Here is what the media has to say about Fairfield:
Fairfield 'blazing a trail' for other Iowa cities eyeing sustainability
An article by Beth Dalbey in the The Iowa Independent outlines Fairfield's efforts to become a national leader in sustainability. Jan 4, 2010
"In This Farm Town, Gurus Transcend Party Politics"
From the front page of the Wall Street Journal, this article describes how Transcendental Meditation has affected politics in Fairfield. Jan 3, 2008
"... this town should be near the top of every traveler's destination list..."
This Washington Post article in the Arts & Living Travel section describes Fairfield. Nov 12, 2006
"[Fairfield's] lack of convention is part of its charm," says Beth Dalbey
Prominent Fairfield citizens tell their stories about the creativity and innovation that pervades Fairfield in Beth Dalbey's "Unapologetic Fairfield" article in the Aug-Sept-Oct 2006 issue of the Des Moines Social Magazine.
See a PDF of the article here (requires Adobe Reader). The article includes many photos. Sept 14, 2006
Fairfield Named one of the Top 12 Great Place's You've Never Heard Of
"Surprisingly sustainable, and a cosmopolitan town", a few words used to describe Fairfield as it was named one of the top twelve in Mother Earth News: The Original Guide to Living Wisely's "12 Great Places You've Never Heard Of."
Details at the Mother Earth News website.
As Mother Earth News sought out to look for places with beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities, civic pride and a healthy economy with a community of people who care about the environment, sustainability, alternative energy and fresh, and wholesome food. Some well-known's came up, such as Portland, Oregon and Boulder, Colorado, but they wanted unknown great places. They searched for smaller towns that are less expensive, but still interesting.
Fairfield made the cut for it's Ayurvedic health spa, more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, and for having 25 art galleries on the downtown square. (From KMCD News, July 20, 2006).
Fairfield featured in Iowan Magazine
Fairfield has reinvented itself, according to an article in the March/April 2006 issue of Iowan Magazine (as a PDF) (requires Adobe Reader).
To get Adobe Reader, click on the logo. 
FCA's 2nd Annual 2011 Networking Gala
See a copy of the Press Release for the 2011 Networking Gala, held on Monday, Nov 7, 2011.
Cultural Grants Awarded, July 26, 2011
Three Fairfield organizations received grants from the FCA in July. The complete story is available here as a PDF.
Cultural Mini-Grants Now Available - Deadline: June 1, 2011
Do you or your organization have an idea for more Fairfield entertainment or beautification, but need a little help getting it off the ground? The Fairfield Cultural Alliance is now happy to offer Cultural Trust Fund mini-grants to non-profit organizations. These small grants will be awarded to cover expenses incurred through the creation of events or projects that benefit the art and/or culture of Fairfield.
The Fairfield Cultural Trust Fund was established in 2006 by the Fairfield Cultural Alliance in collaboration with The Greater Jefferson County Foundation. The goals of the Cultural Trust Fund are to assist qualified organizations in providing cultural, civic, and educational programs, encourage individual and corporate involvement through gifts and bequests, and to administer and invest funds for the creation of perpetual opportunities and services.
Everyone is invited to apply to the Fairfield Cultural Alliance before June 1, 2011. Funds will be disbursed in July after applications are reviewed for acceptance. Further information and application forms are available for download at the Cultural Trust Fund page.
If you need a paper form we can mail you one. Please contact the Fairfield Cultural Alliance; c/o Michael Halley; 404 N. Main St.; Fairfield, IA, 52556; Phone: 641-233-0445.
IA 2020 Program, by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Arts Midwest
Saturday, Dec 4, 2010
Fairfield has been selected as one of only six Great Place towns in Iowa to take part in IA 2020, a "collaborative initiative among the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Great Places and Arts Midwest to redefine the role of the arts in six unique Iowa communities representing a cross section of the diversity of the state."
IA 2020 is a two year comprehensive project beginning for us this Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010 that will take our community through a process that will include extensive initial self-assessment and site visits by facilitator and artist, Robert Bluestone and Iowa Cultural Affairs and Great Places staff.
On this initial Sat., Dec. 4 visit, we will show Mr. Bluestone our arts and cultural community though meet-ups (9 am and noon lunch) and an area tour. Then we will have an hour and a half Assessment Conference at the FACC (1:00-3:30). (See program below.)
A PDF describing the IA2020 Program is here.
The IA2020 Questionnaire as a PDF is here for you to download,
or here as a Word document.
July 16, 2009...State tax credits for preservation and rebuilding of historic properties expanded
See the details on our Tax Page.
Or go to www.iowahistory.org.
May 29, 2009...Fairfield Cultural District Walking Tour booklets available
The Fairfield Cultural Alliance is proud to announce the publication of "The Fairfield Cultural District Walking Tour," an eight-page booklet that leads the history-seeker on a short walking tour around some of the high points of Fairfield's downtown Cultural District.
Graphic designer Denyce Rusch, vice president of the Fairfield Cultural Alliance, created this printed version from the online version at www. fairfieldculturaldistrict.org, developed by local historian Mark Shafer and history buff Jeffrey Fitz-Randolph.
The walking tour highlights 26 points of interest in and around Central Park square. FCA board members are quick to point out that, this being a relatively short tour, not all of our varied Fairfield history is covered, and there are certainly are other possible points of interest. "The good thing is, if there is sufficient interest in this publication, we have material for the creation of other possible tours around our town," said Ms. Rusch. "We welcome and encourage anyone who would like to help with this project and perhaps create audio or video versions. Please contact any Fairfield Cultural Alliance member."
