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NewBo Art Fest returns for 15th year after long pandemic absence
See local artists for the first time since 2019
Aug. 29, 2025 1:45 pm, Updated: Sep. 2, 2025 3:22 pm
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CEDAR RAPIDS — One of Cedar Rapids’ premier art shows returns to New Bohemia this weekend after a long absence.
NewBo Art Fest, a Labor Day tradition, returns for its 15th year on Sunday, Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. NewBo City Market Yard, 1100 Third St. SE, where artists will be selling paintings, photography, glass work, sculptures, fabric, jewelry and more.
The festival, which started in 2007 at the New Bohemia Music Festival, has evolved over the years at the helm of the New Bohemia Group into a full-fledged arts festival.
“We have made the NewBo Art Fest unique and accessible by raising enough money to supply free booths to the artists who are invited to participate,” said Anne Stamats, director. “Between 2020 to 2024, the fest took a hiatus because of the pandemic — and now it is back.”
After a call for submissions, artists are evaluated by a blind jury of professional artists to select those who participate in the fair. Judges also select first, second and third-place winners of cash awards based on originality, execution and booth presentation.
This year’s festival includes the 2x2xU Public Art Event, an annual celebration of visual arts in Cedar Rapids. Each year, two-foot-square wooden boards can be purchased and decorated in interpretation of the year’s theme; this year’s theme is “My Prairie.”
Other activities include:
- NextGen artist invitational with artists from area high schools
- Cherry Building art exhibit in the first-floor Schwartzkopf Gallery
- Iowa Ceramics Center hands-on clay activity for kids, and wheel throwing demonstration
- Performance art piece by Mel Andringa
Artists participating this year include:
- Linda Andrews
- Shelly Bales
- Sara Carlson
- Don Dixson
- Marti Dvorsky
- Elizabeth Frederick
- Taylor Friese
- Hassan Igram
- Cynthia Lee
- Mykel Leigh
- Lauren Manninen
- Paul Marlow
- Ann Marie McNamara
- Steve Mineck
- Kristen Mitchell
- Drew Mounce
- Angela Neal
- Lisa Nelson
- Meg Prange
- Sara Rieger
- Connie Rogers
- Alex Schmiechen
- Abigail Smith
- Barb Thompson
- Grant William Thye
- Barbara Weets
For more information, visit newboartfest.org.
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
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