NEA grant awarded for public art at Central Iowa Water Trails
Polk County and Bravo Greater Des Moines have received a $125,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to incorporate public art with the Central Iowa Water Trails access points. The “Our Town” grant is awarded to help integrate arts, culture and design activities to strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical and social outcomes, according to a news release announcing the grant. The NEA grant will fund “Shortline Signals,” a project that will educate users about water safety, quality, and visually connect the waterways in the area. “NEA funding is a huge endorsement for this project which advances regional cultural priorities,” said Sally Dix, Executive Director of Bravo Greater Des Moines said in the release. “Bravo is committed to arts integration as essential to planning and development, and the Shoreline Signals project champions art as a tool for problem solving, innovative education and outreach, and cultural celebration.” To learn more about the goals of Central Iowa Water Trails, visit centraliowawatertrails.org.