More than 100 artists will display their artwork in downtown Ames amid belly dancers, martial arts and music acts.

The 34th annual Octagon Art Festival will showcase art from a variety of media by Midwestern artists Sunday in the Ames Main Street Cultural District.

Last year, the festival was relocated to downtown from Hilton Coliseum in order to cut costs and bring recognition to the downtown area, said Heather Straszheim, curator for the Octagon Center for the Arts.

“It is really nice because we can offer the festival free to the public,” Straszheim said. “In January, downtown Ames became a cultural district. We want the art festival to be one more event that the community can enjoy downtown.”

Although most of the artists are from Iowa, this is not a requirement for participation.

Straszheim said many people who have not attended the festival think of Iowa art as basket weaving and farm-related media.

“The festival is a good way to expand what their perspective is and what’s really going on in Iowa,” Straszheim said.

Ceramic artist Tammy Kopecky said the festival acts to show people that art in Iowa goes beyond farms and corn.

“You see so many beautiful things that come out of the Midwest. In a way, it’s an untapped resource,” Kopecky said. “The Midwest is a great place to get into art without the competitive atmosphere that you find in big cities.”

Kopecky, undeclared graduate student, will have her functional ceramics on display for the second year in a row. She said she is hoping for good weather and looking forward to the festival.

“I’ll be more used to it because it’s my second year,” Kopecky said. “It will be a little more relaxing so I can sit back and enjoy it more.”

After graduation, Kopecky said, a past professor tipped her off to a job opening at the Octagon Center for the Arts. She is currently the Ceramic Artist-in-Residence and working one class at a time at Iowa State toward her master’s degree.

In order to ensure the quality of the work at the festival, Straszheim said the festival is juried. Artists must submit slides of their work before being accepted to participate. Awards are also given to artists for exceptional work, she said.

“The awards are based on the quality of the work but also the booth display as well,” Straszheim said. “This adds a little more personality.”

Also adding a little personality to the festival is a diverse set of entertainment.

“We are adding a second stage so there will be two opportunities for entertainment at both ends of the festival,” Straszheim said.

The Tom Evans Park stage will host the Mirage Middle Eastern Belly Dancing Troupe; Brother J, a cover band comprised of two brothers; and a martial arts demonstration.

Straszheim said World Port, a band back from last year, will be performing all day on the Cynthia Duff stage. She said she hopes the festival will raise awareness of culture and art in Iowa.

“It’s nice to have something downtown Ames to bring together the community,” she says.