What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 6:30pm Tuesday 8am - 6:30pm Wednesday 8am - 6:30pm Thursday 8am - 6:30pm Friday 8am - 6:30pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 5pm

Mainframe Studios

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United States
Des Moines, IA
Mainframe Studios

Vision // A lasting space where artistic expression is cultivated, protected, and celebrated. Studios may be shared by two or more artists.
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Mission // To provide affordable arts workspace and foster creative communities in central Iowa. Mainframe Studios is on track to become a powerful national nonprofit model for strengthening creative culture in urban areas. The game-changing project will transform Central Iowa’s arts scene by creating a financially self-sustaining cultural and economic driver that ensures permanent space for artis

ts in the city. Annual rents for standard studios are $7 per square foot plus utilities (e.g. a 350sf studio is $204 per month plus utilities); annual inflation adjustments will apply. Premiums will be charged to those requiring special units or features. Interest is outpacing workspace availability. Our current waitlist includes ceramicists, photographers, glass artists, actors, illustrators, musicians, painters, metalsmiths, sculptors, printers, game developers and many others. Mainframe Studios' founder Justin Mandelbaum co-founded Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts. The once vacant mill building complex is now home to the largest artist community on the east coast. With 250 studios, 50 live/work lofts and over 300 artists, it covers 250,000 square feet. Central Iowa is experiencing significant revitalization in recent years and is home to established, nationally-recognized arts organizations. With the addition of Mainframe Studios, Des Moines is unusually poised to prosper as a hub for vibrant creative culture.

12/23/2025

What a year!

We had so much fun celebrating First Friday nearly every month with you. Your support of First Fridays and local artists means so much. We are excited to see you in 2026!

Our next First Friday is on Jan. 2nd 5-8pm. Bright Beginnings will feature works from dualities & a new exhibition on the 3rd floor.

Take a look back at 2025 with us!
January - Partnership with the
February - Layered curated by
March - Partnership with Des Moines Public Schools
April - Diverse by Design curated by
May - The Environment curated by
June - Nonprofits at Mainframe
August - Mainframe in Motion featuring Mainframe Artists
September - Beivenidos a Iowa curated by
October - Pen & Ink curated by
November - State of the Arts: Iowa’s Artists curated by
December - Dualities curated by & .artist

Thank you to the curators, installers, food vendors, activity leaders, performers, and artists for all of your hard work!

Thank you for fabulous poster designs!

Thank to all of the photographers who capture the magic of First Friday!
Photos 2 & 11
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7 & 10
Photo 8
Photo 9

If you would like to participate in First Friday as a performer, food vendor, or as an artist in an open call, you can check out the apply page through the apply page on our website. See you on Jan.2nd!

#2025

12/17/2025

Mainframe Studios is proud announce that we will receive Bravo Greater Des Moines' Spotlight Award at their annual Gala on February 7, 2026.

Mainframe Studios, along with Living History Farms, “were selected because of their incredible impact on the community, their recent success and proven ability to adapt and innovate through change. Both are extraordinary examples of the breadth and depth of the region’s cultural sector.”

We are honored to receive this award and are so thankful for all who have contributed to make the vision of Mainframe Studios such a successful reality. We invite you to attend Bravo’s Gala to celebrate with us. You can purchase seats through the link in the comments below.

Help us celebrate the power of arts, culture, and heritage to drive imagination and impact, today and for generations to come!

12/15/2025

Thank you all for joining us at Last Call! Shoutout to Emma Bowen & Momentum (Community Support Advocates).

We were so glad to get together, and see the support of local artists this season!

Mainframe Studios held its Last Call Holiday Art Market Saturday afternoon connecting holiday shoppers with local artists.
Click on the link below to keep reading.

12/12/2025

A beautiful recap of Dualities by Anthony Scanga (). Artist duos, bold contrasts, and collaborations sparked conversation all night long.

Thank you to curators Geoff Paulline () and Lauren Pesta (.artist), and to all the artist for their hard work!

After School Arts Program lead a wonderful activity inspired by the theme dualities. Be sure to check them out!

See you in January for Bright Beginnings!

12/10/2025

Join us for a bright beginning to the new year at First Friday at Mainframe Studios - January 2nd, 2026, from 5-8 PM!

This special evening features DUALITIES, a multimedia exhibition exploring the tension and dialogue between conceptual and material opposites. The show pairs works that create contrast, conversation, and unexpected connections, highlighting the power of opposites in shaping perception and possibility.

In addition to the main exhibition, the 3rd Floor Gallery will showcase works by Dualities curators Geoffrey Paulline and Lauren Pesta.

Guests can also enjoy open studios, delicious food and beverages, live entertainment and an interactive art activity by Siriaco Garcia (Siricasso).

Open Studios: Mainframe is home to 180 studios, and on First Friday, guests can explore open art spaces throughout the building. Local artists welcome visitors to see their creative processes in action - from painting and sculpture to fiber and mixed media - offering a unique chance to go behind the scenes and connect with the makers.

Mainframe Studios
900 Keo Way
Des Moines, IA 50309

12/09/2025

12/06/2025

Call for Entries! Embodied, juried by Lydia Nong is a multimedia exhibition exploring the human figure as a powerful tool for storytelling.

EMBODIED seeks submissions from artists who use the body as their primary language, highlighting the figure not only as subject but as the narrator. The exhibition examines how posture, gesture, and form convey emotion, identity, and lived experience.

Selected works will be on display during the month of February, 2026.

