Living in a rural community should not mean sacrificing access to the arts and music. Providing access to art and music in rural communities is important because it helps to promote cultural diversity, creativity, and personal growth.

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"Many rural communities don't have the same level of access to art programming as urban areas, which creates a lack of opportunity for those interested," says Elizabeth Weyers, Executive Director of Weyers Music Studio and Chair of the Community Arts Program. "Weyers Music Studio is committed to providing rural communities with access to the arts because we believe in having the opportunity to explore creativity power of the arts."

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The Weyers Music Studio Community Arts Program will work to help ensure that everyone in the suburbs and rural areas has the same opportunities and access to explore their creative passions. This can also help build arts into the communities and help people come together to create and appreciate art and music and can help promote tourism and economic growth in rural areas. Currently, the Community Arts Program is planning a wide variety of events and programs including that of the Public Piano Project.

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Over the years brightly painted and designed pianos have become a staple in many cities around the country from Boston to Salt Lake City, and even right here in our own capital city of Des Moines, IA. Public Pianos jazz up the space and create a sense of community and integrate art and music into communities that make not have easy access.

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"Music has the power to bring people together, and that is exactly what our public piano project strives to do," says Weyers. "We have placed a public piano in the Woodward Plaza inviting anyone and everyone to come and play. Whether you are a professional musician or just someone who loves to tinker with music, we encourage you to come to check out our piano and share your talents with the community."

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The Public Piano Project is a free way to integrate music into the community and have access to the arts even in a rural farming town.

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Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding the project:

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How many pianos were installed?

The Community Arts Program installed one piano in the City of Woodward, IA in the summer 2023 and is currently evaluating the success of the program, where it will determine if adding pianos to the project will be beneficial.

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Where were the piano be installed?

The installations began in Woodward, IA, as that is the pilot community for the newly launched Community Arts Program. The project was approved by the City Council and Parks and Rec. and was installed at the Woodward Plaza on Main Street to allow for collaboration with the Woodward Farmers' Market.

Other locations have been considered and will continue to be considered in the future.

The Piano at the Woodward Plaza was installed on June 14 and will remained there through September 23, 2023.

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How was the piano be secured and protected?

Pianos would be locked and kept from moving and would be taken in the winter months. Pianos would be covered overnight and during rainstorms.

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Who takes care of the pianos?

The Weyers Music Studio Community Arts Program took the lead in caring for the pianos. The program was responsible for removing or replacing the cover during storms.

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Who paid for the pianos?

The Community Arts Program relied on piano donations for this project. The first piano was donated and made possible through our Community Partnership with the Hotel Pattee in Perry, IA.

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What about vandalism?

The Community Arts Program welcomes all kinds of creativity on the pianos during launch events and repainting events. However, during the project season, the pianos will be monitored on a regular basis for vulgar and inappropriate vandalism and damage. Anyone caught vandalizing or damaging the piano will be reported.

 

"Cities like Des Moines have done such a tremendous job of supporting visual art and music and it is time to bring this project into the rural communities," says Weyers. "The piano project would bring life and expression back into our community and the lives of so many creative people that live here and would be wildly beneficial."