Iowa’s Public Art Exhibition
for America’s 250th
Central and Southwest Iowa
Declarations is a site-specific public art exhibition taking place July-September 2026 throughout Central and Southwest Iowa. Using art, storytelling, and public participation, Declarations turns public space into a living conversation about who we are and what we are building together for the next 250 years. Find exhibition details along with maps, events, suggested itineraries and artist interviews at declarations.art.
The public is also invited to contribute to a time capsule that will be concealed for 250 years at Union Park’s Heritage Carousel in Des Moines.
Learn more
Summer Schedule
June 12th Friday 5:00 – 9:00 PM Pizza on the Prairie, Wallace Farm
Come to the prairie at the Wallace Farm on Friday nights during the summer for from-scratch brick oven pizza packed with straight-from-the-farm veggies & local meats! House-made sides, desserts and a signature drink are all crafted from the garden produce harvested just steps away from the kitchen. Beer, wine and soft drinks available, too. Live music from 5:30 to 9 pm. There’s plenty of room for yard games; bring your own or borrow ours. Walk the prairie path and enjoy the outdoor art along the way: 5 permanent sculptures + the temporary Prairie Art exhibit. Seating is limited, so bring your own lawn chairs and blankets.
Reservations are required for this award-winning event and will gradually open throughout the season.
Our facilities are not food allergen or gluten-free. Our staff will do our best to prevent cross-contamination. Please be aware our food may contain or come into contact with common allergens, such as dairy, eggs, wheat, soybeans, tree nuts, or peanuts.
June 20th 6:00 PM Listening Field Kick Off, Clive Greenbelt
Join us to kickoff the new summer art installation in Clive, Listening Fields! We are meeting on Saturday, June 20 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. where you can meet the artists Anna Gebhardt and Philip Rabalais, enjoy refreshments, and learn about the piece! The group will end the evening with a walk to an entry point for the piece so bring walking shoes!
Listening Field is an immersive art installation made of music composed for spaces throughout Clive’s Greenbelt Park and Trail system. From June – September 2026, recordings of piano, voice, saxophone and electronics will be geo-mapped between NW 100th St. and NW 114th St., accessible via the free soundwalk app, Echoes. As the listener moves throughout the park and trail system each piece is triggered automatically and flows seamlessly into the next.
This project was made possible by a grant from Bravo Greater Des Moines.
Creekside Pavilion (1803 114th St., Clive)
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
Declarations is a collaborative initiative of Group Creative Services and Whiterock Conservancy in partnership with City of Clive, Heritage Carousel, Poetry Palooza, Union Park, Wallace Centers of Iowa, Wilson’s Orchard and World Food Prize. Additional support is provided by Bravo Greater Des Moines, Fred & Charlotte Hubbell, Inspire Iowa and Invest DSM.