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Thanks to the amazing and creative partnership wit

Thanks to the amazing and creative partnership with @cfjc_ia during the #micasayourcasaic installation this summer, a $2000 grant was provided to the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition. A big thanks to everyone that tagged and directly donated to the campaign.
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Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0 entertained and delighted 69,000 visitors during the month.
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#creos #publicart #downtowniowacity #thisisiowa #thinkiowacity

Summer nights downtown are the best . #downtowniow

Summer nights downtown are the best
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#downtowniowacity #thisisiowa #thinkiowacity

Excited to be part of a newly designated Downtown

Excited to be part of a newly designated Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District, announced last week by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
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This designation, applied for by the Iowa City Downtown District and City of Iowa City, will allow the area to receive state’s support through creative placemaking programs that put the arts, culture, and history at the center of creative community development.
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The Downtown Iowa City Cultural & Entertainment District is located in the heart of Iowa City and is the hub of the “Greatest Small City for the Arts.” Its 26-block area is easily walkable and bikeable, right at the doorstep of the University of Iowa and the headquarters of the UNESCO City of Literature. It includes a National Register Historic District, the downtown pedestrian mall, and a dynamic collection of restaurants, music venues, museums, historic theaters, shops, independent cinemas, galleries, bars, and many mission-driven organizations. More than 8.8 million people visited the district in the past year to enjoy its vibrant cultural entertainment and 10 hallmark festivals.
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With notable cultural and entertainment venues such as the Stanley Museum of Art, the Voxman School of Music, the Iowa Museum of Natural History, the Old Capitol Museum, the historic Englert Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Public Space One, FilmScene, and The Lasansky Gallery, among others, this designation is justifiable as a place that continues to draw and engage artists, innovators, creatives, and entrepreneurs and has directly resulted in the continued growth of new industries in the Iowa City area.

Iowa City's downtown public benches are colorful y

Iowa City's downtown public benches are colorful yet again! Ten local artists have completed their new designs for @greenstatecu’s 2022 BenchMarks Program. Since 2012, the program continues to bring opportunities to local artists and designers to transform benches in original ways that surprise, amuse, or alter the expectations of downtown's shared urban space. Come downtown and see the artwork for yourself. The dense gallery of benches surrounds the playground in the Ped Mall next to the Iowa City Public Library. Stay tuned to learn about more public art coming to downtown later this summer!
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A big thank you to this year's talented artists:
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Yuchen Liu
Barbara Santucci
Eleanor Lindhorst
Alicia Errthum
Stacey Jackson
Hannah Jannusch
Ariane Parkes-Perret
Amanda Stout
Amira Qidwai
Brittany Todd

Have you found Rusty the Giant Sloth hiding downto

Have you found Rusty the Giant Sloth hiding downtown yet? The new Where’s Rusty? scavenger hunt is underway and invites kids and families to come downtown this summer to find the beloved museum mascot hidden in 25+ downtown businesses.
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Just like ICDD’s Downtown Hunt for the Elves, Where's Rusty? challenges folks to visit local shops where a Rusty look-alike stuffed animal is hiding in exchange for a stamp on their card from each business they find him in. Participants who find 10 of the Rustys can turn in their completed cards at the Museum of Natural History @pentacrest.museums, @iowacitypubliclibrary, or @iowabookic for Rusty stickers and to be entered in the drawing to win a grand prize basket. The winner will be announced on August 19th at the Museum of Natural History during the "Where's Rusty?" summer celebration event with special treats, games, prizes, selfies with Rusty, and more!
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Have a very Rusty summer and good luck finding him!
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#downtowniowacity #thinkiowacity #thisisiowa #traveliowa #wheresrusty #giantsloth

#micasayourcasaic is only up for a few more days!I

#micasayourcasaic is only up for a few more days!If you haven't tried the swings in the Pedestrian Mall to relax, swing, and play, now is the time to do so! The public art installation will be removed this Monday, July 10th to travel to its next destination.
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ICDD brought the installation from @gocreos to Iowa City in partnership with the @cityofiowacity, @thinkiowacity, and the @cfjc_ia. The framed houses feature a two-person porch swing made of urban ash. Artists Hector Esrawe @esrawestudio and Ignacio Cadena @cadenaconcepts were inspired by the mercados of Latin America, lively street markets where human connections are made every day. The installation features three-dimensional red frames that illustrate the warmth, comfort, and safety of our homes. When a casa is empty, a welcoming white glow bids you to enter. Once inside, the glow intensifies to show that someone is home.
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ICDD hopes that some of the dialogue among those that engage with the exhibit will be centered around housing in Johnson County. Through a partnership with the Community Foundation of Johnson County, Mi Casa Your Casa 2.0 will share an awareness and direct commitment to Johnson County's local housing initiatives. For any and every photo of the Mi Casa Your Casa 2.0 installation that is posted and tagged @downtowniowacity, #downtowniowacity, #micasayourcasaic, $1 will be donated to the JoCo Affordable Housing Coalition. Additionally, all community donations made will be matched by the Community Foundation of Johnson County.
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#downtowniowacity #thisisiowa #thinkiowacity #traveliowa

Thank you for celebrating the 5th Annual Downtown

Thank you for celebrating the 5th Annual Downtown Block Party with us!! The weather turned out, the energy was high, and the streets were packed for another successful year. We hope you had as much fun as we did!
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A special thank you to this year’s sponsors and making the biggest event of the year one to remember: @ibevcedarrapids @greenstatecu @hillsbank @tcosalon @weareurbanacres @imon_communications
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#downtowniowacity #thinkiowacity #traveliowa #thisisiowa #downtownblockparty

It's the biggest event of the year you've all been

It's the biggest event of the year you've all been waiting for. The 5th Annual Downtown Block Party, returns TOMORROW Saturday, June 25th from 4:00 - 11:00pm. The Iowa City Downtown District and its sponsors invite the community to come enjoy the summer weather in the heart of Iowa City and celebrate together. The Downtown Block Party is an experience you won't want to miss with fun surprises around every corner. Take a look back at the 2018 event and get excited for this years festivities!
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The event is rain or shine so we will be there! Please follow our social media channels for updates: Iowa City Downtown District and DowntownIowaCity on Instagram.
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Just as in years past, this event will be great fun, celebrate downtown Iowa City, and be the highlight of summer programming. 14 blocks will be full of FREE programming for all ages to enjoy, so invite all of your friends and family. A ticket to the event is only required if you plan on consuming alcohol. In keeping with tradition, the ticket for the event will be a Block Party 2022 cup and wristband and only those with such items will be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages (wine and beer only) in open containers on the streets of downtown. Learn more about the programming here.
FREE PARKING - All of the ramps downtown will be FREE from Saturday, June 25th - Sunday, June 26th at 10:00am.
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Tickets are still available for pre-order for only $10! Save $5 by pre-ordering now. Tickets will still be available the day-of for $15, but only cash and Venmo will be accepted at any of the 5 ticket booths throughout the event.
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🎟 www.downtowniowacity.com/events/downtown-block-party/
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THANK YOU to our 2022 Downtown Block Party sponsors for making this event possible:
@ibevcedarrapids
@greenstatecu
@weareurbanacres
@hillsbank
@tcosalon
@imon_communications

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