Like many musicians, artists, theaters and other arts organizations in this surreal time, Quad-Cities museums are putting their collections and programs online. Forced by the coronavirus crisis to close down March 17, Davenport’s Figge Art Museum, German American Heritage Center & Museum, and Putnam Museum & Science Center have significantly boosted their websites and social-media presence. The “virtual museum” has become reality for museums worldwide. “The challenge is with reaching our audience during this time of closure, really has brought this new opportunity... Read More

ROCK ISLAND — Through Facebook and their website, Quad City Arts announced the winners of the 43rd Annual High School Art Invitational and presented $5000 in cash prizes and scholarships to area high school students and teachers for excellence in fine art. The awards are as follows: Senior Scholarship sponsored by The Butterworth Foundation, Zimmerman Honda and Jane & Kevin Koski: Liam Haskill, Rock Island High School   Senior Scholarship sponsored by Morency Family Foundation Lydia Bloome, Bettendorf High School Best of Show sponsored by Carlo Centore Michael PK, Central DeWitt High... Read More

QUAD CITIES, IOWA / ILLINOIS—Quad Citizens raised $102,376 on Monday, April 6, during the 24-hour “Unite Quad Cities for COVID-19 Recovery” giving event spearheaded by KWQC TV6, United Way of the Quad Cities, and the Quad Cities Community Foundation. All contributions supported the Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation. Every single dollar donated during the event was matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to a challenge from First Midwest Bank, Sears Seating, Modern Woodmen of America, MidAmerican Energy, and Mike and Monique Gorsline. The group has committed... Read More

DAVENPORT, IOWA — In one of the most incendiary, perverse, and controversial masterpieces of performance art over at least the past eight days on the Quad-Cities social isolation scene, Khalil Hacker, a.k.a. Khalil Antonio, a.k.a. “you know, Khalil, from Circa,” ate donuts live on Facebook Monday night. The provocative and unsettling live feed began at 7 p.m. when Hacker, dressed mysteriously in a rakish black fedora, black suitcoat, white shirt and gray tie, but wearing no pants, stared into the camera in defiant fashion, brandished an unnamed silver sleeve, dispensed what appeared... Read More

Pink, best known for her Grammy-award winning hits like “Get This Party Started,” and John Taylor, bassist for Duran Duran, best known for smashes like “Hungry Like The Wolf,” both announced on social media this weekend that they’ve tested positive for coronavirus. Both artists have played to sold-out crowds at Moline’s TaxSlayer Center and enjoy large followings in the Quad-Cities. They join a growing number of celebrities who have tested positive, including Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Chris Cuomo, as well as Joe Diffie, who passed away from the virus, and John... Read More

Have you ever wanted to be a writer? Here’s your chance! QuadCities.com is seeking interested and hard-working high school and college students for our internship program. Interns will get professional experience (and potentially college or high school credit, depending on your school’s program) writing, doing videos and podcasting for the fastest-growing media site in the area, your site for fun, free, local entertainment and positive news, QuadCities.com! Want to find out if it’s right for you? Send an email telling us why you want to be an intern and a couple of samples of your work (any... Read More

One of the most unique spots in the Quad-Cities is celebrating its ninth birthday today! Rock Island’s Rozz-Tox turns nine today, marking almost a decade of some of the most distinct live performances and exhibits in the area. Rozz-Tox has hosted everything from raves to live music to art shows to live talk shows and more, all while maintaining a singular aura and vibe, as well as a widely varied menu of drinks and food and a definitely funky and fun atmosphere. Owner Benjamin Fawks said the following on his Facebook page today: “I am so grateful for the support we’ve had over... Read More

DAVENPORT — Like many of his fellow musicians who are airing videos on Facebook and working to raise money during the Covid-19 pandemic, Don Gustafson is using the social-media platform for good. The 49-year-old Davenport man makes his living as a full-time musician – as bassist in the Q-C band Funktastic Five, assistant music director at Davenport’s St. Paul Lutheran Church, and adjunct music teacher at Black Hawk College, offering private piano, guitar and bass lessons. In response to the coronavirus, which has closed bars and restaurants, and put musicians out of work, Gustofson... Read More

The Quad City Arts 43rd Annual High School Art Invitational might not be able to have a live showing due to coronavirus concerns, but Quad City Arts isn’t letting them get them down! QCA has set up the artists’ works online in a Virtual Gallery Live NOW at this link. Each spring, Quad City Arts shows works from top Quad City high school visual artists and their art teachers. The exhibit fills the walls of Quad City Arts’ downtown Rock Island gallery, the opening ceremony is attended by hundreds of Quad Citians supporting young artistic talent, and students receive thousands of... Read More

Missing the experience of going to a huge music and entertainment festival, with dozens of eclectic and talented acts? No worries, even in the era of quarantine you can get those feels by checking out the Socially Distant Fest. Socially Distant Fest is a new Facebook group which showcases entertainers from around the country. As the page admin puts it: This group has been created to bring some entertainment to those of us that are isolated/quarantined or distanced socially because of the COVID19 pandemic. We welcome performers of all backgrounds (musicians, poets, puppeteers, fire spinners, etc…)... Read More