A photo of Mainframe Studios front of the building with the 360 degree mural.

A Creative Community

IN DOWNTOWN DES MOINES

ART HAPPENS HERE

Welcome to the largest nonprofit creative workspace in the nation, located in the heart of downtown Des Moines.

UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY //

UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY //

UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY // UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY //

FRIDAY, APRIL 5
5 - 8 PM

BODY OF WORK

News
Rooftop Art
Rooftop Art
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Call for Proposals: Prime Storefront Location Available for Rent!
Call for Proposals: Prime Storefront Location Available for Rent!
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Space to Create Mainframe Studios inspired a cross-country move
Space to Create Mainframe Studios inspired a cross-country move
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Celebrating Hmong Heritage: A Powerful Conversation with Christine Her
Celebrating Hmong Heritage: A Powerful Conversation with Christine Her

As we gear up for the joyous celebrations of Hmong New Year nationwide, we bring you

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Iowa PBS | Glass Blowing Crafts From the Past
Iowa PBS | Glass Blowing Crafts From the Past

Glass Blowing | Crafts From the Past

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Des Moines Register | Iowa artist Jill Wells helps ensure equal access to public art for everyone with new project
Des Moines Register | Iowa artist Jill Wells helps ensure equal access to public art for everyone with new project

Iowa artist Jill Wells helps ensure equal access to public art for everyone with new project

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Mainframe Studios Selects Julia Franklin as Executive Director
Mainframe Studios Selects Julia Franklin as Executive Director

Arts advocacy, creativity, leadership style ‘everything we wished for and more’

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Empowering Youth Through Art & Healing-Centered Engagement
Empowering Youth Through Art & Healing-Centered Engagement
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Creative Power Couple Finds Home at Mainframe
Creative Power Couple Finds Home at Mainframe
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Finding Self-Discovery & Self-Confidence Through Art
Finding Self-Discovery & Self-Confidence Through Art
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Rekindling a Lost Love of Art
Rekindling a Lost Love of Art
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CIVIC MUSIC // 2023-2024 Season
CIVIC MUSIC // 2023-2024 Season

Civic Music Association announced its 2023-2024 season…

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AEGIS // New work by Molly Spain
AEGIS // New work by Molly Spain

Molly Spain is a native Iowan with a multidisciplinary art practice…

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JENNIFER LEE // DSM PARTNERSHIP
JENNIFER LEE // DSM PARTNERSHIP

DSM Partnership featured Artist Jennifer Lee who makes handmade pottery

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CHRIS SULLIVAN & JORDAN SANDQUIST // DM CITYVIEW
CHRIS SULLIVAN & JORDAN SANDQUIST // DM CITYVIEW

DM CITYVIEW article by Cyote Williams highlights Chris Sullivan & Jordan Sandquist’s journey…

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JESS QUINN  // STUDIO 200
JESS QUINN  // STUDIO 200

Jess Quinn is a botanical oil painter. Her work highlights the beautiful and often exotic…

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MELYNDA VAN ZEE // DM CITYVIEW
MELYNDA VAN ZEE // DM CITYVIEW

IOWA ARTIST // Melynda Van Zee // By Jackie Wilson

As a long-time art instructor and educator, Melynda Van Zee knew the techniques she needed to teach her students…

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JILL WELLS // BROADLAWNS + WHO13
JILL WELLS // BROADLAWNS + WHO13

Mainframe Artist in Residency Jill Wells recently finished a collaborative project…

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The Studios Directory + Dispatches
The Studios Directory + Dispatches

News from the largest nonprofit creative workspace in the nation, located in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Read our latest issue of The Studios: Directory + Dispatches…

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH // Now Accepting Applications
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH // Now Accepting Applications

The Executive Director will be a visionary arts leader, guiding Mainframe Studio’s advancement…

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WEEKLY COFFEE BAR AT MAINFRAME STUDIOS
WEEKLY COFFEE BAR AT MAINFRAME STUDIOS

EVERY MONDAY FROM 10:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M. ON MAINFRAME'S 2ND FLOOR …

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NO COAST TROUBLE CLUB MAKES THEIR DES MOINES DEBUT!
NO COAST TROUBLE CLUB MAKES THEIR DES MOINES DEBUT!

