Changing exhibitions supplement the impact of the collection and extend the visitor's experiences beyond the Museum's holdings. Larger exhibits in the Kinney-Lindstrom Gallery and smaller ones in the Center Space Gallery offer viewers opportunities to see local, regional, national, and international works of art. One-person, group, invitational, competitive, and touring shows make up the variety of visual offerings.

This diverse exhibition is the result of a statewide crafts competition held by the Museum featuring creative works by Iowa artists. 

The competition for this exhibition was open to all residents of Iowa, high school age and above.  Entry categories were clay, fiber, metal/wood, jewelry, and other craft media.  The purpose of the exhibition is to provide the public with further enriching arts experiences and to promote interest in and recognition of the accomplishments of Iowa artists.

Forty artworks by twenty-six artists were selected for the exhibition ranging from long-time artists to students just starting their careers. A great diversity of entries including small-scale sculpture, basketry, jewelry, handmade quilts, and pottery were chosen. Individual artists will be selected to receive awards for their works. These award winners were announced at the opening reception on Saturday the November 19 at 2:30 p.m.

The juror for Iowa Crafts: 40 is Kent Shankle.  Shankle is the curator at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.  In his Juror’s Statement Shankle states, “I have striven to select a body of works which truly represents the best of Iowa craft arts in ceramics, fiber, jewelry, wood, metal and other craft media. I think that these pieces speak for themselves; their individual resonances combining to produce a harmonious, engaging and richly textured visual chorus.”