The third annual Chalk Art Fest, hosted by Quad City Arts, will be held in downtown Bettendorf on Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9. In partnership with the 2019 Be Downtown event, the Chalk Art Fest will transform the brand new pavement of the Ascentra Credit Union headquarters—located between State St. and Grant St., across from the Waterfront Convention Center—into a giant work of street art.
A community collaboration project is part of the festival this year, where visitors can participate in the fun by creating a smaller square portion of a larger image for a $5 donation. New this year is a youth category for students age 12-17. Judging of the chalk art will occur at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, with the winner announced at 3 p.m.
The free, family-friendly Be Downtown initiative by the City of Bettendorf and the Downtown Bettendorf Organization will also offer live outdoor music at two venues, food vendors, craft beer, children’s activities, and a virtual reality I-74 bridge experience at the new Bridges Lofts apartment building on State Street. You can access the entire event schedule here.
Listen to our conversation with Karie Gilson, Marketing & Sponsorship Director for Quad City Arts, about the details of the event, why chalk art—and street art in general—resonates so much with people, and the many ways in which Quad City Arts enhances the quality of life in our area.
Click the photo at the top to open a slideshow of works from last year's Chalk Art Fest.