Submissions Due: January 4th, 2026

mainframestudios.org/apply

12/05/2025

Join us for tomorrow for First Friday at Mainframe Studios on December 5th, 2025, from 5-8 PM!

This special evening features DUALITIES, a multimedia exhibition exploring the tension and dialogue between conceptual and material opposites. The show pairs works that create contrast, conversation, and unexpected connections - highlighting the power of opposites in shaping perception and possibility. Curated by Geoffrey Paulline & Lauren Pesta.

In addition to the main exhibition, the 3rd Floor Gallery will showcase a special group exhibition by CASA through our Rural Arts Program.

Guests can also enjoy open studios, delicious food and beverages, live entertainment and an interactive art activity by !

Open Studios: Mainframe is home to 180 studios, and on First Friday, guests can explore open art spaces throughout the building. Local artists welcome visitors to see their creative processes in action - from painting and sculpture to fiber and mixed media - offering a unique chance to go behind the scenes and connect with the makers.

Live Music:
Health Alan - Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

Food & Treats by:
The Tangerine Food Company
Reyes Tamales
Mama Africa Food
BaanVaan Ice Cream

With expanded overflow parking and a complimentary shuttle service, getting here is a breeze. Come experience an unforgettable evening of art, music, and community!

Friday, December 5th, 2025
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Mainframe Studios
900 Keosauqua Way
Des Moines, IA 50309

12/04/2025

Excited for the 3rd floor Gallery show with the Creative Artists Studios of Ames!

12/03/2025

Previewing some of the incredible artworks featured in the Dualities First Friday exhibitions curated by Geoff Paulline ( ) & Lauren Pesta (.artist ) opening this Friday from 5-8pm!

Artists were encouraged to apply in duos, highlighting the creativity that emerges when artists from different mediums collaborate. From bold material contrasts to conceptual pairings that spark conversation, each piece offers its own interpretation of tension, balance, and connection.

Featured in this preview:
Jacquline Fabritz’s Nobody Wants My Stuff and Diane Mussell’s Fresh Breeze both reflect on the past while contrasting in color palette, medium, and style.

Samantha Golbuff’s The “Jewelry” Dress and Veronique Umelo’s SMILE bring bits and pieces together in unexpected ways, exploring form, texture, and what it means to be whole.

In Veiled Passages, Jay Griffith and Jennifer Lee pair a rigid background with a flowing veil of ceramic discs, creating a balanced dialogue between structure and movement.

Jim and Sue Heemstra’s Stack Sculpture and Untitled reflect the energy of their shared studio practice, with each work speaking its own distinct visual language.

Nick Lapole’s I Wish I Could See God and Casandra Tant’s I Thought I Saw a Flower reveal familiar places made new through hidden details and quiet moments of discovery.

Devin Zapada’s Scorpion and Maryann Jones’s Head in the Clouds collide sci-fi and fashion, shadow and light, finding harmony in unexpected contrasts.

Join us this Friday to learn more about these explorations of duality, and for an evening filled with open studios, live music, immersive art experiences, and exhibitions across the building — including a special showcase by CASA () on the 3rd Floor. See you at Mainframe for an night of creativity and community!

Congratulations to all of the Dualities Artists! Check out the last slide for the full list of artists in this wonderful exhibition.

Address

Des Moines, IA

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 6:30pm
Thursday	8am - 6:30pm
Friday	8am - 6:30pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Website

https://linktr.ee/mainframe_studios?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

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Our Story

We believe developing proper infrastructure for individual artists is as important as creating a world-class art center, sculpture park, opera or theater performance venues. Des Moines is fortunate to have all of these, and we are demonstrating to other cities why giving equal attention to creative professionals benefits communities in profound ways. Opened in late 2017, Mainframe has quickly realized substantial achievements: 3 of 5 floors renovated; all but $1.7M raised of our $14.5M capital campaign; renovations to complete the project have begun; 75 current non-residential studios support five nonprofits and over 90 creatives from 16 regional communities representing 25 disciplines; 100% occupancy and 120 on the waiting list who have paid deposit; and $400k in current annual rental revenue. In pre-Covid days, our doors welcome over 19,000 visitors a year through artist-led activities (workshops, photoshoots, demonstrations), event space rentals (summer camps, conferences, weddings, fundraisers, music video shoots), public tours and our popular monthly First Friday public festivities. Mainframe has prided itself on showcasing the high-quality of talent that’s been previously hiding in basements, at kitchen tables and in the dreams of regional artists.

We love our community and we are determined to progress as a beacon of resilience, inclusiveness and recovery. Art and humanity go hand in hand. #weR1dsm - This week we begin to finish what we started. This is our 2nd floor being demolished so more creatives can make their mark with confidence and collaboration. We are committed to going forward together. #BLM Rent for standard studios start at $7.43 per square foot plus utilities (e.g. a 350sf studio is $217 per month plus utilities, which includes heating, cooling, wifi and general liability insurance); annual inflation adjustments will apply. Studios may be shared. Interest is outpacing workspace availability. Our current waitlist includes ceramicists, photographers, glass artists, actors, illustrators, musicians, painters, metalsmiths, sculptors, printers, game developers and many others. Mainframe Studios' founder Justin Mandelbaum co-founded Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts. The once vacant mill building complex is now home to the largest artist community on the east coast. With 250 studios, 50 live/work lofts and over 300 artists, it covers 250,000 square feet. Central Iowa is experiencing significant revitalization in recent years and is home to established, nationally-recognized arts organizations. With the addition of Mainframe Studios, Des Moines is unusually poised to prosper as a hub for vibrant creative culture.