Jon Kamrath, of St. Paul, Minnesota, waits Tuesday for a sculpture crew to remove a piece from the 2024 Arts R Alive collection in West Twin Park. His work, "Reaching," will take that space from now until next spring when the next rotation of sculptures comes to town.

By mid-afternoon Tuesday, Jon Kamrath, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was still waiting in West Twin Park for the owners of an outgoing sculpture to remove it.

On his trailer was “Reaching,” his own work that will stand in the southwest corner of West Twin for the next year. “Reaching” is one of multiple sculptures chosen for the 2025 season by Arts R Alive in Webster City, a nonprofit that has for years been installing public art in the Webster City park.

This year, Arts R Alive has also committed to installing three outdoor sculptures downtown; two of them — one in front of Osweiler’s Fashions and the other on the corner of First State Bank’s parking lot — were installed Tuesday. The third, which will be located near Availa Bank, will be installed today.

A new arts and culture brand — The Arts Webster City — has also officially been launched to shine a light on Webster City’s thriving arts and cultural scene.

“As our arts and cultural amenities continue to grow — thanks to the dedication of volunteer organizations and strong support from our city and county — so does the need for a cohesive strategy to promote them,” Anna Woodward, director of the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce, said.

“This brand helps us fully leverage our creative and experiential assets to reach new audiences.”

Designed to attract out-of-state visitors, the initiative showcases the area’s robust nonprofit arts organizations, cultural assets, and natural amenities that make Webster City a unique destination in Iowa.

It is funded through a 2025 Iowa Tourism Grant by Travel Iowa; the project is led by the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with key community organizations.

This includes the work of Arts R Alive in Webster City, which partnered several years ago with the sculpture consortium SculptureOne, to grow its reputation as a premiere arts organization. The SculptureOne commitment opened the doors for Arts R Alive to bring a higher calibre of work to Webster City.

“Public art is everywhere and for everyone,” said Janet Adams, president of Arts R Alive. “Whether it’s our outdoor sculptures, murals, the community theater, or art studios — just take a stroll through town and you’ll experience it.”

Of the communities that make up the SculptureOne consortium, Webster City is the smallest. Others in the consortium include Mankato, Minnesota; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Mason City. They display in an annual rotation sculpture that is available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds and sales tax benefit the community.

But art in Webster City is not simply centered around what Arts R Alive brings to town.

Legacy Learning Boone River Valley, for instance, is known for its experiential art classes, Woodward points out.

“The creative culture of a community shapes identity, fuels economic development, fosters innovation, and preserves local heritage,” Maureen Seamonds, founding board member of Legacy Learning Boone River Valley, said. “Promoting the arts is a powerful way for small towns to build vibrant, attractive communities.”

The Arts — Webster City, the brand, also encompasses the following: Wilson Brewer Park, Hamilton County Conservation interpretive programming, the Kendall Young Library art collections, Crafted Farm Fresh spirits at Wildcat Distilling Co., Webster City Community Theatre, and even the Hamilton County and Webster City trail systems.

“As The Arts — Webster City rolls out, it’s a fantastic opportunity to spotlight our remarkable art collection and connect it to the city’s broader cultural landscape,” Ketta Lubberstedt-Arjes, director of Kendall Young Library, said. “This brand bridges the past and present by honoring our history while celebrating our creative growth.”

It is no coincidence that the brand launch is happening as Arts R Alive’s 2025 installation is occurring; the goal is now to create a fully walkable Art Walk that immerses visitors in public art and connects them to nearby cultural destinations. The expansion is supported by the City of Webster City, Webster City SSMID District, Availa Bank, First State Bank, and Osweiler’s Fashions. Local agency OHP Marketing Services developed the branding and promotional materials.

“Public art has become a key driver of tourism nationwide,” Woodward said. “When paired with Webster City’s robust mix of culture and recreation, it creates an irresistible experience for travelers seeking something genuine, creative, and engaging.”

For more information, visit the new The Arts – Webster City webpage launching soon at visitwebstercityiowa.com, or follow the initiative on Facebook at The Arts — Webster City.

“Rabbit” by Kimber Fiebiger, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is one of the new sculptures installed Tuesday.

“X Marks The Spot” is by artist Alex Mendez, of Decatur, Indiana.

“Queenie” is by Steven Feren, of Fitchburg, Wisconsin.