Plan Your Visit
We can’t wait to welcome you to the Des Moines Art Center!
Admission is always free.
Learn, enjoy, socialize, and create with us! The Des Moines Art Center is a museum, art school, and sculpture park in the capital city of Iowa that is open to all.
Established in 1948, the Des Moines Art Center exists to engage and stimulate the communities of Greater Des Moines and beyond. We are home to an exceptional collection of art made between 1500 and the present day. We offer free exhibitions, events and programs, tours, and lectures at our main campus in Greenwood Park, consisting of three unique buildings designed by world renowned architects Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier.
The Des Moines Art Center oversees the iconic John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Western Gateway Park, which opened in 2009. We also provides dozens of art classes for kids, teens, and adults at the Art Center and around the Des Moines community.
The Art Center is open today from 10am to 4pm.
Monday Closed Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 7pm Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm
The museum is closed for several federal holidays (including galleries, classes, programs, camps, and offices).
New Year’s Day, January 1; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, third Monday in January; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Thanksgiving, fourth Thursday in November; Christmas, December 25.
Directions & Parking
The Art Center is located at 4700 Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa.
Free parking is available on site.
The Art Center is located less than one mile north on 45th Street from the Bill Riley bike trail. To plan your trip via public transportation, visit the DART trip planner.
Review our museum guidelines to help ensure you have the best visit possible.
More Ways to Enhance Your Visit
The Art Center Café
Enjoy a lunch, delicious coffee, or decadent pastry during your visit! The Art Center Café, presented by la mie, offers a variety of menu items to enjoy inside or out in the beautiful Bookey Family Courtyard.
The Museum Shop
Explore our extensive collection of unique gifts for art lovers, jewelry, housewares, books, Art Center apparel, and so much more.
Guides and Tours
Get the most out of your visit with audio and free docent-led tours. Find museum activity guides under our Learning Resources page.