Your gift to the Grant Wood Art Colony helps support the celebration of the life and legacy of Iowa’s most famous artist, Grant Wood, by providing a creative home for the next generation of artists at the University of Iowa.
Your impact
Your gift specifically helps to enhance current and support new Grant Wood Art Colony programs.
Catalogue Raisonné
Creating the artist’s catalogue raisonné would not only establish Grant Wood’s contribution to art history but also provide a lasting impact on the Grant Wood Art Colony. The Grant Wood Art Colony seeks to hire an art historian for five to seven years who will research and document all known works by the artist, their provenance and citations. The University of Iowa and the Grant Wood Art Colony would host this research on a website. Museums, scholars, galleries, and collectors would reference the site as the authority on Grant Wood.
Biennial Symposium
Every two years, the Grant Wood Art Colony hosts scholars, educators, and practitioners to present papers on various topics linked to the legacy and Grant Wood. These symposia often serve as the seed for greater educational programs, including a public art residency and curatorial research. Through generous sponsorship, this symposium is offered both virtual and in-person, free and open to the public.
Colony Improvements
The Grant Wood Art Colony currently consists of five, nearly hundred-year-old houses. Like all homes, these need continual maintenance. The Colony wants to ensure that the Fellows and visitors have a comfortable, updated experiences while staying at the houses. Former Fellows have requested that studio space be built out on the property to enhance the Colony feel. Current studio space is located 20 minutes away and many Fellows arrive without cars. A garage and a basement have been targeted for conversion into studio spaces.
Fellowships
The Grant Wood Art Colony can house up to seven artists-in-residence. Currently, three Fellows reside in the Colony houses—Painting and Drawing, Printmaking, and Interdisciplinary Performance. The Grant Wood Art Colony National Advisory Board intends to maximize this number in the next ten years.
Public Art: The Colony seeks to establish a Public Art Fellowship. In 1934, Grant Wood was appointed head of the Public Works of Art Project for Iowa. This appointment led to Wood’s eventual hiring as an associate professor in the art department at the University of Iowa. The Office of Outreach & Engagement has received more requests for public visual art in Iowa communities than the current University resources can fulfill. Additionally, students will enhance their curricula vitae with real-world experience. This Fellowship will honor Wood’s career in public art, provide tangible benefit to communities across Iowa, and create opportunities for the next generation of artists. The Fellowship is modeled like the existing Fellowships: teach one class per semester and provide campus and public engagement opportunities. Fellows will also complete one major work in an Iowa community during the residency.
How to give
Individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in giving to the Grant Wood Art Colony of the University of Iowa may do so by check or online.
By check
Make checks out to: University of Iowa Foundation
Memo field: Grant Wood Fund 30-160-081
UI Center for Advancement
One West Park Road
P.O. Box 4550
Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550
Online
Visit the University of Iowa Center for Advancement website with the option to give online as a one-time donation, make a pledge, or set up a recurring gift online.
You can also provide gift-matching information and choose to make your gift a memorial or honarary gift via this website.
Gifts of any size are appreciated. Contact our director, Maura Pilcher for more information.