Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association

09/04/2026

This month's episode of FD TEA features Rita Schmidt, Anastasia Peratopoulos, and Pascale Balm of the Fort Dodge Public Library!

"FD TEA #24 - Rita Schmidt, Anastasia Peratopoulos, & Pascale Balm | Fort Dodge Public Library"

Shelly and Peter sit down with Rita, Anastasia, and Pascale from the Fort Dodge Public Library. We discuss each of their journeys to the Fort Dodge Public Library, different resources the library provides to the public, how libraries have changed over time, surprising events and services that many people don't think about, and much more!

🎤 Rita Schmidt - Library Director at the Fort Dodge Public Library

🎤 Anastasia Peratopoulos - Youth Services Librarian at the Fort Dodge Public Library

🎤 Pascale Balm - Adult Services Librarian at the Fort Dodge Public Library

Available wherever you enjoy podcasts!

New episodes the first Friday of every month!

09/01/2026

❤️

🎨❤️ Were you part of the Hospice House story? We’d love to hear from you. ❤️🎨

A few days ago, we shared photos and memories from our first Paint Fest, which brought together members of the original donor families to help create a special piece of artwork honoring the legacy of the former Hospice House.

Now, we’re getting ready for Paint Fest #2, and this time, we want to bring together another very special group of people:

Those who WORKED at the Hospice House over the years. ❤️

Whether you were there for many years or just a short chapter, you were part of what made the Hospice House such an important and meaningful place for countless families in our community.

We would love to gather former staff members, and volunteers, for an opportunity to reconnect, share memories, pick up a paintbrush, and help us create another piece of artwork through the Foundation for Hospital Art that honors the history and heart of this special place. 🎨

No artistic experience is necessary. This is about connection, memories, healing, and celebrating the people who were there providing care when families needed it most.

📣 PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you worked, or volunteered, at the former Hospice House, or you know someone who did, please share this post or tag them so we can reach as many former staff and volunteer members as possible.

Interested in participating in Paint Fest #2?

📧 Contact us at [email protected] - We want to generate a list of interested people so we can coordinate a date that will work best for everyone.

We hope to fill the room with familiar faces, shared stories, plenty of laughter, maybe a few tears, and a whole lot of heart. ❤️

Once part of the Hospice House family, always part of its story.

🎨❤️

08/31/2026

Artsy events for the week of August 31.

08/28/2026

Congratulations to the cast of Comedia Musica Players production of "Come From Away!"

The performance dates are November 12, 13 and 14 @ Historic Phillips Auditorium.

You won't want to miss this show!

Thank you to everyone who came out and auditioned for Come From Away! Auditions went really well, and we were so happy with the talent we saw. We are excited about this cast and can’t wait to see how the show comes together!

For those listed as Featured Ensemble, we will be assigning some additional lines, dance roles, and other featured moments. We’ll communicate those assignments and give you more information at our introductory meeting on Monday, August 31st at 6:30 p.m.

Congratulations to the entire cast! We’re excited to get started and see what we can do with this show!

08/28/2026

FD TEA · Episode

08/26/2026

❤️🎨 PLEASE HELP US WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBER! 🎨❤️

We are so excited to welcome the Paula J. Baber – Center for Healing Hearts to the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association!

This newly formed organization has a beautiful and important mission: providing comfort, connection and support for those experiencing grief and loss, those seeking healing, those with questions surrounding death, dying and caregiving, and those who simply want to celebrate and preserve the life and legacy of the former Hospice House. ❤️

Their programming is continuing to develop, but one of the ways they are already bringing people together is through ART. 🎨

Art has an incredible ability to give shape to emotions that can sometimes be too complex or painful to put into words. Each brushstroke can represent a moment, a memory or a feeling, transforming something deeply personal into something tangible.

We can't wait to see how the Center for Healing Hearts continues to grow and the different ways this space will be used to provide comfort, healing, remembrance and connection.

Their story is just beginning, and we encourage you to be part of it!

❤️ LIKE their page
🎨 FOLLOW along as they begin announcing what's next
📲 SHARE their page so others who may benefit from this organization can find it

Welcome to the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association, Paula J. Baber – Center for Healing Hearts! We are incredibly happy to have you as part of our arts community and can't wait to see where this new journey leads. 🦋❤️🎨

We help to provide comfort and support to those experiencing grief and loss; those who need comfort and healing; those who have questions about death, dying and care giving; and those who simply want to celebrate the life/legacy of the Hospice House.

08/24/2026

Week of August 24

08/21/2026

❤️ Our hearts are FULL. ❤️

What an incredible night.

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who joined us last night at Decker Auditorium for Center Stage: Ben Ahlers. From the moment the doors opened until the final applause, the evening was filled with laughter, wonderful stories, maybe a few tears of pride, and most importantly, an overwhelming sense of community. 🎭✨

There are so many people who helped make this night not only possible, but truly special.

Our heartfelt thanks to Karla Skaggs, Eric Pratt, Nate & Shiny Top Brewing, Choice Printing, The Messenger, all of the Fort Dodge radio stations, The Daily Freeman Journal, KCCI, Iowa Central Community College, Peter Stockdale, Brady O’Brien, Ashley Garst, Scott Deuel, Sean Mulvihill, John & Lin Simpson, the FDFAA Board of Directors, Chef Michael & the ICCC Culinary Program, Cameron Nelson, John Garrettson, Brian Smith, Rochelle Green, Jacob Sorenson, Larry McLuckie, and the Iowa Central Community College Photography and Digital Arts Program.

It truly took a village, and what a wonderful village we have. ❤️

And, of course... BEN! 🌟

We LOVE Ben at the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association. We are incredibly grateful that, during such an exciting and busy time in his career, he chose to come home, share his stories, make us laugh, answer our questions, and help support an organization and community that mean so much to us.

To everyone who purchased a ticket, attended the VIP event, donated, volunteered, shared our posts, helped behind the scenes, or contributed to the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association in Ben's honor... THANK YOU. Your generosity will help us continue creating opportunities for the arts and celebrating the incredible people who make them happen. 🎨🎭🎶

Last night was another reminder of something we already know:

What a special place we get to call home.

We show up for one another.
We support one another.
And yes... we CELEBRATE one another. ❤️

Today, my heart is very full.

Thank you, Fort Dodge. And thank you, Ben, for giving us a night we won't soon forget. 🥹❤️👏

📸 Photo Credit: Jacob Sorenson

08/21/2026

Did you miss it?! Don't forget to tune in to the most recent episode of FD TEA!

"FD TEA #23 - Ashley Garst & Sean Mulvihill | Iowa Central Community College Music and Theater"

Shelly and Peter travel to Decker Auditorium at Iowa Central Community College to talk to Ashley Garst and Sean Mulvihill about the music and theater programs. We discuss their journeys to Iowa Central Community College, fun memories from their time at ICCC, upcoming shows, what goes into producing a great show, and more!

🔴 YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Jx1C1BfYHk
🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4QXHZJZbP2FhBjs4fjElcr
🟣 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fd-tea/id1803966967

New episodes the first Friday of every month!