Linda Klepinger retires as executive director of Centre for Arts & Artists

Linda Klepinger, the executive director of Centre for Arts & Artists, is retiring from her post, but the longtime promoter and champion of local art will continue working as a volunteer and mentor for the new director. To honor Klepinger’s valued service, an open house has been scheduled later this month.

The open house will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Centre for Arts & Artists, 501 W. Third St. N., in Newton. Guests are encouraged to enter via the handicap ramp and stairway located on the west side of the building. Taking over as director is Sophie Kruger, a fourth-year art major at Central College.

When like-minded people gathered in 2002 as lovers of sculpture, a seed was planted that eventually flourished and grew to become the Centre for Arts & Artists, said Terri Ayres, volunteer manager of the Geisler-Penquite Gift Shop located inside the art facility, which is also home to many local artists.

By 2003, the Iowa Sculpture Festival premiered, continuing on until 2017. Ayres said those wishing to encourage and celebrate art appreciation in the area took a leap of faith and purchased a building in 2007, which would eventually become the Center for Arts & Artists and headquarters for Iowa Sculpture Festival.

In addition to serving as an art incubator for area artists, Ayres said the center offered classes and educational programs for all in the community.

“At that time, Linda Klepinger was named as the executive director,” Ayres said. “Linda continued her multiple duties, much like a parent over their children, encouraging and guiding resident artists and volunteers to bring art appreciation to all generations.”

Klepinger grew up in Newton. The majority of her time in the arts came from being a proprietor of a very small art gallery — the Klepinger Gallery — and custom picture framing service in a neighborhood that she and her husband, Nick, had operated for close to 30 years.

For years Klepinger served as a board member of the local arts organization originally named the Jasper County Arts Council, later dubbed the Arts Connection. Klepinger was asked by Don Byers to help him organize the Iowa Sculpture Festival. Jasper County had four professional sculptors at the time.

Thanks to the Iowa Sculpture Festival, Newton is home to many, many, many, many sculptures around town. Klepinger has given countless tours of Newton showing off the sculptures, and she worked closely with the school district to expose students to the public art and teach them to have respect for it.

Centre for Arts & Artists has been operating in Newton for more than 15 years.