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Public Art at DART
When you ride DART or visit our facilities, you experience more than transit — you see creativity, culture and our shared Central Iowa identity.
At DART, we believe public art:
- Makes bus rides more enjoyable
- Promotes community pride
- Supports vibrant, growing neighborhoods
- Lets more people experience art
Scroll down to learn about the ways we infuse art into our bus network.
Art Shelter Program
Bus shelters are one of the most requested amenities from riders. When you add public art, shelters become more than protection from the weather — they become community landmarks. Our Art Shelter Program brings art directly to places people move through every day.
When complete in 2026, DART will have 40 total art shelters, including shelters in each of its member communities.
- Each art shelter features work by an artist selected with input from local stakeholders and community partners.
- Shelters are located along main roads and at bus stops where many riders board.
- Bravo Greater Des Moines provided a grant to fund the art for the shelters.
- Construction of the shelters is funded through DART’s Capital Budget, which is different than the budget DART uses to operate services.
When you see an art shelter, you see a shared investment in our communities.
We created this program to:
- Enhance your rider experience
- Increase the visibility of public transportation
- Build a strong, positive image of transit
- Support neighborhood connectivity
- Add energy and identity to key corridors
View DART’s Art Shelters
Sheena Rose, Barbados
- Art shelter locations: 6th Avenue Corridor in Des Moines.
Mollie Wallace, Des Moines and Dana Harrison, Jefferson, IA
- Art shelter locations: Drake Campus on University Avenue in Des Moines.
Jenna Brownlee, Des Moines
- Art shelter location: 42nd Street in the Roosevelt Cultural District.
Tiberiu Chelcea, Ames
- Art shelter location: University Avenue in Windsor Heights.
Beatrice Coron, New York City, NY
- Art shelter location: First Avenue in Ankeny.
Maddie Fusco, Des Moines
- Art shelter locations: 86th Street and Aurora Avenue in Urbandale
Mary Jones, Indianola
- Art shelter locations: Ingersoll Ave. in Des Moines.
A Regional Collaboration
The Art Shelter Program shows what is possible when transit, planning and arts organizations work together.
Thank you to the following groups for supporting this project:
- Bravo Greater Des Moines
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- Des Moines Area MPO
- Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation
- Iowa Arts Council
- Substance Architecture
- City of Des Moines
- DART’s member communities
Public Art at DART Central Station
DART Central Station is the heart of the transit network within the metro. Since opening in 2012, it has served as a place where many riders wait and transfer to other routes and as a public space. It is also home to three permanent public art installations that reflect movement, connection and place.
When you visit DART Central Station, you experience art as part of your everyday journey.
Confluence, Lynn Basa
Tall Grass Tapestry, Troy Corliss
