Community Outreach Program

The Community Outreach Program presented by MidAmerican Energy Foundation offers twenty non-profit organizations the opportunity to participate on-site at the Des Moines Arts Festival to share their mission to thousands of guests, free-of-charge. MidAmerican Energy Foundation will also be providing $250.00 to each of the selected non-profit organizations for Festival art supplies and staffing. To participate, non-profit organizations provide an on-site interactive arts-related activity and manage their booth during the open hours of the Creative Zone. The non-profit organization is encouraged to display approved signage and distribute organization information within the area.  

 

2024 Timeline: 
April 2: Applications Open

April 17: COP 101 - register at the bottom of the page 
May 10: Applications Close 
May 17: Selected organizations notified 
May 31: Paperwork due from organizations

June 28-30: Des Moines Arts Festival 

 
The Festival Will Provide: 

• One 10’ x 10’ tented space in the festival’s Creative Zone 

• A banner displaying your non-profit organization’s name and logo 

• Two 8’ skirted tables and two chairs 

• Shared on-site storage unit (with padlock) 

• $250.00 to be used for the purchase of Festival related art supplies or staffing 

 

Non-Profit Organizations Will Provide: 

• An interactive arts-related activity (approved by Festival – we’re happy to brainstorm with you!) 

• Staff/Volunteers to manage and run the booth for the duration of Creative Zone hours. 

• Any costs above the $250.00 associated with the activity and staffing. We encourage you to utilize your volunteers and Board members to host your booth! 
   

Exhibiting Regulations: 

• All interactive activities and performances must be pre-approved by the Festival. 

• Non-profit organizations are encouraged to solicit memberships and hand out promotional literature and educational materials.   

• Raffling or distributing merchandise requires written approval. Please include this information in your application (we’re open to ideas!). 

• No merchandise, novelties, food, or drink sales are permitted. 

• No tipping is permitted. 

• Non-profit organizations are responsible for maintaining a clean and orderly tent during all Festival hours.  Any damage done to the tent, table, or chairs will be the responsibility of your non-profit organization. 

• Organizations must leave their space the way they found it at the conclusion of the Festival. (Trash and recycling to be disposed in proper bins provided by DMAF in your area) 

• Non-profit organizations are entered into a contract with the Festival and must provide a valid Certificate of Insurance listing Des Moines Arts Festival as additionally insured. 

• Non-profit organizations and their employees/volunteers must abide by the general rules and policies of the Festival.  

• Booths are required to be open and attended to at all times during the following hours, rain or shine. Failure to do so will result in denial of future participation.  

  • Friday, June 28 & Saturday, June 29: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.​

  • Sunday, June 30: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

 
Acceptance notifications will be sent out by or on Friday, May 17, 2024. A program representative will be in touch should we have questions about your activities. 

 

Participating organizations will be required to attend a conference call on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 to review load in, set up, engagement during the festival, and tear down. If you have questions, please reach out to:
Colby Schwantes

Program Intern

cschwantes@desmoinesartsfestival.org
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