This has undoubtedly been a bear of a year. No joke, 2020 has been brutal. And it’s still hanging in there being surly. BUT… there IS good news in the Quad-Cities! And every month, we at QuadCities.com, in partnership with our friends at KWQC-TV6 and “Paula Sands Live,” present you with What’s The Good News? a column on some of the positive things happening in and around the area. So, what’s the good news for December? Glad you asked… Local Author Jason Platt Honored For Young Adult Series Jason Platt, an author/illustrator from Davenport, has once again... Read More

A visual archive is essential to preserving a university’s history, and the photographers at the Western Illinois University Visual Production Center (VPC) make it a priority each day to capture the essence of life at WIU. From athletics to academics to student activities and more, Sarah Ritter, George Hartmann and Rachael Keating look through their lenses for the best way to represent WIU through photographs. Ritter, VPC manager, was recently recognized by University Photographers’ Association of America (UPAA) in the organization’s monthly image competition. In the October competition,... Read More

Quad City Arts’ plan to help regional artists stay motivated by creating artwork throughout the quarantine — which began in March 2020 — will continue into 2021 with the culminating exhibition of chosen works postponed to October 2021. The plan is to share the artwork with the public when we can safely gather socially, said Dawn Wohlford-Metallo, visual arts director at Quad City Arts. “As the pandemic wears on, it is more important than ever for people to express themselves creatively,” she said. All artists residing within a 250-mile radius of the Quad-Cities are invited to... Read More

To say it’s been a difficult year for creators in the local, and national, arts scene is a massive understatement. All of us have lost money, jobs, our careers and found our artistic outlets severely curtailed. Any of us within the live performance and audience interaction area — from live music to theater to book signings — have had our livelihoods completely decimated. One local creator, however, Kristin Bruchmann, is looking to help out. She told me recently, “I’ve been quite concerned about the number of folks in the Q-C arts scene who have lost their livelihoods... Read More

Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs today announced the launch of an Iowa Arts & Cultural Recovery Program, with the help of $7 million in federal Covid relief funding. The new statewide grant program will provide short-term relief to arts venues, cultural organizations and creative workers who have lost significant business or income due to the pandemic. “Art, history, culture and creativity are vital to Iowa communities and further promote our overall quality of life,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Right now, many cultural venues are financially at risk, for no other... Read More

It is with deep sadness the Davenport Sisters Cities and the Freight House Farmers Market announces the cancellation of the 2020 Christkindlmarkt in its current form.  Christkindlmarkt Quad Cities has grown to be one of the area’s most popular winter-time activities, last year drawing more than 25,000 people to the December holiday event.   Christkindlmarkt Chair Sarah Mullins stated, “While we are disappointed, we, first and foremost, want to do what is best for our community.  Out of deep respect for our healthcare workers, and the health and safety of our guests, we have made... Read More

Kevin Maynard was as busy as a Christmas elf last Friday afternoon, as he distributed sugar cookies in the area to help promote the 35th-annual Festival of Trees. In fact, the Quad City Arts executive director dressed as an elf to deliver the Olde Towne Bakery treats (topped with the Festival logo) to his home-based co-workers and other Festival supporters. Among Maynard’s cookie run was for Kelly Oberhardt of KONE Spares (a team of the local KONE company), who covered the cost of her cookies and she matched donations of her team – raising a total of about $500 for Festival of Trees. “Things... Read More

A painting party will be held at Karpeles Museum, 700 22nd St., Rock Island, from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. Join us at the Karpeles Museum for a fun day of painting! I will guide you through each and every step of this beautiful fall landscape as you let your creativity flow! No experience is needed. This painting will be $30 per person. Please message us if you’d like to reserve a spot! Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite or Venmo @karie-rauch. Preregistration is required to guarantee you a seat! Can’t wait to see you all there  Read More

At Quad City Arts in Rock Island, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as the 35th anniversary of Festival of Trees will look different this year, but the holiday magic will continue in a whole new way. Kaleigh Trammell is in her second year of coordinating Festival of Trees at Quad City Arts, and while the focus for the first time will be online and on TV, there also will be a gift shop and window displays at the Rock Island Gallery from Nov. 21 to 29. “It has been a challenge,” she said recently. “When we made this decision, we were trying to look ahead to what November was going... Read More

Winter Nights Winter Lights begins lighting up the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, this weekend! From Nov. 19 to Jan. 10, every night from 4 to 9 p.m. the outdoor gardens will be in winter bloom with over 130,000 glowing lights. Showcasing our largest light display yet, new areas of our outdoor gardens will be lit, including the Children’s Garden. Explore the lawns, pond and pocket gardens of our outdoor light exhibit. Open Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and the night of New Year’s Day. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. A small processing fee will be added to all tickets. All... Read More