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Iowa City Public Library

OUR PARTNERS

FILMSCENE

FilmScene is a nonprofit cinema organization dedicated to enhancing Iowa City through the presentation of film as art.

Iowa City Public Library

The Iowa City Public Library is a center of community life that connects people of all ages with information, engages them with the world of ideas and with each other, and enriches the community by supporting learning, promoting literacy, and encouraging creativity.

The James Theater

the James Theater looks to be a venue that cultivates the small arts and community interaction within Iowa City and beyond. Art in any form is art, and the James Theater aims to provide a space that allows growing and emerging artists to practice their craft, while allowing Iowa City the opportunity to observe and be a part of this creative process.

Latino Fest Iowa City

The Latino Fest is our gateway to constructing cultural bridges, promoting unity among the diverse races and cultures residing in the heart of Iowa City.

E- Danza

E-DANZA is a nonprofit organization founded by ballet instructor, choreographer, and filmmaker Eloy Barragán to promote inclusivity and expand access to the arts, particularly dance. Barragán has been a University of Iowa faculty member since 2005, and through E-DANZA and his individual work, he brings global perspectives to Iowa while inspiring the next generation of dancers and choreographers.

Meet Our Team

Miriam Alarcón Ávila

Co-Founder

Manny Galvez

Co-Founder

Eloy Barragán

Co-Founder

ARTISTS

ChicaDalia
California

Born in California and raised in Iowa, she is the daughter of first-generation Latino immigrants whose sacrifices, traditions, and resilience deeply shape her identity and artistic voice. Her work reflects a personal journey through culture, faith, memory, hardship, and self-discovery, often drawing inspiration from Día de los Muertos, family traditions, music, dance, and spirituality. Through painting, she transforms experiences and emotions that are sometimes difficult to express in words into visual stories of healing, purpose, and belonging. Her exhibition, ENTREGA de Sueños, explores the dreams inherited from previous generations while encouraging young artists to embrace their gifts, trust their creativity, and share their own stories with the world.

Seso Marentes
IOWA

His family has been Iowans for four generations, with deep roots in the state. Born in 1982 on the east side of Des Moines, he has spent more than a decade mentoring youth, serving as a guide, role model, and big brother figure who is always cheering young people on. He is a driven artist and cultural advocate shaped by a Midwestern upbringing and Mexican heritage. His work embodies Chicanismo as a living practice, grounded in cultural consciousness and community identity.

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