Welcome to the Ames Community Arts Council
We're excited to host keynote speaker Chad Elliott and an amazing lineup of presenters for the eighth annual Business of Art Conference on March 6 - 7, 2026. Click HERE for for the agenda and to register to attend!
Who we are:Artists and supporters of the arts, non-profit organizations and businesses have come together as the Ames Community Arts Council since 1976. We are dedicated to building a sense of community and helping artists succeed. We believe that participating in the arts--as audience members, musicians, actors, dancers, writers, makers, volunteers, and more--enriches our lives and our community.
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What we do:
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The Ames Community Arts Council is a non-profit 501(c)(3) funded through memberships, donations, and grants, including the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA). The Arts Council is dedicated to celebrating the arts and serving the community.
Here's a quick look at some things we do:
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News of the Day
The Ames arts and service community came together in a powerful show of generosity for the 2025 Empty Bowls fundraiser, raising over $5,000 to support three outstanding organizations dedicated to addressing food insecurity: Ames Community School’s HOPE Pantry, Gilbert Community School’s Backpack Buddies, and Iowa State University’s SHOP. These programs provide essential supplies and support to local families throughout the year, and this event was a celebration of their ongoing impact.
Empty Bowls is a collaborative effort that blends art, food, and community action. This year’s event featured over 175 handcrafted bowls donated by artists from the Octagon Center for the Arts, the ISU Memorial Union Workspace, the Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames, Gilbert High School’s Ceramics 2 class, and some individual artists in our community. Each bowl was a unique gift of time, talent, and heart. Attendees were invited to choose one that resonated with them as a personal connection to the cause, and a lasting reminder of the empty bowls in our community.
The evening’s meal was made possible by the generous support of local restaurants, food providers, and volunteers. We extend heartfelt thanks to Aunt Maude’s, The Café, The Vault, Provisions Lot F, Open Flame, Ge-Angelo’s, and Arts Council member Sara Compton for their delicious soups; to Hy-Vee for the fresh bread; and to volunteers from Collegiate United Methodist Church and Gilbert Lutheran Church for the outstanding desserts. Their contributions created a meal steeped in kindness and collaboration.
We’re also grateful to our ticket outlets—Ames Community Theater (ACTORS), the Octagon Center for the Arts, The Vault-Gilbert, Gilbert Lutheran Church, and Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Center—for helping make ticket sales accessible throughout the community. A special thanks to Collegiate/Wesley for generously hosting the event.
The Ames Community Arts Council also extends its deepest gratitude to its Board members and the volunteers from Ames Community Schools, Backpack Buddies, and the SHOP, whose months of planning and coordination helped shape a successful and meaningful evening. As the saying goes, it takes a village—and ours is one of the very best.
This event was made possible, in part, with the support of the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA).
For more information about Empty Bowls or to support these organizations directly, please contact the Ames Community Arts Council by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 515-259-0494. Visit the website at www.amesart.org for more information about the Arts Council and upcoming events.
Empty Bowls is a collaborative effort that blends art, food, and community action. This year’s event featured over 175 handcrafted bowls donated by artists from the Octagon Center for the Arts, the ISU Memorial Union Workspace, the Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames, Gilbert High School’s Ceramics 2 class, and some individual artists in our community. Each bowl was a unique gift of time, talent, and heart. Attendees were invited to choose one that resonated with them as a personal connection to the cause, and a lasting reminder of the empty bowls in our community.
The evening’s meal was made possible by the generous support of local restaurants, food providers, and volunteers. We extend heartfelt thanks to Aunt Maude’s, The Café, The Vault, Provisions Lot F, Open Flame, Ge-Angelo’s, and Arts Council member Sara Compton for their delicious soups; to Hy-Vee for the fresh bread; and to volunteers from Collegiate United Methodist Church and Gilbert Lutheran Church for the outstanding desserts. Their contributions created a meal steeped in kindness and collaboration.
We’re also grateful to our ticket outlets—Ames Community Theater (ACTORS), the Octagon Center for the Arts, The Vault-Gilbert, Gilbert Lutheran Church, and Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Center—for helping make ticket sales accessible throughout the community. A special thanks to Collegiate/Wesley for generously hosting the event.
The Ames Community Arts Council also extends its deepest gratitude to its Board members and the volunteers from Ames Community Schools, Backpack Buddies, and the SHOP, whose months of planning and coordination helped shape a successful and meaningful evening. As the saying goes, it takes a village—and ours is one of the very best.
This event was made possible, in part, with the support of the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA).
For more information about Empty Bowls or to support these organizations directly, please contact the Ames Community Arts Council by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 515-259-0494. Visit the website at www.amesart.org for more information about the Arts Council and upcoming events.
