
Square and iPad technology.

Per CDC recommendations, masks are required for volunteers and strongly encouraged for visitors.

Please email us if you have questions about volunteering at: qcfotvolunteers@gmail.com or fot@quadcityarts.com

Sign up to volunteer

Your Insiders' Guide to Festival of Trees

11/1/2021

 
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The “official kick-off to the holiday season” happens later this month with the KwikStar Festival of Trees! There are many different reasons that people get excited for Festival of Trees, some like to see all the decorated trees, wreaths, stockings, ornaments, etc., others love our events like SugarPlum Ball or Celebrity Lunch, and for others, it is a family tradition. For me, I love it all, but there are two things that rise to the top for me.  
 

The first will always be the impact that Festival of Trees has. I’m not even talking about the impact on a person attending Festival of Trees, studies show events like these reduce stress, increase creativity, and so much more. I’m talking about the impact that is created in the year AFTER the event. Festival of Trees raises money for Quad City Arts. This 10-day event helps put a Visiting Artist into the schools for students, provides funding to pay students to create art through the Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program, helps provide gallery space for regional artists, and more.  
 
The second is the Holiday Parade. It is worth mentioning that I am not a parade person. I love that we have them, but I am not one to attend a parade! However, in 2019 I fell in love with our Holiday Parade (2019 was my first Festival of Trees with Quad City Arts). When you hear the marching bands play and see the helium balloons in the sky it is a truly magical feeling. The energy in Downtown Davenport cannot be replicated and it leaves you filled with JOY. Thanks to our community sponsors, not only is it FREE to see it is also televised on KWQC-TV6.  

​We have so many fun new twists this year, 
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we can’t wait to see you there!     
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What's New this year?

We'll have new character balloons at the parade,
a brand new floor plan at the RiverCenter, ​and so much more!


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Skip the line! General admission tickets are on sale NOW on our website. NEW this year, Festival of Trees will be going cashless with the option to purchase general admission tickets online.

There will be a FAST PASS lane at the admission gates for all prepaid admission tickets. Discounted general admission tickets will be available for purchase at all area Kwik Star locations November 1-15. Tickets can still be purchased at the door with credit/debit card including IHMVCU BOGO offer.

Toy Tree Donations

Quad City Bank & Trust is the premier sponsor of the Toy Tree this year and will be accepting donations of new & unwrapped toys to help fill the tree at any of their area branch locations now through November 10th. At the conclusion of Festival, all toys will be donated to the Marine’s Toys for Tots program to give needy children a magical holiday experience. 
Find a location near you or DONATE ONLINE 
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Special Event Tickets Now On Sale!
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Get in the holiday spirit with these fun festival traditions. Don’t miss our NEWEST event, A Rather Curious Brunch on Sunday, November 22 at 11 am. Sip on cocktails served out of teapots and munch on delicious “brunchitziers” as you expect the unexpected at this topsy-turvy garden party.

All your favorites are back this year including, Teddy Bear Tea, Premiere Party, SugarPlum Ball, and Celebrity Lunch!
 BUY TICKETS NOW!

Festival After Dark: Silent Disco

Join us after Festival closes on Saturday, November 27th from 8pm -10pm for a unique silent party experience. For $10 upcharge with paid general admission ticket, grab a wireless headset and dance the night away as 3 live DJs battle it out for your attention. Glow sticks, raffles, and cash bar are available! Get your tickets at the door or online. This event is 21+ and you must bring a valid ID for check-in.  
 BUY TICKETS
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Mobile Bidding for Designer Displays

It’s easier than ever to bid on your favorite designs at Festival this year with our NEW online bidding platform. Simply can a QR code or enter a URL to browse the over 70 designer displays, enter your information and place a bid. Every dollar raised goes back to Quad City Arts and supports arts programs across the Quad Cities.

Mobile bidding will be available at the RiverCenter on November 20th.

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It takes a village of over 2,000 volunteers to bring the magic of Festival to our community each year and we are thankful for all who donate their time to make it a success. Sign-up for a shift and receive FREE admission to come back and visit us again with family and friends.

