Iowa Conservatory

Serious about your art, but need flexibility in your schedule? ICON’s Half-Day Arts Program gives students currently enrolled in the Iowa City Community School District access to Iowa’s premier performing and visual arts school without committing to a full-day academic program.

Students can:
>Take three major-area arts classes each semester, including intensive coaching

>Explore two additional arts electives

> Access professional-grade practice rooms and studio spaces

>Participate in ICON’s annual productions

Whether you’re a dancer, actor, musician, singer, or visual artist, ICON can help you reach the next level.

Your talent deserves more than an after-school activity.

Learn more about ICON’s Half-Day Arts Program today at iowaconservatory.org/iccsd-commuter-half-day-arts-program/

ICON’s faculty combines professional arts experience with a deep commitment to teaching. With 9 faculty members holding advanced degrees and an average of 15 years in education across our staff, our students benefit from expert guidance every day. From mastering technical skills to preparing for college and careers, ICON faculty help students turn passion into purpose. Because who teaches matters.

Learn more about ICON’s faculty at iowaconservatory.org/about/arts-faculty-and-staff/

When students sing together, they’re not just developing vocal technique, they’re learning how to listen, lead, support one another, and create something greater than they could alone. That’s the difference of an ICON education: expert instruction, meaningful collaboration, and a community that helps young artists find their voice.

Learn more about ICON at iowaconservatory.org.

We're proud to see Iowa Conservatory's innovative approach to arts education recognized on a national stage. This October, our Founder, Leslie Nolte, and Co-Founder, Dr. Beth Brown, will present at the Arts Schools Network Conference in San Diego, sharing how ICON empowers students to create, lead, and showcase original work through student-driven arts capstone experiences.

What happens when students are given the opportunity to create, lead, and present work that truly reflects their artistic vision?

Join Dr. Beth Brown and Leslie Nolte of Iowa Conservatory at the Arts Schools Network Conference in San Diego, California, October 20–22, for "Beyond the Classroom: Designing Student-Driven Arts Capstones for Real-World Artistic Practice."

This inspiring session explores how arts educators can create meaningful capstone experiences that bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional artistic practice. Drawing from Iowa Conservatory's innovative capstone model, presenters will share a replicable framework that empowers students to develop original artistic work, cultivate their creative voice, collaborate across disciplines, and present their work to public audiences.

Participants will discover strategies for guiding students through artistic identity exploration, proposal development, research, production, revision, and presentation all while maintaining student ownership of the creative process. The session also highlights a unique and practical component of the program: integrating financial literacy for artists through budgeting, planning, and career-readiness skills that support long-term success in the creative industries.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, or curriculum leader, you'll leave with tools and ideas to help students transform artistic passion into purposeful, real-world creative work.

Learn more and register: https://www.asnconference.org/