The Dubuque County Fine Arts Society (DCFAS) is a volunteer-led nonprofit that supports artists and creative groups by serving as a fiscal sponsor for arts-forward, community-informed cultural experiences in Dubuque and its surrounding areas. Our work is rooted in a vision to streamline how arts and culture engagement opportunities are developed and delivered. By providing professional administrative and support services, DCFAS empowers artists and culture bearers to focus on what they do best: creating meaningful experiences that strengthen their communities.

DCFAS is the only organization in the region dedicated exclusively to fiscal sponsorship for grassroots, community-centered creative and cultural efforts.

The Dubuque County Fine Arts Society was founded in 1976 by Ruth Nash and Russ Nash with a shared belief that access to the arts strengthens communities. Over the decades, DCFAS has been sustained by volunteers and board members committed to that founding principle, adapting the organization’s focus and structure to meet the evolving needs of artists and audiences.

Today, DCFAS carries that legacy forward by supporting artists and creative groups through fiscal sponsorship and professional administrative support—helping new ideas take root and grow in service of the community.

The work of the Dubuque County Fine Arts Society is guided by a set of shared values that shape how we support artists, partners, and the broader community.

Collaboration & Connection: We embrace all art forms and support collaborative, arts-forward projects that bring people together and strengthen community ties.

Compensation for Creatives: Artists and creatives should be paid for their work. We prioritize projects that create fair financial opportunities for those using the arts to improve their communities.

Access for Everyone: Everyone deserves access to the arts. We support welcoming, inclusive cultural experiences and prioritize programs offered at little or no cost.

DCFAS supports artists and creative groups through fiscal sponsorship, providing the administrative structure, financial oversight, and guidance needed to bring community-based arts projects to life. In addition to this support role, DCFAS is the producer of DBQFest, Iowa’s longest-running juried art show and music festival. For more than four decades, DBQFest has showcased high-quality visual art, live music, and creative experiences while creating meaningful opportunities for artists, musicians, and audiences from across the region.

Together, these efforts reflect DCFAS’s dual role as both a behind-the-scenes support organization and a producer of a signature public arts experience.

DCFAS plays a long-term role in strengthening the region’s arts ecosystem by creating space for creative ideas to grow, connect, and sustain themselves. Through fiscal sponsorship, mentorship, and shared resources, DCFAS has helped early-stage projects move from concept to implementation, providing the foundation for initiatives that later evolved into independent organizations, including Voices Studios and Bluff Strokes Art Center.

This model of support expands opportunities for artists, encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, and increases access to arts experiences for people of all ages. The result is a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient creative community – shaped by artists and rooted in shared values.

DCFAS’s work is guided by a multi-year strategic plan that reflects our commitment to access, collaboration, and support for artists and creative communities. We invite artists, current and potential partners, supporters, and community members to learn more about our priorities, explore opportunities to get involved, and help shape the future of arts and culture in our region.