View Available Shifts and Times

View the full festival guide

Our Special Events book is out now, take a peek!
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Quad City Arts 2022 Annual Call For Entry

10/26/2021

 
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Quad City Arts invites artists residing within a 250-mile radius of Rock Island, IL (most of Iowa, Illinois, parts of WI and MO.) to submit a proposal for a gallery exhibition during 2022-23. Selected artists will be paired with one or two additional artists for a 2-month long exhibition between August 2022 and August 2023 in one of our two large exhibit spaces. Cohesive bodies of work are highly desired. All media will be considered. All exhibited work will also be featured and for sale online!

The purpose of the exhibition is to not only show your work but to further your career through sales of your work. If selected, most of the work exhibited should be for sale. We encourage new and up-and-coming artists to apply! Artists and gallery locations will be selected by the visual arts committee. Read more about our galleries below. 

The application process is through the CaFÉ entry system. Used by more than 160,000 artists and over 700 arts organizations, CaFÉ is the leading online system to manage art calls and reach more artists. Creating a profile is simple and easy, please create a CaFÉ profile to submit your work. 

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APPLY TODAY!
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Quad City Arts’ Rock Island Gallery occupies a 1908 department store space near the banks of the Mississippi River. Features include original wood floors, a 14' high, tin ceiling, and a wall of windows that face the Mississippi River. The exhibition gallery has 1500 sq. feet of space and 106 running feet of wall space. This gallery is ideal for large work, both 2D and 3D, cutting edge or experimental work, very small work that requires close-up viewing, installation work, performance art, nudes, and everything in between. A free public reception for the artists is held at this space.
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Art at the Airport Gallery is in front of the arrival/departure seating area in the Quad Cities International Airport, Moline, IL. It houses 1,600 square feet of exhibition space behind floor to ceiling glass panels with a depth of 4 feet. Numerous electrical outlets and controlled lighting make this an ideal space for works incorporating neon or video. It can accommodate works up to 7’ tall and sculptures 4’ wide. Over 2 million visitors pass through this space annually. Due to the highly public nature of the space, no nudity nor highly controversial works will be displayed. Currently, no public receptions for the artists are held.

Application Requirements

Entry fee: $10
Deadline: Jan. 9, 2022.
Notification: Feb. 11, 2022
Proposal: Briefly state the overall theme, idea, or inspiration behind your work.
Submit Images: Submit six images through the online “CAFÉ” application to represent the body of work proposed.
Additional Option: Two person or group proposals. If you wish to exhibit with another specific artist or a group containing up to 6 artists, then each artist must fill out an application and state who they wish to show with. It will be helpful if all members in the group submit applications on the same day. Exhibition pieces must have been completed in the last 3 years and not previously shown at Quad City Arts. 2D work must be framed for exhibition, unless gallery wrapped canvas is used; some exceptions allowed.

Eligibility

  • This is a regional competition open to all artists over 18, residing within 250 miles of Rock Island, Illinois (most of IL, IA, parts of WI and MO.)  
  • Only original works of art not previously shown at in a Quad City Arts Gallery and created within the last three years can be exhibited.
  • Quad City Arts retains 35% of all sales and most exhibited work must be for sale. Commission on sales extends two months after the close of each exhibition for sales brokered by Quad City Arts.
  • Our gallery staff will exercise careful handling of all works and will not be held responsible for any damage or loss due to faulty hardware or poorly made work.
  • All exhibited work will also be featured in our online sales gallery.  Artists will be expected to provide good quality photographs of all work to be exhibited, three weeks prior to the exhibition for the online gallery.
APPLY TODAY!

Poetry Out Loud to Award More Than $100,000 In Prizes

10/19/2021

 
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The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Quad City Arts to support Poetry Out Loud 2021-22 a FREE high school program which encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through analysis, memorization, and recitation. This dynamic program helps high school students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn of their literary heritage, and compete for more than $100,000 in awards.
 
WINNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL WILL RECEIVE: A $200 cash prize and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., A $500 cash stipend for her\his school to purchase poetry materials, an opportunity to compete at the 2020 National Finals for the title of National Champion and a $20,000 prize.  
 
