Mission Statement:
The Waterloo Center for the Arts purpose is to initiate and further awareness, appreciation and support of the arts by a diverse audience.
History:
Arts programming began in 1922 under the direction of the Waterloo Recreation Commission. A temporary facility housed programs from 1947 to 1966 when programming was moved into a new Recreation and Arts facility. At first the name of Waterloo Municipal Galleries and later Waterloo Museum of Art incorporated all arts programs under the Recreation and Arts Commission. In December of l998, that Commission was dissolved; the new Cultural and Arts Commission formed and determined advisory by city ordinance. At that time, the Recreation and Arts Center building was rededicated as the Waterloo Center for the Arts. This has been an exciting change for the arts in this community. The Center for the Arts houses not only the Center's arts programs, but also the Waterloo Community Playhouse, Black Hawk Children's Theatre, Waterloo Municipal Band, Metropolitan Chorale, and serves as the meeting, presentation and performance facilities for approximately 50 other community and cultural organizations.
