A popular t-shirt for sale\u00a0in Iowa City declares \u201cDowntown Iowa City: From Tree Sweaters to Unsupervised Pianos, Anything Goes.\u201d Such a statement nicely encapsulates the appeal of this Midwestern college town\u2014easy-going and open-minded, where hidden treasures abound.<\/p>\n
Iowa City is the only city in North America to be named a\u00a0UNESCO City of Literature (http:\/\/cityofliteratureusa.org<\/a>).\u00a0This designation was awarded in 2008, in recognition of Iowa\u00a0City’s vibrant literary and book arts community. Several\u00a0academic programs at the University contribute to this\u00a0environment – the Writers’ Workshop and the International\u00a0Writing Program both have significant global reputations. The\u00a0University of Iowa Center for the Book recently became the\u00a0sixth program in the United States to offer an MFA in book\u00a0arts and counts a MacArthur Fellow as its Director. Outside of\u00a0the University community a vibrant larger community of many\u00a0practicing book artists, printers, bookbinders, writers, and book collectors adds to the legacy of\u00a0writers and artists who have called Iowa home. Iowa City was also recently featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune<\/em> in “Midwest Traveler: Get artsy (and sporty) in Iowa City.”<\/a>\u00a0Our location will offer\u00a0a classic, genuinely Midwestern Conference\u2014an intimate,\u00a0productive gathering with minimal distractions in a welcoming and easy-to-navigate Midwestern\u00a0University town.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\t\t