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News Release

Alliant Energy Foundation provides $3,000 grant to Dubuque Art Center

Funding will be used for the Center’s Building Lab project

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – August 28, 2012 – The Alliant Energy Foundation has provided a $3,000 Community Grant to the Dubuque Art Center’s Building Lab as part of its second 2012 funding cycle. The Building Lab is a project geared toward children and encourages them to engage with art and creativity. The Building Lab, the newest edition to the Center’s arts education programming, will engage users in the creative process using LEGO® bricks to create unique sculptural works.

“The Alliant Energy Foundation is pleased to support the Dubuque Art Center and its Building Lab project,” said Julie Bauer, Alliant Energy Foundation Executive Director. “The Building Lab is a wonderful opportunity for children of all ages to use their creativity, which is an important part of child development that is often untapped.”

In a standard school setting, students very rarely have the opportunity to just create. One of the Building Lab’s goals is to foster interest in the construction and engineering fields and have kids experience the joy of building. Building Lab participant’s creations will be displayed for several weeks at the Art Center and will then be taken apart and returned to the material stock. The new program’s objectives also include advancing critical thinking and problem solving.

The Alliant Energy Foundation Community Grants Program awarded $335,000 in grants during its second grant cycle this year, bringing the year-to-date total to over $750,000 provided to more than 400 non-profit organizations and communities so far. The deadline for the final grant cycle this year is September 15. The online application is available at www.alliantenergy.com/foundation.

 

Media Contact: Scott Reigstad, (608) 458-3145