Americans for the Arts, a leading national nonprofit organization for advancing arts and arts education, launched an essay series today featuring Greater Des Moines as one of many communities across the country that have profited by partnering with the arts.

The series provides an inside look at both communities and prominent businesses and how partnering with the arts can attract and retain talent needed for both to achieve success.

The initial essay states, “If you’re looking for an example of a city where companies have banded together to embrace the idea of using arts and culture to attract and retain talent – particularly young talent – you need to look no further than Des Moines.”

Local business leaders from Kemin Industries, Principal Financial Group Inc., EMC Insurance Cos., Des Moines Social Club, DuPont Pioneer, Bravo Greater Des Moines, the Des Moines Arts Center and the Greater Des Moines Partnership share stories in the essay of how they engage and partner with arts organizations to create a vibrant cultural scene and, in turn, help make their companies and the community more attractive to current and future employees.

With insight collected from some of the most celebrated business leaders in the United States, the essays will be released throughout 2015 and 2016.

The Recruit and Retain Talent essay is available online. All essays will also be accessible on pARTnershipMovement.org.