The Wire — Events Calendar
August 1, 2026
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A Docent-Led Conversation Around One Artwork, Sunday Late Morning
The Art Center's monthly Art for Brunch! gathers adults of any age around a single work from the collection for an open, docent-guided discussion. The docent supplies questions and prompts rather than a lecture, so where the conversation lands depends on who turns up. No art background is expected.
Good to know: Free, but registration is required. Brunch is not part of the program; the Art Center Cafe is open before and after for coffee and pastries. Held the first Sunday of each month.
When: Sunday, August 2, 2026, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines.
Source: Des Moines Art Center.
Read the original A Docent-Led Conversation Around One Artwork, Sunday Late Morning
Gallery Discussion and Coffee, Built for Adults 55 and Over
Creative Aging is the Art Center's monthly gallery program for adults 55 and older: a docent leads a group discussion of one work of art, then guests move to an informal social hour with coffee and tea. The stated aims are community connection and cognitive health as much as art history.
Good to know: Free, registration required. Two start times are offered, 12 pm and 2 pm, and each session runs roughly 90 minutes. Gallery seating is available.
When: Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 12:00 pm CDT, with a second session at 2:00 pm. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines.
Source: Des Moines Art Center.
Read the original Gallery Discussion and Coffee, Built for Adults 55 and Over
A Silent Disco, a Scavenger Hunt, and Studio Crafts Take Over the Art Center
August's Social Saturday runs a silent disco through the Art Center alongside drop-in crafts in the Art School studios, a gallery scavenger hunt with a prize at the front desk, an all-ages guided tour, and storytime in the Levitt Auditorium. A custom playlist drawn from the permanent collection is available if you would rather wander the galleries on your own.
Good to know: Free, no registration required. Storytime 11:15 to 11:30 am, silent disco (hosted by Iowa Silent Disco) 12 to 2 pm, guided tour 1 to 2 pm from the Macomber Lobby; drop-in activities run the full 11 am to 2 pm. The event is photographed.
When: Saturday, August 8, 2026, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, across the galleries, Macomber Lobby, Art School studios, and Levitt Auditorium.
Source: Des Moines Art Center.
Read the original A Silent Disco, a Scavenger Hunt, and Studio Crafts Take Over the Art Center
A Gallery Visit and Studio Session Designed for Autistic Kids and Their Families
Art Spectrums pairs a discussion of one work in the galleries with a studio session where families make their own art in response to what they just looked at. It is built for children and teens ages 5 to 18 on the autism spectrum, attending alongside family members rather than dropped off.
Good to know: Free monthly program; registration is required.
When: Sunday, August 9, 2026, 1:00 to 3:00 pm CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines.
Source: Des Moines Art Center.
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A Guided Hour Through Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging
A free docent-led tour of Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging, the show currently in the Anna K. Meredith Gallery. The exhibition takes topography, literally the writing of place, as its organizing idea, working through art that maps the natural and human-made features of a place and the belonging attached to it.
Good to know: Free, no registration required. The exhibition itself stays on view through September 20, 2026, if this date does not work.
When: Saturday, August 15, 2026, 1:00 to 2:00 pm CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center, Anna K. Meredith Gallery, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines.
Source: Des Moines Art Center.
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The Museum Shop Clears Its Jewelry Case at 15 Percent Off for a Week
The Art Center's Museum Shop is emptying the jewelry case, taking 15 percent off everything in the category for six days.
Good to know: Members can stack the standing 10 percent member discount on top for a combined 25 percent off. Runs August 18 through 23; check Museum Shop hours before making the trip.
When: Tuesday, August 18 through Sunday, August 23, 2026, during Museum Shop hours. Where: Des Moines Art Center Museum Shop, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines.
Source: Des Moines Art Center.
Read the original The Museum Shop Clears Its Jewelry Case at 15 Percent Off for a Week
The Saturday Walk-Through of the Permanent Collection
The Art Center's weekly highlights tour moves through the permanent collection with a guide, covering paintings, sculpture, and more, with attention to the stories and techniques behind individual works. This is the general-audience entry point to the collection rather than a themed or exhibition-specific tour.
Good to know: Free, no registration required. Offered every Saturday from 1 to 2 pm, so a missed week is easy to make up.
When: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 1:00 to 2:00 pm CDT. Where: Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines.
Source: Des Moines Art Center.
Read the original The Saturday Walk-Through of the Permanent Collection