The Mural Project presented by Athene is in collaboration with ArtForce Iowa and youth in Des Moines Public Schools. It is a giant interactive art experience where Des Moines Arts Festival guests contribute to the creation of a large mural over the three days of the Festival. 

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This year's mural shows a variety of butterflies from countries around the world, reflecting the origins of the youth artists who collaborated on this piece. Across various cultures, butterflies represent transformation, joy, and hope. The final mural will be installed at Hoover High School later this summer.
 

Guests who enter the art activity area will each receive one small square image of the original painting, a blank panel, and the opportunity to transfer their interpretation of the small square onto a larger piece. When finished, the panels are affixed into a billboard-sized frame, piece by piece.

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Join our partner Athene and their amazing team of volunteers to create the Festival's newest mural project. You can find them at 13th Street and Grand Avenue.