Explore the award-winning Des Moines Arts Festival® with the Official App!
Search for, view and zoom in on one of the works of any of the professional or emerging Iowa artists. Send them an e-mail or simply record your impressions of their Artistry, their Technical Expertise or their Work as a Whole using the 'Like' mode (turned on in the detailed view of an artist by touching thumbs-up icon). Within that same view you can take a photo of the Artist's works (please ask first), mail your impressions of their work to yourself or friends or just review all of your booth visits and your impressions.
Explore the huge variety of interactive arts activities. Discover the diverse selection of music entertainment the Des Moines Arts Festival® has to offer either as a Performing Arts Event or a Stage Event. View details of a stage event and save it to your calendar for an automatic reminder. Take notes for later (touch the pencil icon). There is so much to browse and enjoy in this newly re-designed app. Use the app to take notes, search for your child’s favorite activity, schedule a stage time or film. With so much to see and do, the Official Des Moines Arts Festival® App is your answer to an eventful weekend of the arts.

About the Festival

Winner of the Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association, the Des Moines Arts Festival® features the best visual artists in the country, along with interactive arts-related activities, live music and performing arts.  Surrounding the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the annual festival of arts and culture takes place on June 24-26.
The Festival hosts over 180 talented professional artists. Their original artwork in 14 mediums reflects the very best in the country, having been juried from over 1,200 applicants. The commitment to visual arts is reflected in the Festival’s many program choices including the award-winning Emerging Iowa Artist Program presented by Principal Financial Group and the Des Moines Art Center’s Nurturing a Student’s Vision K-12 Art Exhibition presented by Hubbell Homes.
The art of film is showcased through the award-winning Interrobang Film Festival presented by Nationwide, which runs concurrently throughout the weekend. This event combines a traditional film production festival with a public screening. Accepted films are screened at various times throughout the three days of the Festival inside the Central Library located on the Festival grounds.

Entertainment is a memorable feature of the Des Moines Arts Festival®. With live music and performing arts performances, guests can enjoy more than 100 hours of entertainment on the Aviva Main Stage, GuideOne Performing Arts Stage and award-winning Jazz & Wine Pavilion presented by Meredith.
The Des Moines Arts Festival® is all about interaction. At the heart of the Festival’s passion to engage and activate its guests to participate is the award-winning Prairie Meadows Community Outreach Program. 24 area nonprofit organizations provide interactive arts-related activities that are challenging and fun!


The Des Moines Arts Festival® is a non-profit organization presented by The Des Moines Register, founded by the Des Moines Art Center and produced by Downtown Events Group. It is governed by a 24-member Board of Directors. The Festival is dedicated to producing a FREE arts and cultural event. Festival proceeds benefit the Des Moines Art Center and the continuation of the Des Moines Arts Festival®.

You can become more involved by becoming a member. You can do this by completing the appropriate forms at www.desmoinesartsfestival.org. There are privileges when you become a member!