Arts & Culture

What have we been up to in 2018?

Learn more about the Arts and Cultural Master Plan and how you can get involved!

Arts Culture header

Arts and Cultural Master Plan Welcomes the Dubuque Community!

The Arts and Cultural Master Plan and subsequent Community Engagement Strategy empowers the community to take on the responsibility of enacting the community's desire to to see and experience more arts and culture in Dubuque. We invite all members of the community to participate in bringing the arts and Cultural master plan to fruition! To learn more about how you can participate this in 2018 click here. 

AOTR Logo with Date
Art on the River goes Driftless!

The City of Dubuque is welcomed 6 new pieces of art into the exhibit this year. Our special 13th annual Art on the River exhibit features kinetic and light based artwork. Celebrate art and summer with us on the Mississippi Riverwalk. Join our community of public art enthusiasts on Facebook to keep up with news and public art updates.



s636622484157814860Civic_Send_Graphic-01_optimized
Arts Commission

Special Projects Grant application is now closed!

The City of Dubuque Special Projects Grant cycle for FY 19 is now closed! The Special Project grant is open to organizations and groups interested in doing dynamic and interesting projects for the residents of Dubuque. To learn more visit the Special Projects page. As the deadline has passed we will now work towards reviewing the applications. Thank you for all who applied. 

Special Project Grant Timeline:

May 22, Applications are reviewed by the Arts Commission
June 4, City Council approval of grant awards
June/July, Contracts signed and funding is disbursed
September 2019, Closeout and Final Report due

Operational Support Grant Application is now closed!

The City of Dubuque began it's granting cycle for FY19 on March 7th. The Operating Support grant is available to non-profit arts organizations that operate in the city. For more details about the grant, the application, the guidelines and the scoring rubric click here. We look forward to reviewing the applications. 

Operational Support Grant Timeline: 

April/May, Volunteer panel will review applications
May 22, Panelist findings are presented, commission votes 
June 4, Grant recommendations given to Council 
June/July, Contracts signed and funding is disbursed

AitP - Banner Design-01
Congratulations to the Winners:
Team Iowa!
Winners, Team Iowa with a clean sweep

The Dubuque Museum of Art and the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs joined forces to host a new project. Art in the Park: Snow Sculpting event. Dubuque residents have been known to take advantage of all the seasons and this event was no different. This snow sculpting event was one where the pros and the newcomers participate in the creation of artwork using the abundant raw material of the season, snow. Using an array of tools, generally found in any garage, these compressed blocks of snow were transformed into temporary works of art. Go to Art in the Park page to learn more.

Team Iowa had a clean sweep becoming the winners of Best in Snow, People's Choice, and United States National Snow Sculpting Iowa State Championship title! Congratulations to Team Iowa! Continue to explore by viewing event photos.

The Arts Mean Business in Dubuque


The arts industry in Dubuque generates $47.2 million in annual economic activity.
Learn more

State of the Arts Report


Click here to view a PDF of the State of the Arts. To request a printed copy, email the Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator.

Want to stay in the loop on City of Dubuque Arts and Culture news?


Subscribe to our e-mail list and like us on Facebook
Americans for the Arts logo
Live the Arts in Iowa logo
NEA logo