The competitions will begin at the school or classroom level to identify student winners to represent their school at the regional and state contests. The Regional Contest will be held via Zoom in February, date TBA and will be determined with help from the schools. State Finals will be held in March. The state winner will represent Illinois at the National Finals in Washington, D.C., in late April.

Interested in getting your student(s) involved or learning more about Poetry Out Loud? Fill out our online form and Regional Coordinator, Tracy White will contact you! All resources and materials are provided!  ​
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SIGN UP TODAY
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Photo of top nine finalists © James Kegley
More about Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies.
 
Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 4.1 million students and 68,000 teachers from 17,000 schools and organizations in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
 
Poetry Out Loud provides free curriculum materials—all available online—including a  poetry anthology, a comprehensive teacher’s guide, videos of student performances, lesson plans, and promotional and media resources. Hard copies of materials are available for teachers participating in the official program but anyone can access the online materials.

Vi
ew the Poetry Out Loud 2021 National Champion in the video below, and start writing! 
​

Visiting artist series continues outreach this fall along with FREE community events

10/13/2021

 
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The 2021-2022 Visiting Artist Series continues this fall as artist present demonstrations to students in schools in Davenport, Bettendorf, and Pleasant Valley Schools. Invoke, a modern string quartet, kicked off the season of the Visiting Artist Series with 10 different outreach events, 745 people attended those events,  560 were students, and we partnered with 8 hosting sites to make this outreach possible. Thank you to all who attended and partnered with us to make the arts accessible to all!

The public will also have the opportunity to interact with our next Visiting Artist during these events throughout the Quad Cities (RSVP on Facebook!):

Bassel & The Supernaturals, Syrian-American funk and soul band, will be in residence Oct. 18-21
  • Iron + Grain Coffee House, Davenport, will host a pop-up public performance with the band 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19
  • Wesley United Methodist Church, Muscatine, will host an informal public performance by the band as part of the Jackson Concert Series 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21
  • Raccoon Motel, Davenport, will present Bassel & The Supernaturals’ full-length public concert with a special guest 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20. The show is for ages 21 and up. Tickets are $10 each and available through Raccoon Motel’s system at https://tixr.com/e/30180.

​Jazzy Ash, presenting traditional African-American music for kids, will be in residence Oct. 25-28
  • Sawmill Museum, Clinton, will host a family performance open to the public 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27
  • Family Museum, Bettendorf, will host a family performance open to the public 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28
  • The Muscatine Art Center, Muscatine, will host a family performance open to the public 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28

Lowdown Brass Band, all-horn brass ensemble, will be in residence Nov. 17-19
  • The band’s public concert will be held as a part of Premiere for Kwik Star Festival of Trees, benefiting Quad City Arts. This full-length performance will be 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, RiverCenter South, Great Hall, Davenport. Tickets are $50 each and available through the Festival of Trees website at www.qcfestivaloftrees.com/events

These public events reflect several new hosting partnerships that allows Quad City Arts to reach a different audience, expanding on our outreach efforts in new venues. These partnerships are aimed at activating new spaces and reaching more people.

During the 2019-2020 season when artists last visited the Quad Cities, more than 26,600 students participated in the program. Experiences included drama workshops for high school students with an East Coast theatre ensemble, a technique discussion for junior high band students from a Toronto, Canada jazz ensemble, side-by-side concert performance with a Texas string quartet, hip-hop dance presentations on history and technique for elementary students— all arts experiences that students would otherwise not have access to.

Schools can currently schedule residency engagements for this fall and next spring by visiting our scheduling page. Community sites are able to schedule engagements for their patrons and clients through our community scheduling page. (Performance schedulings are prioritized for schools.)

Since 1974, the Visiting Artist Series has engaged Quad City residents of all ages in quality arts experiences with professional performing artists. Artists of various disciplines present demonstrations, workshops, and master classes at pre-K sites, elementary, intermediate, and high schools as well as college campuses and community organizations.

For more information on this residency program, visit www.quadcityarts.com/vas.
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