MUSCATINE, Iowa – More than a dozen Muscatine organizations with arts and cultural missions have united as the new Muscatine Cultural Alliance and are celebrating the collaboration with a new event.
The institutions, which represent the performing and visual arts, placemaking, and Muscatine’s local history, will host their Cultural Alliance Celebration: Volunteer Recognition & Fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 15. The luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the downtown Merrill Hotel Ballroom. Doors open at 11 a.m. Tickets are $55 or $500 for a table of 10.
The celebration will raise funds to both support future collaborations under the Cultural Alliance umbrella and participating organizations. It also is intended to spark an interest in volunteer participation, membership and engagement in programs and other offerings.
Muscatine Cultural Alliance members are: Muscatine County Arts Council, Muscatine Symphony Orchestra, Muscatine Civic Chorale, Jackson Concert Series, Pearl City Players, Friends of the Muscatine Art Center/Muscatine Art Center, Friends of the Old Barn, Friends of the Pine Creek Grist Mill, Friends of Musser Public Library, Muscatine County Conservation, Muscatine Public Art Advisory Commission, Muscatine History & Industry Center/National Pearl Button Museum, Friends of the Fairport Fish Hatchery, Friends of the Old Stone Church, and the Alexander Clark Foundation.
The celebration will feature keynote speaker Chuck Swanson, former director of the University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium. Keith Porter, president and CEO of the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, will serve as the master of ceremonies.
The luncheon also will have live music, a silent auction and a slideshow. This year’s winner of the Shirley Jean Drake Great Initiatives Award will be announced. That award recognizes an individual volunteer.
The event is sponsored by: Kent Corporation, CBI Bank & Trust, RJK Inc., Bayer, Geri Kent, and Chuck and Kim Swanson. Supporting organizations are Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine.
In recent years, various organizations have been collaborating on special events including the Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, a two-time Grammy award winning group, as well as the 2023 Ballet Des Moines performance on the Muscatine riverfront.
“Through teamwork and some great connections, Muscatine has been able to enjoy many memorable experiences,” Melanie Alexander, the Muscatine Art Center director, said in a news release. “We are thankful to have a network of support and are thrilled to welcome Chuck Swanson back to Muscatine… Now that he has retired, he continues to connect us with talented performers.”
To attend the Cultural Alliance celebration, purchase tickets online through the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine at https://cfgm.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/ticket, or by mail or in person at the foundation’s office at 215 W. Mississippi Drive.
