Grants Fuel Free Summer Arts and Literacy Program for ϳԹ Kids
Tilly Woodward, curator of academic and community outreach at the ϳԹ Museum of Art (GCMoA), has received two generous grants to support a beloved summer tradition in ϳԹ. A $3,300 grant from the Poweshiek County Alliance/Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation Community Fund, and a $2,000 grant from the Lincoln Savings Bank Foundation, will help bring the program "Storytime Art in the Park: Read it, See it, Make it, Eat it" to life once again this summer.
Now in its 17th year, Storytime Art in the Park is a free, inclusive summer learning initiative offered by GCMoA and Drake Community Library. The program brings eight weeks of literacy and visual arts experiences directly to children throughout the ϳԹ community. Each week, the program sets up in a different park, ensuring access to high-quality learning for children who may not be enrolled in other summer programs or lack transportation or parental availability to attend.
Serving between 25 and 80 children per session, the program intentionally creates a welcoming space for children with social, emotional, or economic needs—no registration is required.
“Every child deserves the chance to imagine, learn, and create in a joyful space,” said Tilly Woodward. “These grants help us bring art, books, food, and community to where kids already are—in their neighborhoods. It's about opening doors to connection, creativity, and care.”
This year’s program expands its impact by deepening its focus on nutrition and multicultural education. With support from the ϳԹ Education Partnership (GEP) and collaborators like Middle Way Farm and Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA), AmeriCorps, Seed Coalition, and ϳԹ Mutual, Storytime Art in the Park introduces children to foods from different cultures, how those foods are grown and prepared, and connects those lessons to stories and artmaking. This integrated approach supports literacy, sustainability, and wellness—all through the accessible lens of curiosity and creativity.
ϳԹ’s Storytime Art in the Park continues to be more than just a summer program; it is a celebration of what’s possible when local partnerships invest in the potential of every child.
