Waukee Area Arts Council Shines Spotlight on Area Performers

Ryan Knorr. Michael Hope. Mary McAdams. While these may not yet be household names, the Waukee Area Arts Council (WAAC) hopes to change that very soon – at least among residents of Des Moines’ western suburbs.

The three artists are part of the WAAC’s homegrown movement to enrich local lives by exposing western suburbanites to the fine arts. The Council began in 2003 as a group of parents hoping to introduce area children to music, painting, acting, dance and other fine arts in a fun and affordable way.

Singer/songwriter Ryan Knorr moved to Waukee after graduating Buena Vista University in 2007. Writing music is a passion of his and he hopes someday to support himself with original songs.

“It's really an indescribable feeling to create a piece of music that is your own and that you can keep with you forever,” said Knorr.

A second goal for Knorr – who has built a global audience of fans by promoting his music on YouTube – is to make more local people aware of his music. He credits WAAC with much of the progress he’s been able to make toward expanding his Waukee-area fan base.

“With YouTube fans spread out around the world, it’s difficult to set up any sort of tour or live performances where a large audience would show up,” said Knorr. “The Council has provided me an avenue to reach new fans in my local area.”

One of these avenues was a recent performance during which Knorr played his music alongside that of another local singer/songwriter, Michael Hope. Hope, who grew up all over the world as a self-described “Air Force brat,” graduated from Drake University and has raised his family in Waukee.

“The Council gives me an outlet to share some insight to the entertainment world,” said Hope, who serves on this year’s WAAC board of directors. “Seriously, I am blessed to be able to play for pleasure. No gig is too small. It beats singing in the living room.”

WAAC brings together performing artists for two local series, Tuesdays at the Triangle and Homegrown Talent. When weather does not allow the performances to be held at the downtown Waukee triangle, WAAC moves them to ArtCentral at 405 Maple St.

“Waukee residents would know ArtCentral as the old St. Boniface church,” said Karen Dluhos, president of the WAAC board of directors. “All the pews have been removed, which gives us a nice open space. And the acoustics are excellent.”

While WAAC's main focus is mainly homegrown talents, the Council has also branched out to bring including Driving the Body Back and the Iowa Shakespeare experience.

While the Council has traditionally relied on donations from local residents and businesses, it has also begun pursuing grants to help fund projects like Tuesdays at the Triangle and a series of workshop-style classes. Ticket sales are also an important funding source for WAAC, although Dluhos says the admission fees “really just help us break even.”

“We insist on paying the artists and educators who work with us,” said Dluhos. “It’s important for people working in art to be compensated.”

Next up on the calendar is the Council's participation in Waukee Fest, scheduled for August 27. Working off the city’s theme “Wild, Wild Waukee,” a special WAAC committee is preparing make-and-take activities for attending children and their families. They are also working to fill the festival’s performance stage, which will entertain Waukee Fest goers throughout the day, giving local artists another chance to build up that backyard fan base.

WAAC teason tickets are on sale now. Order forms can be downloaded from the Waukee Arts Council website. Individual event tickets (if available) will go on sale after all season ticket orders are filled.