Iowa School for the Deaf to hold cultural caucus

From: Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, IA - Sep 9, 2004

Why would a state want to limit caucuses to the political season? Not here in Iowa.

Iowa School for the Deaf will be the site for one of 11 cultural caucuses to be held in the next six weeks to select delegates for a statewide caucus set for Nov. 8 in Des Moines.

The theme of the quadrennial cultural caucuses is "Imagine Iowa 2010: Great Places."

The caucuses are an opportunity for Iowans to set the cultural agenda for the next four years to help make the state a better place to live, work and raise a family. Gov. Tom Vilsack has issued a statement that 2004 is the "Year of the Arts, Culture and Recreation in Iowa."

"Iowans want to live in culturally vibrant communities," said Anita Walker, director of the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Six delegates will be selected at each caucus to attend the statewide meeting. The free meetings are open to the public. Anyone can try to become an ambassador.

The statewide caucus will celebrate the work that has been done since the last cultural caucus was held in 2001. Plans will also be made for the future.

The ISD meeting will be in the community room of the Lied Multipurpose Complex on Sept. 28. Each cultural caucus will run from 6 to 9 p.m.

Other caucus meetings:

- Sept. 20: Dubuque, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

- Sept. 21: Waterloo, Waterloo Center for the Arts

- Sept. 27: Sioux city, Sioux City Public Library (tentative)

- Sept. 30: Iowa City/Coralville, Iowa Children's Library

- Oct. 11: Davenport, Davenport Public Library

- Oct. 18: Burlington, Arts Guild of Burlington

- Oct. 19: Cedar Rapids, Czech and Slovak Museum (tentative)

- Oct. 21: State Historical Building

- Oct. 25: Mason City, Charles MacNider Museum

- Oct. 26: Fort Dodge: Bladen Memorial Art Museum

©Daily Nonpareil 2004