For the Common Good: A Community Arts Leader Interview with Amber Danielson
The Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance partnered with the City of Marshalltown and the Marshalltown Community School District to create vibrant sidewalk murals at each of the schools in Marshalltown, Iowa. Photo courtesy of Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance.
Much of the impetus of creating For the Common Good: Interviews with Community Artists was twofold:
To pull back the curtain on the concrete and actionable ways that artists bring value to our local communities. I wanted to expand beyond the platitudes of “beauty” and “culture” into some nitty-gritty examples of what your fellow creatives do with and for your community, in terms of equity, justice, and inclusivity.
To provide support and encouragement to artists who are looking to work more deliberately with and in their own communities. It’s so much easier to get started when you can learn from those who have come before you.
This year, I decided to expand For the Common Good to include interviews with Community Arts Leaders, many of whom are also artists (but not always), as well as serving in more formal nonprofit or civic leadership roles. These folks have often done the arduous (and often thankless) work of fundraising, navigating local red tape, and building diverse partnerships within their communities, all while supporting and advocating for their local artists.
Introducing Amber Danielson
To kick this off, I invited Amber Danielson, Director of the Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance, to shed some light on her experience as Alliance Director in Marshalltown, Iowa. I met Amber in 2019 and continue to be impressed with what the Alliance has been able to accomplish under Amber’s vision and leadership. They’ve proactively used art to strengthen their community while navigating a devastating tornado, pandemic, and derecho during the past two tumultuous years.
Without further ado, please make the acquaintance of Amber Danielson.
Who are you in 10 words?
Seeker. Creator. Pursuer. Curious. Connector. Community. Explorer. Kind. Wife. Mother.
What community rituals do you value?
One of my favorite weekly community rituals is to work at a local coffee shop for the morning. I have found SO many benefits in getting outside of the four walls in my office and practicing this weekly ritual. I can’t count how many projects that were started with someone walking by my table and sharing an idea or concept with me. It is an amazing opportunity to support our local businesses, think outside of your box (literally), network and engage with the community. And a delicious cup of coffee is always of value.
How do you approach your community work creatively?
My approach to community work is summed up in three words, in the following order… relationships, communication and partnerships. I truly believe building relationships and engaging with people is the only way to accomplish anything. And to do that successfully, it takes regular, open and honest communication. Through communication, you can build amazing relationships that allow you to quickly partner with individuals, businesses and organizations because you have a solid foundation established. If you want to be successful and have a lasting impact, DO IT TOGETHER.
Learn more about the YSS project here. Photo courtesy of Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance.
A perfect example of this is our great relationship with Youth and Shelter Services of Marshall County. For our 16th anniversary this past summer, we raised almost $900 for art supplies for their art therapy services and programs. We were able to move on the project quickly and get incredible community support because of the established relationships we have built.
How has that changed in the last nine months?
As we all know, over the last nine months it has been a lot more challenging to communicate and engage with people. However, thanks to technology, we are still able to make it happen in some ways. I am eagerly awaiting when we can get back to in-person conversations. I am truly missing the energy and power of a room full of people.
How has serving as a community arts leader impacted you?
It has not just impacted me as an individual but it has impacted my entire family. We see our community through the eyes of the MANY people behind the scenes working tirelessly to make Marshalltown a place where people want to live, work and play. The work of cultivating a community of arts and culture takes time and a lot of work. It is unbelievable what the arts can do for a community – economically and aesthetically. The arts are incredibly critical to the growth and development of our communities. When I get to drive past a local mural or listen to live music at a local restaurant, it brings me pure joy. Not to mention, it inspires me to continue pursuing the work of elevating the arts at a local and state level.
What has been your hardest community lesson?
Slow down – good things take time.
I’m a visionary and a doer, not to mention, I like seeing results. So, when there is a big idea and a big impact project, I tend to want to see it happen as soon as possible. However, there is beauty in slowing down and fully thinking through the project. There is also significant value and benefit in engaging the community in projects, which naturally slows things down but always makes for a more successful project in the end.
Now on the flip-side, there are certainly projects that are better done at full speed – the challenge is figuring out which projects best fit in which bucket. This is why I deeply value partnerships and working with others because when you have the right people at the table, it makes for a smoother, more successfully and sometimes quicker end result.
“As a symbol of hope, unity and strength during this difficult time, the Arts & Culture Alliance partnered with Great Western Bank and Tama artist, Dye Davenport, to create a Marshalltown Strong graffiti piece in Downtown Marshalltown. During the tough times we are experiencing, we believe the arts provide hope, unity and strength to our community, and what better symbol than on a wall exposed as a result of the damage from the tornado. *The wall is located on East State Street, on the corner of North 1st Ave (the back of Great Western Bank's drive through window). ” Photo courtesy of Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance.
