About
The Sioux City Art Center’s mission is to enrich our region’s quality of life by bringing the excitement of the visual arts to our community through education, exhibitions and permanent collection.
About
The Sioux City Art Center’s mission is to enrich our region’s quality of life by bringing the excitement of the visual arts to our community through education, exhibitions and permanent collection.
Governance
The Sioux City Art Center is a model public/private partnership between the City of Sioux City and the Art Center Association of Sioux City, with each contributing approximately one-half of the Art Center’s annual operating budget. While the buildings and grounds are owned by the City of Sioux City, which oversees the maintenance of the facilities and administrative oversight, the Art Center Association of Sioux City, a private, non-profit organization, raises funds for the Art Center’s exhibitions and educational programs. Without this model partnership, the Sioux City Art Center could not achieve the quality services that it provides our community and region.
A City Council-appointed Board of Trustees reviews the administration of the Art Center through bimonthly meetings with the Art Center’s Director. The Board of the Art Center Association of Sioux City works with the Art Center staff on fundraising projects and assists with the development of policies and strategic planning.
Our History
The Art Center Association of Sioux City was first incorporated in 1914 as the Sioux City Society of Fine Arts by John C. Kelly, John McHugh, W.P. Manley, T.A. Black, Alice K. Lawler and Cora E. Henderson. The Society’s mission was to “promote and cultivate the fine arts, and foster art in all its branches; to promote the welfare of art in the City of Sioux City.” From its inception to the opening of the Sioux City Art Center in 1938, the Society curated exhibitions, organized art classes, and developed a permanent collection. Classes were held in various community buildings, as well as in Grandview Park during the summer months. Exhibitions were displayed at the Sioux City Public Library, the Woodbury County Court House, and in retail spaces throughout the downtown.
In 1937, the Art Center Association of Sioux City, along with the Sioux City Junior League and other community supporters, petitioned federal government to establish a WPA Art Center in Sioux City. They received a grant of $3,000, of which only half was used because citizens, businesses, and local union members volunteered their creativity and labor to create their art center. The WPA Art Center opened its doors in February 1938 in the basement of the Williges Building on Pierce Street.
After occupying four temporary locations, the Art Center Association of Sioux City mounted a capital campaign in the early 1990s to build a new permanent location. The Association raised seven of the nine million dollars, while the City of Sioux City provided two million. Margaret Ann Martin Everist the visionary that led the effort to make the new home possible donated three million. As a result of the private/public partnership, the Art Center’s 45,000 square-foot facility opened to the public in March 1997. To support ongoing projects of the Art Center, Margaret Ann created the M. A. Martin Everist Foundation. The foundation has supported everything from exhibitions, educational programming, and the opening of the Art Center’s first permanent collection gallery to commissioning Touched by the Sun, the large bronze sculpture by Michael Dunbar that sits on the Art Center’s front lawn.
In September 2018, the Association’s second successful capital campaign reached its goal, when the Gilchrist Learning Center opened its doors. Named for the largest donor to the campaign, the Gilchrist Foundation, this 11,000 square-foot facility houses all of the Art Center’s educational classrooms. The transfer of the class spaces to the Gilchrist Learning Center then led to a renovation of the primary Art Center building, resulting in additional permanent collection galleries, a new collection storage vault, a library/meeting room, and a renovated Junior League Hands On! Gallery.

Our Mission
The Sioux City Art Center’s mission is to enrich our region’s quality of life by bringing the excitement of the visual arts to our community through education, exhibitions and permanent collection.
Vision
The Art Center will continue to serve as and enhance its position as a premier cultural attraction for the citizens of the Sioux City metro area.
The Art Center will use its permanent collection to position itself as a major regional educational resource for educators, students, and the general public.
The Art Center will promote itself as a cultural tourist destination based on its reputation as presenting major traveling exhibitions, and a quality permanent collection featuring the best regional artists.
The Art Center will increase access to education and in turn the Art Center’s permanent collection, by expanding the present facility with a new Learning Center.
Values
The Art Center provides a welcoming environment that encourages lifelong education, celebrates thoughtful experimentation, and offers accessible opportunities for making personal discoveries that are fun and fulfilling.
The Art Center meets the cultural needs of our community by recognizing strength in creative diversity. Arts play a vital role in the development of the creative and critical potential for everyone. The Art Center promotes opportunities for connection and learning through the arts that emerge when diverse communities come together to construct a shared cultural heritage.
The Art Center grows stronger by building partnerships within the community through collaborative efforts with key local education, social service, and cultural organizations. By bringing the arts to the community and working in united efforts with local partners, the Art Center will cultivate the growth of creativity within the community.
Our Team
Albracht, Kim
Education Coordinator712-279-6580
Amman, Summer
Special Projects Coordinator712-279-6272 x3207
Atkins, Christopher
Curator712-279-6272 x3219
Behrens, Todd
Director712-279-6272 x3212
Foster, Lynn
Visitor Services712-279-6272 x3200
Jessip, Dan
Custodian712-279-6272
Listamann, Lyle
Publications Coordinator712-279-6272 x3203
Rodriguez, Susie
Membership Secretary / Learning Center Clerical Assistant712-279-7272 x3202
Sargent, Shannon
Exhibitions/Collections Coordinator712-279-6272 x3201
Schmitz, Bonnie
Visitor Services712-279-6272 x3200
Trobaugh, Troy
Custodian712-279-6272
Vaught, Mary
Visitor Services712-279-6272 x3200
Welch, Kjersten
Administrative Secretary712-279-6572 x3208
Board of Directors
Art Center Association of Sioux City
President
Jacki Kelly
Vice President
Austin Foster
2nd VP/Secretary
Toi Sullivan
Treasurer
Krista Biernbaum
Past President
Nathan Kalaher
Members
Gregory Giles
Margaret Holman
Tiffany Hunt
Krissy Lamoreaux
Anthony Osborn
Lillyán Rodriguez
Sujey Sayre
Gina Sitzmann
Sam Wagner
Monica Wetz
Distinguished Members
Leslie Bebee
Joe Twidwell
Junior League Liaison
Danielle Gutierrez
Board of Trustees
City of Sioux City Art Center
Chair
Shelby Prindaville
Vice Chair
Steve Kammerer
Members
Jeff Baldus
Jamie Bell
Anne Kellogg
Becky Meyer
Nan Wilson
Sculpt Siouxland
President
Joe Knoepfler
Vice President
David Brockshus
Treasurer
Luis Trejo
Members
Jay Chesterman
Becca Feauto