Siobhan Spain

Siobhan Spain

Director, Mainframe Studios (Des Moines, Iowa)

Session: Building a Creative Community: Letting Artists Lead (Friday, 3:45 – 5:00pm)

Siobhan grew up on a 100-acre farm in Iowa as the youngest of seven who are industrious makers, builders, designers and dreamers. Seeing a startling gap in the family system, she forfeited an art degree for one in business, directing her focus on advocating for the careers of individual artists. With over 20 years experience in arts administration, Siobhan is director of Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines. The ambitious organization is slated to be the largest nonprofit studio building in the nation and has a financially self-sustaining business model to ensure artists have a rightful place in the heart of the community for generations to come. Previously, Siobhan managed SITE Santa Fe, the studio office of MacArthur Fellow and blacksmith Tom Joyce, and Mary Goldman Gallery. She has served in advisory roles for Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Public Art Foundation, Los Angeles Times’ foundation, and Women, Food & Agriculture Network. She was an opening presenter at Walton Family Foundation’s 2018 Heartland Summit and you can listen to her talk about art and community in the first interview of “900Views” podcast.