Cultural Organizations

Ankeny Area Historical Society

The Ankeny Area Historical Society collects and secures artifacts and historical records for the purpose of preserving our American Heritage for the communities of Ankeny, Alleman, Bondurant, Carney, Elkhart, Enterprise, Polk City and Sheldahl. Volunteers help display artifacts and host open houses, tours and special events throughout the year. Volunteers also maintain two museums, including their surrounding grounds, and organize annual fundraisers to help preserve the rich history in the area.

Ankeny Art Center

Ankeny Art Center Website

The Ankeny Art Center is an innovative visual arts organization committed to providing superior art experiences that inspire, educate and challenge all members of the local community. The Ankeny Art Center is dedicated to supporting local artists, providing educational development and a diverse art experience for people of all ages. Its art gallery has new and inspiring exhibits every eight weeks and provides space for Iowa artists to showcase their work. All of the exhibitions and artist receptions are free and open to the public.

The Ankeny Art Center provides exciting art classes, summer camps, and workshops to students of ages and skill levels by certified art teachers who are working artists or art instructors.

The Ankeny Art Center also hosts the annual Santa's North Pole Village Craft Show, which features 300 vendors and attracts approximately 5,000 shoppers. The event is one of the most popular craft shows in Iowa and has been an Ankeny tradition for more than three decades.

Ankeny Community Band

Ankeny Community Band Website

The Ankeny Community Band was founded in 2004 shortly after the opening of the Bandshell in Wagner Park. The band has now grown to approximately 50 musicians and performs six concerts per season, beginning with Memorial Day and ending in late July.

The band strives to provide an informal venue for adults who want to continue to play their instrument after high school or college, while providing high-quality free band concerts to the community. The material played by the band follows the time-honored tradition of many community bands throughout Iowa by playing marches, show tunes and other popular band literature.

Ankeny Community Chorus

Ankeny Community Chorus Website

The 80-member Ankeny Community Chorus directed by Elliott Stern is open to all ages interested in singing quality choral music. No audition is required, but we do have a reasonable rehearsal attendance requirement. We sing a wide range of music including patriotic, sacred, classical, show tunes, and more. Annual dues is very nominal, and you can come and sing with us at a rehearsal or two just to see if we are a fit for you.

Ankeny Community Chorus performs two major concerts in the spring and the fall and a performance at the Iowa State Fair. We also sing at a joint concert with the Ankeny Community Band at the bandshell and the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas luncheon. ACC also hosts "An Ankeny Evening with the Arts," now an annual collaboration with the Ankeny Art Center, Ankeny Community Band, and Ankeny Community Theater. Christmas caroling at Ankeny retirement and care centers is also on our agenda.

Ankeny Community Theatre

Ankeny Community Theatre Website

Since 1981, one of the community's best kept secrets has been that of the Ankeny Community Theatre (ACT). A non-profit organization, operated fully by volunteers, ACT offers a wide variety of live, on-stage performances. Throughout the year, patrons will be delighted to an assortment of productions covering multiple genres. Since the organization started, ACT has put on more than 130 productions for the local community.

Housed inside a cozy auditorium, ACT is located at 1932 SW 3rd Street Also, children of all ages can attend one of the many Creative Drama or Performance camps to learn about the various aspects of theater and allow them to create their own theatrical productions for their family.

Art for Ankeny

Art for Ankeny Website

What began as a class project for the Ankeny Leadership Institute class of 2013 has grown to a community movement to bring public art installations to the city of Ankeny. Art For Ankeny is a volunteer-led organization whose focus is artistic outreach and fundraising for public art. The group's first project will feature world-renowned artist, David Dahlquist, who has visions of a statement piece for Ankeny's downtown district, which is known as "Uptown."

Do you represent an arts or cultural group in Ankeny? Please email us your information.