Greater Connection Event Showcases Arts Education 

On December 9, community members gathered at the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy for Greater Connections: Reimagining Arts Education. This new series of events, launched in 2025, offers a chance for philanthropists to hear from local nonprofits and leaders. Events are designed to bring donors closer to the community’s needs and opportunities.  

“Much of our arts and cultural experiences come to use through nonprofits,” President & CEO Karla Twedt-Ball said at the event. “But we cannot take those organizations for granted. Public resources are under threat, private resources are strained, and nonprofits are having to adapt to new realities.” 

The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy recently purchased and renovated the former Arthur Elementary School. The building now houses the Academy’s wide range of programming. At the December event, Community Foundation donors got a behind-the-scenes look at this historic, innovative, and evolving space. 

“Giving tours of Arthur School and walking people through our classrooms, studios, and future plans allowed me to show rather than just tell what we do and why it matters,” said Heather Dewey Wagner, Executive Director. “The conversations, the questions, and the genuine curiosity from donors made the experience feel incredibly special. It was energizing to hear their perspectives and to feel their excitement as they saw our creative work up close.”