IOWA CITY, IA (March 28, 2024) — The Iowa City Downtown District announced today the launch of a new collaborative campaign to showcase the vibrant Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District, officially recognized by the state in December 2022.
At a special First Round celebration hosted at FilmScene at The Chauncey, leaders from over 15 esteemed area arts organizations came together to unveil the highly anticipated X Marks the Arts campaign. This initiative underscores the collaborative spirit driving the cultural and entertainment venues in downtown Iowa City, which includes both university and community organizations.
The campaign, an effort of the Cultural & Entertainment District Committee, co-chaired by John Schickedanz of The Englert Theatre and Tammie Walker of the University of Iowa School of Music, has been meticulously crafted over the past year in partnership with the local marketing firm, MELD. Together, they have developed a cohesive brand strategy that celebrates Iowa’s premier aggregation of arts and cultural venues.
X Marks the Arts will manifest through various creative mediums, including striking street banners, captivating sidewalk art installations, a dynamic weekly newsletter, and engaging promotional videos. These initiatives are designed to bolster awareness within our local community and attract audiences from surrounding cities and out-of-state metro areas.
John Schickedanz, Co-Chair of the Cultural & Entertainment District Committee and representative of The Englert Threatre expressed his enthusiasm for the campaign, stating: “The X Marks the Arts campaign is a testament to the collaborative spirit and creative energy that defines our downtown district. We are excited to showcase Iowa City’s rich cultural tapestry to audiences far and wide.”
This ambitious endeavor has received support from key stakeholders, including the Iowa City Downtown District, the City of Iowa City, Think Iowa City, and Travel Iowa. Their backing underscores a shared commitment to fostering a thriving arts and entertainment scene in the heart of Iowa.
For more information on Downtown Iowa City’s Cultural & Entertainment District and X Marks the Arts campaign, visit www.xmarksthearts.com.
The Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District is a vibrant, diverse, and lively epicenter for the arts that begins in the heart of downtown Iowa City and ripples through this Big Ten town and UNESCO City of Literature, delivering ever-changing sites and experiences, and welcoming everyone who wants to be in the middle of it all, amidst hundreds of locally and nationally renowned live music venues, museums, historic theaters, independent cinemas, and galleries in a place known as the greatest small city of the arts.
