The Free Art Studio, an Iowa City organization that strives to make art accessible for all, held their first workshop in their new home, the Ned Ashton House, on March 8. The studio was previously housed in Iowa City’s Wright House of Fashion.
With help from a variety of community members, Lauren Simmering and Penelope Wilkins started the studio in February 2025. At the time, they were hosting solely “open studios,” where people could come and work on any project they wanted to, regardless of medium or ability. In July 2025, they held their first official tie-dye workshop at the Wright House of Fashion.
“We’ve had a lot of really successful workshops, and we’ve expanded a lot into the community with that focus on making ‘bad art,’” Wilkins said. “It’s about art leading to community.”…