March 19, 2024

Iowa Sculpture Festival needs votes to win grant

The annual Iowa Sculpture Festival is held in Newton, and now the organization is trying to win funds to help support the city’s parks and biking trail by acquiring new bike racks.

ISF is attempting to win the funds via the Wellmark 75 online voting project. Wellmark will award the top 10 voted on projects with $7,500 in funds to support each sponsoring organizations project.

ISF’s project is called “Art Bike Racks” and the organization feels this project will serve two purposes. One, the uniquely designed bike racks would add to Newton’s public art collection, which currently has more than 90 pieces in a variety of formats. The second reason is it will fill the need for more bike racks in Newton’s public parks, where many of the public art pieces reside.

In its submission application to Wellmark, ISF stated:

“With the individually designed ‘Art Bike Racks,’ not only would the design qualify them as additions to the art/sculpture tour map, but become a part of the art exploration. Each bike rack would provide the option for respite at sites with multiple sculptures or murals so engaging that they may require a long look.”

The committee also expressed why it felt Newton deserved to win the funds to support this new project:

“Many Newton residents still feel the stress of economic changes due to job or life events in past years. Our citizens look to be engaged in free or inexpensive activities that are family friendly. When the mind can be stimulated along with physical exercise, everyone wins.

“... Now all we need are ‘Art Bike Racks’ to continue the essence of our efforts, both in functionality and aesthetic appeal in areas of physical activities.”

To vote visit http://bit.ly/VEQGn5.

Contact Senior Staff Writer Ty Rushing at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6532 or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.