What has been your most fulfilling community moment?
My most fulfilling community moment has been watching our mural program come to life. Between a tornado, pandemic, and derecho, the process took longer than we anticipated but seeing paint on the walls around our community has been the most rewarding and fulfilling moments.
Specifically, our Marshalltown Schools Sidewalk Safety Murals. In May of 2019, our community tragically lost an 8-year-old, Christian Maxon, after being struck by a car while crossing the street after school. In 2020, as an effort to increase the safety for students in Marshalltown, the Alliance partnered with the City of Marshalltown and the Marshalltown Community School District to create vibrant sidewalk murals at each of the schools in Marshalltown. The opportunity to work with Christian’s family on this project has been one of the most special projects I have ever had the privilege to be a part of.
You can learn more about the Marshalltown Schools Sidewalk Safety Murals here. Photo courtesy of Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance.
What tips might you have for artists who want to dive into community work?
Reach out and don’t be afraid to ask – PITCH YOUR IDEA – the worst that can happen is they say no. Some of the best projects I have been involved in are from artists who came to us with an idea. When artists bring their creativity to the table and organizations are willing to give them a shot, amazing (and very beautiful) things happen!
My tip for community organizations, be open and willing to try something new. The worst that can happen is it doesn’t go to plan and you learn something new about next time. Every misstep is a learning opportunity.
One of my favorite recent projects, (RE) INVIGORATE – a 5-part film series – all started with an email from a local performing artist who wanted to get involved. Our motto over the last few years has been “Why Not”? Let’s try it and see what happens.
Learn more about (Re) Invigorate here. Photo courtesy of Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance.
What would you like your community to understand about the arts and artists?
The arts are intertwined into every aspect of our life. Many people are quick to say they don’t do anything with the arts or they aren’t an artist but I like to remind them, art is all around us. In the streets we drive on, in the architecture of the buildings we work in, in the clothes we wear, in the music on our morning drive, in the movies we watch with our kids and the food we cook our families for dinner. If you stop to look and listen, you will quickly see and hear, each and every one of us are artists in some way, shape or form. The key part for understanding and appreciating the arts is in the pause – to listen, watch, taste, understand, ask questions and interact with. It is in the pause that arts transform us.
Downtown Marshalltown, Iowa. Photo courtesy of Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance.
What tips might you have for communities to better support artists?
Connect, engage and amplify.
Talk to your artists as often as you can and simply ask them what they need. Artists have the unique ability to creatively do a lot, with little so often times we can support our artists by simply connecting them, sharing their work and providing resources. Find ways to connect them to the community and share their amazing work every chance you get. We can never highlight our local artists enough!
Also, please pay them and pay them well.
Just like any other professional in your community who are paid without hesitation, i.e., a masonry, architect, electrician, etc. Artists deserve and need to be paid for their talents and expertise, same as any other industry or skillset.
On the North wall of La Salud in downtown Marshalltown. Artist, Jenna Brownlee of Des Moines, IA. Photo courtesy of Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance.
What motto or creed do you live by?
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. - Helen Keller
The most dangerous phrase in the language, “we’ve always done it this way”. – Grace Hopper
Photo courtesy of Amber Danielson.
Amber is a Marshalltown native and has served as the Executive Director of the Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance since 2016. She is a Marshalltown Community College and University of Northern Iowa graduate where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in marketing. She and her husband, Cole, have a three-year-old son, Finnley, who keeps them active and mostly outdoors. She is passionate about her family and helping make Marshalltown and the state of Iowa a place for people to want to live, work, learn and play through the arts. Her and her husband were born and raised in Marshalltown and intentionally came back after moving away for a short period of time to raise a family. They are proud to call Marshalltown home and are amazing at the continued progress, growth and perseverance of the community. Currently, Amber serves as the Vice-Chair of the Iowa Arts Council board of directors, is a part of the 13th Street District Board, Vision Marshalltown’s Marketing Committee and the Fisher Community Center Steering Committee.
Like learning about the ins and outs of being a community artist or a community arts leader? Check out interviews with artists Akwi Nji, Catherine Reinhart, Jordan Brooks, Reinaldo Correa, Kristin M Roach, and Jill Wells, and interviews with community arts leaders Allison McGuire, Andy McGuire, and Jennifer Brockpahler.
Have a phenomenal community artist or an inspiring artist leader to suggest? Comment below or email jennifer@whatsgoodproject.com.