Beginning with the public lecture movement in the late 19th century and the Chautauqua shows in the early 20th century, cultural activities have gradually spread throughout the state. Today there is an opera company in Des Moines, and there are art galleries, little theater groups, symphony orchestras, and ballet companies in the major cities and college towns. The University of Iowa receives funding from the NEA to support the development of its music and theater activities.
The Des Moines Arts Center is a leading exhibition gallery for native painters and sculptors. The Des Moines Arts Festival, established in 1998, has drawn an attendance of nearly 800,000 people each year. The 2002 ArtFair SourceBook ranked it as the 6th Best Fine Arts Festival in the nation. There are regional theater groups in Des Moines, Davenport, and Sioux City. The Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa has an international reputation.
The Iowa Arts Council (IAC) was established as a state agency in 1967. In 1986, the IAC became a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, which also includes the State Historical Society of Iowa. In 2003, state organizations received $639,700 in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Humanities Iowa, founded in 1971, sponsors over $1.5 million of programs each year. In 2000, the National Endowment for the Humanities sponsored 17 programs with grants totaling $1,388,137. The state also contributes to the efforts of the Arts Council and Humanities Iowa, and private sources provide additional funding. Iowa's arts programs have a total audience of nearly seven million people. There are over 36,000 contributing artists for the programs. The state offers arts education to about 120,000 schoolchildren. There are over 800 art associations in Iowa.