The University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) set an all-time record for statewide participation and attendance at events during fiscal year (FY) 2015, drawing 221,879 people in Iowa. This significantly surpassed the previous record of 136,943 for FY 2014.

And, including the UIMA’s blockbuster show at the Venice Biennale in Italy, more than 313,971 people have directly experienced art programs and events provided by the UIMA.

A major contribution to this total was the successful statewide Integrated Outreach With Art program (I.O.W.A.). This free, public partnership comprises two main components:

• The Legacies for Iowa free art exhibition and art-loan program, sponsored by the Matthew Bucksbaum Family, which attracted 197,083 visitors at venues in Sioux City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Grinnell, Muscatine, and Davenport
• UIMA education programming that reached 14,888 K–12 students, as well as 9,908 others in college classes, community centers, and other public events

The UIMA also provided educational programs to 440 people in senior living centers across Iowa.

“This year’s performance yet again demonstrates why the UIMA is so important to the mission of the university, for public higher education, and for economic development in Iowa,” says Sean O’Harrow, UIMA director. “Not many other organizations can achieve what the UIMA has for the state and, I hesitate to say as a Midwesterner, we should all be very proud.”