Free booklets are available at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, the Fairfield Carnegie Museum, Jefferson County Courthouse, Icon Gallery, MUM Argiro Center, Ecovillage Welcome Center, Jefferson County Hospital, and all local lodging facilities. Next time you are looking for something to entertain the out-of town guests, take a walk on the historic side!
Feb 25, 2009...Iowa Arts Council Enters the Blogosphere with The Latest!
Here's a new item for your list of internet favorites: www.iacthelatest.blogspot.com. Check it out regularly for articles of current interest, announcements, and hot topics that are important to the arts in Iowa.
Jan 04, 2009...
New Chamber Music Society Fairfield brochure
Eleven new concerts in 2009
Click here for details
Nov 01, 2008...
Fairfield Art Walk Receives Tourism Award
The Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk received the Tourism and the Arts award Oct. 21 during the 2008 Iowa Tourism Conference in Sioux City.
The winning submission was judged on several criteria including outstanding performance 2007-2008, outstanding partnership between tourism and the arts, outstanding economic impact and effective marketing.
"The Art Walk does a tremendous job of making all art forms accessible to all age groups," said Nancy Landess, Iowa Tourism Office manager. "The free monthly event encompasses more than 30 art galleries, more than 500 artists or performers, fun children's activities, food and spontaneous bursts of creativity."
Sep 09, 2008...
New Fairfield Walking Tour
The Fairfield Cultural Alliance introduced the Fairfield Walking Tour today. It lets you take a virtual walk around downtown Fairfield. Print out the map from the website and take a real walk.
_____________________________Dec 11, 2007......from Dec. Iowa Arts Council Newsletter....
"Tools for Results" Tool-kit
The Texas Commission on the Arts has developed a "Tools for Results Tool-kit" as a resource for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across the U.S. The Tool-kit is a collaborative project made possible with the help of the Meadows Foundation and Ballet Austin, and a host of other organizations that generously agreed to share their resources.
The Tool-kit covers six topic areas: Fundraising & Development, Programs & Exhibitions; Cultural Tourism; Marketing, Advocacy and Nonprofit Basics. Each section covers the basics, relevant concepts, best practices, things to consider, ideas for implementing change, common mistakes, ways to get started, do's and don'ts and how-to's on a variety of topics. The "tools" are sample forms, letters, documents, checklists, templates and other resources.
The intent is for nonprofits to take these "tools" and adapt them for their own purposes.
Visit www.arts.state.tx.us/toolkit.
Do you check the Iowa Arts Council Web site frequently?
You should! A few changes and additions they've just made include:
Go to www.iowaartscouncil.org
_____________________________June 6, 2007...
Regional arts and culture groups generate $63.08 million annually
The Iowa Cultural Corridor's (Iowa City-Cedar Rapids) many nonprofit arts and culture organizations generate an estimated $63.08 million annually in regional economic activity. This according to results of a new study conducted by Americans for the Arts and administered by the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA).
The Iowa Cultural Corridor is one of 156 regions that participated in the Americans for the Arts study. The regional study, titled "Arts & Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of Arts and Culture Organizations and their Audiences in the Iowa Cultural Corridor," is part of the most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted.
"The results of this study send a strong signal to our legislators, donors and patrons," said Darcy Bemus, President of the Board of ICCA. "By supporting the many arts and culture organizations of the Corridor, we are also investing in the Iowa Cultural Corridor's economic well-being. Now, more than ever, the arts mean business."
Information: Iowa Cultural Corridor
Oct 27, 2006...
Fairfield becomes a Great Place
The Department of Cultural Affairs made the announcement today that Fairfield is one of Iowa's Great Places.
See details on the Iowa Great Places website.
Governor Tom Vilsack created the Iowa Great Places program that calls on state agencies to partner with Iowans in a new way by combining state resources with local assets to make Iowa's communities, neighborhoods, districts and regions great places where people want to live, work and raise a family.
The proposal Fairfield submitted included: "Drawing on its arts community, local foods and cultural richness, Fairfield's vision works to expand the dynamic economy through a new Civic Center, marketing plan and business incubator, and an investors' roundtable.
It works to improve the natural beauty, redeveloping its downtown streetscape, restoring the Maasdam Barns and implementing a bikeway/walkway plan for the community. It enhances educational opportunities with its community supported radio station, sustainable living educational opportunities and educational kiosks.
It works to cultivate the cultural richness and recreational opportunities through a trails system, a Vedic Observatory, and its 1st Friday Art Walk. It works to strengthen opportunities for community philanthropy and enhances art projects around the area."
Oct 20, 2006...
New event calendar
A new Fairfield calendar has appeared, brought to you by FairfieldToday.com in partnership with The Fairfield Weekly Reader.
April 2006...
Cultural District signs installed
"Cultural District" signs, supplied by the State, were installed on East and West Burlington Ave., North 2nd Street, and South Main Street.
November 2005...
Cultural District approved
The Cultural District was approved by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and Cultural District signs were presented to the City by Anita Walker, Director.
See the state website.
October 2005...
Iowa Tourism Event of the Year
Fairfield's 1st Fridays Art Walk was named the Iowa Tourism Event of the Year in October of 2005 by the Iowa Tourism Office and the Travel Federation of America. See the 1st Fridays Art Walk website.
July 2005...
Fairfield Cultural Alliance formed
The Fairfield Cultural Alliance was formed to administer the Fairfield Cultural District. Elected President of the Board of Directors was David Dubois.
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