Here’s a quick overview of the upcoming events at Impromptu:

Impromptu Mobile Plan Members: Remember that every Wednesday offers late coworking. If you need to invest some late-night hours in your project, we’re open until 10 PM.

This Saturday, Impromptu member and artist Cat Rocketship invites the public to a preview of her new works in Demons and Worse Things. This event will be the only Des Moines exhibition of this show featuring over two dozen new oil and mixed media paintings exploring fear, monsters, demons and worse things. Find more information at the Facebook event or through www.catrocketship.com.

The Des Moines Mac Users Group meets at Impromptu on Tuesday, April 27 at 7 PM. More information at http://www.dmmug.org/.

Prepare yourself for Coding Dojo, a new event wherein coders will complete projects under a time limit and in front of an audience. The first event is May 3rd from 7-9 PM.

In a Coding Dojo, coders come together and complete a programming challenge in a fun environment that provides a night to refine ones’ skillz. Coders have no knowledge of the problem until they form teams on the evening of Coding Dojo. The Des Moines Dojo adds the challenge of coding from scratch in front of an audience.The solution of the night’s problem for may require use of various languages, tools, and exercise formats.

Coding Dojo is a non-competitive, collaborative event at which all skill levels are welcome. It’s a fantastic place to test new methods and ideas. Participants should bring their lappies!

Learn more at http://codingdojo.org/ and RSVP at the Facebook event!

And that takes us through the next two weeks. We have another fresh batch of events on the horizon, so stay tuned and stay informed.

Art and business combine in coworking art gallery

Des Moines, Iowa - Impromptu Studio, a membership-based coworking community in downtown Des Moines, will house a salon-style art gallery featuring work from members of Market Street Media Foundry beginning in June.

MSMF member Cat Rocketship – recently named Best Artist in Cityview’s Best of Des Moines reader survey – will be curating the exhibits. Work will be updated every other month and feature an assortment of pieces from MSMF members.

“We’re really excited to be able to share this space with our friends at Market Street,” said Daniel Shipton, founder of Impromptu Studio. “Their business and our business are different sides of the same coin. I hope that the entreprenuers and professionals working at Impromptu find inspiration for their projects in this gallery.”

Market Street Media Foundry (MSMF) is a collaborative art and media studio located in Des Moines’ downtown Market District just south of Court Avenue on East 4th. Members of MSMF include photographers, painters, textile artists, video editors and other creative entreprenuers.

Scott Kubie, co-owner of MSMF, said that he is excited to offer this benefit to their members. “Unless you want to rent your own space or deal with the same stale crowds, there aren’t a lot of options to get your work on display in Des Moines. Impromptu attracts a uniquely connected crowd and wil be a great outlet for our artists.”

The MSMF gallery at Impromptu will only occupy a portion of their available wall space, leaving the coworking space free to host larger exhibitions for individual artists.

Artists interested in participating in MSMF are encouraged to visit http://www.marketstreetmediafoundry.com or contact Kubie at scott@therevuecreative.com.

Visitors are always welcome at Impromptu Studio and coworking plans start at $25 a month. Impromptu is located at 300 Southwest 5th Street.

Websites: Market Street Media Foundry – http://www.marketstreetmediafoundry.com
Impromptu Studio – http://www.impromptustudio.com

Paul Gratton working on the first art piece.

A little bit of frustration can be squashed with mind opening excercises.  Impromptu Studio has a few bare canvases that need some love and attention for those that need a break.  One of our members picked up a paintbrush for a few minutes to clear their mind…later on another member picked up where the first left off and added to the painting.  This off the cuff art collaboration is a nice way for people to take a minute out of their day and channel their creative side.  To that end, we will have a canvas with art supplies readily available for anyone who wants to stop by and paint a bit.  We have about 5 canvases to get painted so we won’t run out of room (canvas) soon! So if your feeling a bit down or frustrated then stop by and paint a square, triangle, circle, house, cat, car, skyscraper….whatever comes to mind! The best part is that you won’t have to worry about how much or how little you paint as someone else can pick up where you left off.

Impromptu Studio has had tremendous luck when it comes to attracting sponsors for events.  The newest sponsor to step forward to connect with our community is The Technology Assocation of Iowa.

The Technology Association of Iowa bills themselves as the voice of Iowa’s high tech industry:

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) is a member-based, not-for-profit organization accelerating the success of Iowa’s technology industry.  TAI works to create and sustain a positive environment for technology-based economic growth and job creation through innovation, advocacy and leadership.  Visit their website at www.technologyiowa.org.

The Technology Association of Iowa also runs the “academy awards” of Iowa’s technology industry, the Prometheus Awards:

Iowa’s largest and most prestigious awards devoted to promoting and celebrating the innovation and high-tech excellence in Iowa. This showcase honors companies and individuals who represent the best and brightest in technology and business and have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation. For more information on the 2009 Prometheus Awards and to see the criteria for the 17 award categories, visit www.technologyiowa.org/awards/2009/.  The nomination period ends December 22, 2008.

