In agreement with the Arts Commission of the City of Des Moines, the Des Moines Theater, purchased by developers Tom Lin and Isaiah Dummer, got some beautification on Saturday, May 5 in advance of the building's scheduled remodel.

Kathy Issac of the commission became aware of other jurisdictions that used art to beautify otherwise empty buildings which led to the idea of taking the windows of the theater's retail spaces on Marine View Drive and fill them with art created by local students. "One of our goals is to try to make Des Moines look good on Marine View Drive. We want people to come downtown and see what this wonderful city is all about."

Doing the work on the project on Saturday were volunteers from the Des Moines Youth Council, headed by Andrea Libhart

They had to clean the windows which meant not just washing them but scraping off years of tape, and other stickers then arrange the art in a pleasing fashion.

The art was created by students as Parkside Elementary School (several different classes of 120 children) coordinated by Kristy Dunn and under the direction of Patrice Harding, Pacific Junior High School (with Georgia O'Keefe inspired paintings), and Mt. Rainier High School overseen by Stephanie Savino, will fill the windows (as opposed to brown or butcher paper) while the spaces inside are remodeled.

Another Arts Commission member Kristy Dunn said,"We're trying to bring some color to the city and get people involved. We're putting up panels in some windows that art can hang from and the art from the elementary school will go directly in the window."