A collective of local artists working in the growing designer toy scene have come together…

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ARTFORUM | ALEX BROWN
ARTFORUM | ALEX BROWN

On a Thursday afternoon at the beginning of February, I joined an unusual Zoom broadcast linking Cathouse Proper in Brooklyn…

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POETRY PALOOZA | WHO13
POETRY PALOOZA | WHO13

Thank you, Megan Ruether for helping to spread the word…

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FIRST FRIDAY | POETRY PALOOZA
FIRST FRIDAY | POETRY PALOOZA

Poetry& is working in partnership with Humanities Iowa, Mainframe Studios, Franklin Jr. High Event Center, and the Iowa Poetry Association…

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BODY OF WORK / 1ST ANNUAL FIGURATIVE GROUP SHOW
BODY OF WORK / 1ST ANNUAL FIGURATIVE GROUP SHOW

Curated by Josh Sorrell, this inaugural show examines perspectives of the human form…

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BRITTANY BROOKE CROW / TO SEE AND BE SEEN BY YOU
BRITTANY BROOKE CROW / TO SEE AND BE SEEN BY YOU

Please mark your calendars for Brittany's artist talk and reception March 18, 1-3 p.m. (artist talk at 1:30)…

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CITYVIEW | Meet Tone the MoveMaker
CITYVIEW | Meet Tone the MoveMaker

Raised on the south side of Chicago, he grew up in the shadow of skyscrapers…

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PRESS RELEASE | Mainframe Studios’ First Friday Celebrates Center Street’s History
PRESS RELEASE | Mainframe Studios’ First Friday Celebrates Center Street’s History

On Friday, February 3, 2023, 5 – 9 pm, Mainframe Studios, located at 900 Keo Way in Des Moines…

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IOWA ARTIST | Seso Marentes
IOWA ARTIST | Seso Marentes

Seso Marentes is to be known as an Iowa artist — not just an artist whose ancestors…

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We are serious about what we do but don’t take ourselves too seriously.

We are serious about what we do but don’t take ourselves too seriously.

We are serious about what we do but don’t take ourselves too seriously. We are serious about what we do but don’t take ourselves too seriously.

We Attract Exceptional Artists

Mainframe Studios provides permanent, affordable workspace to over 220 artists representing 30 different disciplines including glass blowing, painting, fashion design, game development, sculpture, photography, and more.

Check out our ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS

Mainframe Artists Ken Supply Company
Mainframe Studios February First Friday 2023
Mainframe Studios Sepia Club Bernard Bell

TRANSFORMING CENTRAL IOWA'S ART SCENE

Mainframe Studios is like no other. Not only is it the largest nonprofit art studio building in the nation, it is also the only financially self-sustaining model of its kind.

Mainframe Studios Artist Nathalie Girod

180 Studios // 220+ Artists Served //

180 Studios // 220+ Artists Served //

A TAPESTRY OF CREATIVITY

We strive to have the widest variety of disciplines possible such as glass blowing, sculpture, painting, fashion design, designer toys, ceramics, fabric design, quilting, weaving, illustrating, wood working, jewelry, game development, AI development, photography, metalsmith, music production, printmaking, framing, dance, writing, upholstery and more.

Mainframe Studios Artist Deshara Bohanna
Mainframe Studios Artist JJ Gaffers
Mainframe Studios Artist Fueche Vang

Nearly 100% occupancy // 11,250 avg. monthly visitors // 

Nearly 100% occupancy // 11,250 avg. monthly visitors // 

As of January 2023, we completed renovations resulting in a total of 180 workspaces! Studios are shareable, bringing our current tenant total to over 220 artists who represent a broad array of creative production. Search Artists

Enjoy First Friday open studio festivities, artist-led workshops, public gatherings and more. Check Out Upcoming Events

We envision a dynamic arts ecosystem in Iowa that elevates artists and cultivates leading-edge creative production. Learn More