Too often, Iowa and its land is considered “fly-over country,” an enigmatic, overlooked region once home to vast prairie. This year, the Iowa Humanities Festival (IHF) considers the imaginative power of the prairie as presenters from colleges, universities, and cultural institutions across Iowa highlight the humanities in the Midwest.

Now in its third year, the Iowa Humanities Festival is expanding to a two-day format on April 10 and 11 and to multiple locations in Des Moines. Jeff Biggers, a storyteller and writer-in-residence at the University of Iowa’s Office of Sustainability, and Gabrielle Kouri, an acclaimed banjo player, will give a performance on Friday evening about the power of Iowa’s rivers. Held at the Pappajohn Higher Education Center, the evening’s events will also include an exhibit of the 10 winners of first IHF photo contest. The judges’ top 25 selections can be viewed at the Iowa Humanities Festival website.

Saturday morning is focused on the arts and religion on the prairie, with panels at the Des Moines Art Center. Afternoon sessions will be held at the Salisbury House, with sessions on education, ecology, and women in Iowa.

In addition to Biggers, four other University of Iowa faculty and staff will present at the festival:  Joni Kinsey (Art and Art History, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), Barbara Mooney (Art and Art History, CLAS), Marian Wilson Kimber (Music, CLAS), and Kären Mason (Women’s Archives, University of Iowa Libraries). They are joined by colleagues from Grinnell College, Iowa State University, Drake University, Mount Mercy University, and the Salisbury House Foundation.

Teresa Mangum, chair of this year’s festival and one of its founders, welcomes everyone—especially UI alumni in the Des Moines area—to attend. “The humanities festival is a wonderful collaboration of academic and public humanities partners. Join us for a moving performance on Friday and for great conversations about the landscape around us on Saturday.”

Visit the festival’s website to see a full schedule:  iowahumanitiesfestival.com/.  A $10 registration fee provides entry to all events, including receptions and a box lunch.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact the Salisbury House in advance at 515-274-1777.