Finding a Creative Home in Greater Des Moines

For artists Jonathan and Allison Metzger, building creative careers hasn’t meant choosing between a professional city and a place that feels like home. They’ve found both in Greater Des Moines (DSM), a place they consider a hidden gem for working artists. Centrally located for artists who tour and supported by a growing art infrastructure, DSM has given the couple an unexpected place to build their careers. 

Both from Minnesota, the couple met out of state, attending graduate school in Lawrence, Kansas. When driving home together to Minnesota, DSM became their favorite place to stop, grab lunch, fill up the tank and stretch their legs. “We always thought, ‘this is a cool city,’ but we’d never really heard of it,” Allison shared.  

Years later, after moving around the country for jobs and eventually settling in Duluth, Minnesota, the Metzgers found that their location made traveling to art festivals increasingly difficult. “We started thinking about the ideal location within the country as a jumping off point for all of the art festivals we participated in,” Allison explained. “Des Moines, of course, came up right away because we were already familiar with it.”  

Open to the possibility of relocating to DSM, Jonathan and Allison visited the region a few times, connecting with fellow artists who lived in the area. “We explored the city and really fell in love with it and in spring of 2019, we moved to an apartment in the Beaverdale neighborhood in Des Moines,” Allison said.  

It was in DSM that both Jonathan and Allison decided to jump into pursuing art full time. After purchasing a home, the Metzgers created a studio where they could work independently on their own schedules.  

While their home studio provides independence, the Metzgers have also found a strong sense of community among DSM artists. Jonathan and Allison already had a few artist friends who lived in DSM, but they found making new connections easy as well. Mainframe Studios, the largest nonprofit art studio in the country, is one place where they found community. “At Mainframe, we’ve met various people there and we’re part of a professional artist critique group called Paint Pushers,” Allison said. The group meets once a month, giving artists an opportunity to bring in works in progress and receive feedback from their professional peers. 

What began as a convenient stopping point on trips has become the place the Metzgers call home and base their artistic careers from. 

“When we did the research on DSM, it sounded good,” Allison shared. “And as we’ve lived here, it’s gotten better and better.”  

Pursue Your Passion in DSM

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