Fostering a creative vision for America’s Coolest Small Town: Mount Vernon, Iowa
We are creators of Community. Stewards of the arts and conduits of connection
Designated as 1 of 16 Cultural & Entertainment Districts in Iowa
Tiny Town, BIG IMPACT
Live
Mount Vernon is a hidden gem, filled with writers, actors, artists, musicians, and patrons of the arts. Our thriving main street was even awarded a designation as an Iowa Cultural & Entertainment District from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Mount Vernon is the smallest city to receive this prestigious designation. The award recognizes well-identified, walkable, mixed-use, compact areas of a city or county in which a high concentration of cultural facilities serves as the anchor.
Perform
With over 11 performance venues of all sizes comprising the heart of our city, there is no shortage of space to show off your talents. One of the core tenants of MVAAC’s mission is to make sure that our creative community has an opportunity to showcase their craft. From monthly writers nights, to a thriving live music scene, to those seeking a bigger venue at one of our legendary festivals, all of Mount Vernon is a stage.
Create
We believe that creativity is crucial to community development. MVAAC funds and fosters opportunities for artists of all ages and backgrounds, from a grade schooler coloring their first square at our signature Chalk the Walk Festival, to our City Poet Laureate. We believe everyone can contribute to making Mount Vernon a better place through creativity.
Home to over 11 performance spaces, 22 art and arts-related businesses and Iowa’s largest Madonnari Festival: Chalk the Walk.
We believe art is for everyone
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to mount a musical theater production. Or teach a class on street art. Or develop your own wonderful way to help our community to appreciate the arts. We cannot do this work alone and we are honored to help make your dreams for a more creative Mount Vernon area a reality through a series of small community grants.
Looking for ways to enhance our creative community?
