Quad City Arts has made the difficult decision not to host the 35th-annual Kwik Star Festival of Trees in person this year due to uncertainty and concern for the safety of volunteers, staff, and community as a whole regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. The Holiday Parade and all other special events will also not be held this year. This decision was led by Festival of Trees volunteer management team with the full support of the Quad City Arts’ staff and board of directors, the regional nonprofit announced Wednesday morning. “We recognize that Festival of Trees is a beloved holiday tradition in... Read More

Quad City Arts is officially open and excited to show off their latest exhibit. Assembled portraits by David Van Allen and jazz noir images from the Iowa City Jazz Festival by Ron Meyer are now on display at the Quad City Arts Rock Island Gallery (1715 2nd Avenue Rock Island), as well as online. All pieces are available for purchase. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The gallery is closed on Sundays. No admissions fees are required. About the Artists David Van Allen – Van Allen’s process begins by collecting hundreds of images of... Read More

The City of Moline is joining the Public Sculpture Program, facilitated by Quad City Arts and funded by Renew Moline. Two new sculptures will be arriving on the riverfront in coming weeks. “Swans on the Marsh” by V. Skip Willits of Camanche, IA, will be mounted this week on the river walk at 15th Street. Regarding inspiration for the sculpture, Willits states, “I was walking along the shore of a marsh by the river one day and spied three swans on the water. This is my rendition of that scene.” Arriving July 22nd on 17th Street near the KONE Building will be “Metamorphosis” by Hilde... Read More

Anyone can be an artist, and while the fourth-annual Chalk Art Fest won’t be able to gather in person this year, Quad City Arts is committed to bringing this colorful street art event to the community. So it will take place virtually from Aug. 15 to 28 and anyone and everyone is invited to participate. Chalk artists can create their work safely at home, on their driveway, sidewalk, porch or balcony. Snap a photo of your masterpiece and send to Quad City Arts (via website or e-mail) by Aug. 28 at 3 p.m., and be eligible for over $1,500 in cash prizes, including a youth category (for ages 12-17)... Read More

QuadCities.com proudly presents FUN10, a list of the top 10 things to do in the Quad Cities this week, and every week! Every Sunday, we’ll drop a new FUN10, to give you a head start on your week and a heads up on what’s going on over the coming seven days. Check out FUN10 every Sunday for the details on ten awesome events happening around town. It’s a cool read, and a great way to get started planning your entertainment for the week. As the current health situation in our country continues to force the cancellation of so many regularly scheduled events in the Quad Cities, we are once again... Read More

Just as last year was unusual for the Quad City Arts Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program, this summer also is unique. ​ Far fewer students – ages 15 to 21 – are participating, in fewer projects, and they are wearing face coverings and are social distancing, as is the current practice. That does not mean that the two outdoor murals and improvisational comedy being created over the past five weeks are any less meaningful, important or impressive. “Every Metro Arts site has a collection of masks available, if the student either doesn’t have one or has forgotten theirs that day, so we... Read More

Rock Island-based Quad City Arts was the only organization in the immediate Q-C to earn funding Wednesday from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant. Like most of the 855 organizations funded nationwide, the regional nonprofit will get $50,000, on top of a previously approved $30,000 NEA grant last month that was unrelated to Covid-19 relief. Quad City Arts this spring did get Covid-19 relief funding through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, executive director Kevin Maynard said Thursday. Part of the criteria for new funding... Read More

Creating art is typically a solitary activity. For Black Hawk College students this spring, it was more isolating than usual, as they worked together – while physically apart – to produce a 36-page art magazine. ArtFusion magazine is produced every other year by and for BHC visual communications students. It features essays, digital drawing, photography, painting and other student works. When the college’s Art 248 – Production and Prepress class (about 14 students) went completely online in mid-March – because of Covid-19 — creating the collaborative, full-color publication became... Read More

From July 2-August 31, 2020, Quad City Arts Art @ the Airport presents Ralph Scott’s digital paintings, Andrea Van Wyk’s oil paintings and Terry Rathje’s sculptures. Ralph Scott (East Peoria, IL) manipulates cellphone images to create digital paintings. Through the use of software, Scott can achieve painterly effects or rework the composition to place emphasis on the most important details. He combines images, such as a tricycle with clouds, to create an otherworldly effect. The finished images are printed on aluminum. Andrea Van Wyk (Pella, IA) paints realistic magnifications of flowers... Read More

With social distancing and safety measures in place, the 2020 Quad City Arts’ Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program was still able to move forward, providing thirty area youth, ages 15-21, with five-week paid summer apprenticeships. These apprentices create arts projects that positively impact our community: a mural in Moline, Improv Comedy, and a mural in Rock Island.  These projects were made possible through support from the City of Rock Island, Friendship Manor, Modern Woodman of America, The Moline Foundation, and Renew Moline. The mural in Moline is underway and located in the courtyard... Read More