DES MOINES, IA (PNAN) – In recognition of World AIDS Day, at the Des Moines Art Center presents “A Day With(out) Art” on Sunday, November 29, 2026, from 1:30-3:30 pm of art, film, and music offering space for healing, remembrance, and hope.
First organized by Visual AIDS in 1989, this art-in-performance feature brings cultural institutions together to remember those lost to AIDS and recognize the ongoing experiences of people living with HIV.
Beginning with a 20-minute performance in the Levitt Auditorium, the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus, begins this event performing their core repertoire celebrating the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, and also included will be selections from their upcoming holiday concert, “A Quaint Queer Christmas.”
The AIDS epidemic has profoundly affected the community and the gay men’s and queer chorus movements over the past 50-plus years. The chorus is honored to take part, lifting its voices in remembrance and hope.
Also on view in the Art Center’s Macomber Lobby will be three connected sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The handmade memorials preserve stories of individuals and communities across Iowa, inviting reflection on lives lost and the people who responded with care, education, and advocacy.
The panels on display represent people who have direct ties to Iowa, including: Robert Mann, whose experiences living with AIDS helped shape an AIDS ministry at First United Methodist Church in downtown Des Moines; a collective memorial “To our friends who have died from AIDS” connected to sixth-grade students at Fairbank Elementary School in northeast Iowa; and memorials to actor and AIDS educator Tom Hotchkiss, also known professionally as Toby Richard, entrepreneur Alan R. Hammond, and Iowa State University graduate Dave Matheason. One section also includes “To All Iowans Not Listed,” featuring a poem by Des Moines HIV/AIDS educator and advocate Sharon “Pretty Blue Butterfly Woman” Haught.
For more information, contact Senior Director of Communications Amy Day at: aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.
About
World AIDS Day 2026 takes place on Tuesday, December 1, marking the 39th annual global observance. The international community is emphasizing “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.” to combat funding shifts, protect service infrastructure, and push toward the 2030 goal of ending HIV as a public health threat. UNAIDS emphasizes that closing the gap comes down to access—ensuring medical science and treatment reach everyone who needs them.