Our Mission is to be an innovative visual arts organization committed to providing superior art experiences that inspire, educate, and challenge all members of our community.

History of the Ankeny Arts Council and Ankeny Friends of the Arts

The Ankeny Arts Council began March 17, 1981 with Bill Boswell, Director of the Ankeny Parks and Recreation Department, calling the first meeting to order. Goals were discussed at this meeting which have continued with modifications through the years. The Ankeny Arts Council has worked to bring the arts to the citizens and the Ankeny Citizens to the arts.

The Ankeny Arts Council over the years has worked with the Ankeny Schools, Ankeny Community Education, the City of Ankeny, Keep Ankeny Beautiful, and other nonprofit groups to provide events, classes, and art activities. The Ankeny Arts Council was one of the early residents of the Neveln Resource Center; renting space for children's drama, a ceramic wheel studio, a visual arts classroom, and an office. While at Neveln, the Ankeny Art Council increased its board and incorporated as the Ankeny Friends of the Arts becoming a nonprofit group on April 28, 1995. With the incorporations, the Arts Council became the Ankeny Arts Council/Ankeny Friends of the Arts.

A big boost for the Ankeny Arts Council/Ankeny Friends of the Arts was moving into the city-owned, former John Deere Credit Union builidng in 2002. With this facility brought the ability to display artist work in exhibit areas and to begin designing an outside sculpture garden. The Ankeny Arts Council/Ankeny Friends of the Arts became the sponsor of the Ankeny Art Center.

If you are looking for Santa's North Pole Village Craft Sale the 2013 application form will be released for download the end February. Application, booth maps, driving/ areal mapds and information are under 'call for entries' or click here