MUSIC EVERYWHERE

“We want our community to experience music as part of their daily lives not just something they pay to see. Places where music is ubiquitous in the culture are healthier, happier and more harmonious. That is the real power of music. ”

— KATHRYN DICKEL, CO- FOUNDER of CITY SOUNDS

“The whole purpose is to generate life on the street and generate activity. In other areas where they have done this, it has been a real boon to business because it gets people out on the street.”

— LARRY JAMES, CO-FOUNDEr of CITY SOUNDS

About Us

In 2014, City Sounds worked with the City of Des Moines, West Music and a bevy of sponsors to place two pianos in downtown Des Moines. 2016 saw the project grow to 10 pianos across the city. With the help an Iowa Arts Council Grant, the 2019 season brought an extensive strategic planning process and a refinement of our project processes.

Despite the perilous position Covid put every arts organization in during 2020, we took this mandated break to pivot, hustle and come back stronger with an renovated, activated and revenue generating studio, 10 pianos back on the streets in 2021 and a larger small-donor base. All of this has positioned City Sounds for growth in the years to come both in our programming and as an organization.

In 2024 we reached our 10 year milestone, celebrating a decade of the Public Piano Project! We also partnered with the Greater Des Moines Partnership to install two indoor pianos year-round in the downtown skywalks! With your support, we are excited to bring new arts-based programming to our community.