Self-guided rural art tour designed to jumpstart support for the rural arts while advocating for arts and culture in community development.

1. The Importance of
Local Context in
Rural Placemaking
Next Generation Rural Creative
Placemaking Summit – 10-13-16

2. Jamie
Horter
Senior Spotlight
Lyons, NE

13. Zack Jones
Project Art Church
Malvern, IA
IOWA

24. 

28. Before 
After 

33. Fine Arts on 5th Gallery
Before 
After 

35. Nishna Heritage Museum Mural
Oakland, Iowa - 2016

36. Nishna Heritage Museum Mural
Oakland, Iowa - 2016

39. Zack Jones
Project Art Church
www.zjpaintings.com

40. Michelle
Wodtke
Franks
Golden Hills RC&D
Southwest Iowa
IOWA

41. USDA Rural Community
Development Initiative
Grant award 2014 through 2016
• Inventory art, history and culture
amenities in a rural 8 county region
• Develop regional cultural councils and
cultivate partnerships
• Assess needs for supporting art,
history & culture in small, rural
communities
• Conduct visioning and planning based
on those identified needs
• Provide backbone support for
sustainable regional event
• Provide training & networking
opportunities

42. Omaha Des Moines
 Maximizing
what we have
 Making
unexpected
connections &
partnerships
 Improving rural
life
Southwest Iowa – Cultural
Destination!

43. Cultivating Art, History & Culture in SW
Iowa
• Formalized in 2015
• Governed by a volunteer
Board of Directors
• Organized as a nonprofit
• Just completed 3rd year
• Connecting rural communities
through art
• Signature Event for the
Southwest Iowa Art Council

44.  12 towns
 17 “Gathering Places”
 Over 100 artists
 Estimated attendance – 1,000+

45. What do we want to do?
• LINK art & culture with outdoor
recreation, local food, small
business, historic preservation
• LEVERAGE resources across
multiple placemaking
opportunities to be mutually
beneficial
• PROMOTE growth
opportunities for creatives &
entrepreneurs
• CULTIVATE appreciation for art,
history & culture in rural
communities
• CREATE learning & experience
opportunities to foster
patronage
• DEVELOP events & partnerships
to bring business to small towns

46. Additional financial & technical support:
 USDA Rural Community Development Initiative
 University of Iowa Office of Outreach &
Engagement
 Iowa Arts Council
 Iowa West Foundation
 Red Oak Hotel/Motel Tax Grant
 County Community Foundations
 Art Tour Advertising, Sponsorships and
Registrations
 SO MUCH VOLUNTEER TALENT & TIME

47. What’s Next for SW Iowa?
Fourth Annual Southwest Iowa Art Tour – 2017
Proposed Folk Art Center in Macedonia, IA – Feasibility &
Capital Campaign
“Maker to Market” Workshop for Rural Artists & Creatives
WanderLoess.com – an online platform to promote
recreation, rural art, history & culture in Western Iowa
Cooperative marketing opportunities for rural artists

48. Michelle Wodtke Franks
Executive Director
michelle@goldenhillsrcd.org
www.goldenhillsrcd.org