So, please visit their website to submit your nomination for the 2009 Prometheus Awards. You can also check out @TechnologyIowa on Twitter.

We also want to acknowledge one of our guests favorite sponsors, which is Olde Main Brewery. We reached out to Olde Main through their @OldeMain Twitter account which is ran by Jill Haverkamp.  Jill and the folks at Olde Main have been great to work with and we are glad to work with them again for the Ugly Sweater Party! They will be supplying two kinds of their tasty beer that are brewed locally in Ames, Iowa.  Everyone should stop in at Olde Main when they are in Ames for good eats and great beer.

All of the event info: The Epic Ugly Sweater Party

Click! Photography is holding their first ever Quick Clicks! Holiday portrait special!  Click! is offering $10 sessions in a studio setting with holiday decor and the fun and relaxed atmosphere of a Click! photo experience which is happening here at Impromptu Studio. Click! held their first set of sessions last weekend and it was a great time. Big lovable dogs, nice people, and holiday cheer.

Grab your family and pets this weekend and head over for a great way to jump-start the holiday season! You can choose from three different unique Click! designed 5×7″ photo cards and take advantage of specials on print prices too! Session bookings can be made for Saturday December 6 from 10am – 4pm. You can call Click! Photography at  (515) 229-2825 to get your session booked.

Dan Welk from Click! has graciously offered to waive the $10 session fee if you are participating in ActionCamp (which is also taking place this weekend at Impromptu Studio). So grab your spouse or significant other, give back to the community, and cross Holiday pictures off your todo list this weekend!

There is an epic party on the horizon so start digging through your closets. Admission into the party is simple: wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater. It is happening Thursday, December 11th from 6pm – 9pm here at Impromptu Studio.  There is a link at the bottom of the post to RSVP for the party.

We will have Killer Sandwiches from B&B Grocery, beer donated from Olde Main, Live music by Jason Walsmith of The Nadas, and most importantly FUN. We owe the idea to Dallas Moore who is helping us organize and throw what we hope will be a huge bash!

In the spirit of the season we are also asking that people bring donations for the Central Iowa Shelter.  Doug Mitchell and Dan Shipton are helping to put on a New Year’s Eve dinner for the Central Iowa Shelter and will bring the donated items from the party to the shelter.

The list of items to bring for donation to the Central Iowa Shelter:

• Both male and female hygiene items/personal grooming supplies (shampoo, shaving cream, soap, you name it)
• Both male and female clothing
• Detergent
• Blankets
• Socks

Follow @danielshipton and @mrdallasjmoore on Twitter and check out Dallas Moore’s blog to keep up with whats happening and to vote on the beer for the evening. Please use the hashtag #uglysweaterparty when referencing it on Twitter.

We hope to see you and your friends there!

Brooke Peterson who is a very talented local photographer brought in several of her pieces to display at our office. Be sure to stop by and see her work and check out her website.

Brooke will be holding a showing here at Impromptu Studio on January 3rd, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm.  Details and a flyer for the event can be found on her photography site.

In case you’ve missed any of our recent press coverage we’ve been in print and web:

The Business Record

Living Downtown Des Moines

Star 102.5 Blog

We’ve been on the news:

KCCI

KDSM

And on the radio:

IPR

Justin Brady of Test of Time Design presented at our Ignite Des Moines event on “Networking for Nerds”. We felt that this was especially important because so many of us “nerds” have trouble with this vital business skill. Justin provided us with a list of easy ways to get started at a networking event.

1. Wear a name tag dang it

2. Camera + Photos + Business Cards = Web Traffic

3. Piggy Backing

4. Picking off the Lone Ranger

5. Wear an “Ask me about” tag or pin

6. Be the First to Arrive

7. Be the Last to Sit

8. Bring paper Forget the Pen

9. Ask. Ask. Ask.

10. Get their Card, Follow Up!

Watch his full talk and download the pdf with a BONUS tip!

During Ignite Des Moines, Claire Celsi talked about the growing homeless population in Des Moines.  To that end we are organizing a #dmtweetup that will band tweeps together to feed the homeless at a local shelter.  This is a great idea and we thank Claire for bringing it to our attention.

Feeding off Claire’s energy and passion, we wanted to find other ways to take the scale of Ignite Des Moines and use it to harness the power of our community for good deeds.  Our founder, Daniel Shipton, had an idea come to mind that could help out ALL charities and causes: ActionCamp.

ActionCamp is about gathering really smart people with diverse backgrounds that want to make a difference in their local communities.  We put these bright minds in the same room, provide information about the important local causes and charities, then let them brainstorm about how to make a difference.  What can the power of people accomplish in 30 hours? We will find out!

Mark your calendars! ActionCamp Des Moines will take place on December 6th & 7th here at Impromptu Studio.

Visit the ActionCamp Des Moines website to find out more details!

Sign up for ActionCamp Des Moines on Upcoming.

Impromptu Studio Action Camp Press Release