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From the Classroom to the Community

Photo of Nancy Wiese, 2026 Secretary of the Iron Horse Arts District Board of Directors

Pictured above: Nancy Wiese, 2026 Secretary of Iron Horse Arts District Board of Directors.

A message from Board Secretary Nancy Wiese

Hello friends,

I'm Nancy Wiese, and I'm looking forward to serving as Secretary on the Iron Horse Arts District Board of Directors this year. Since joining the board last July, I've truly enjoyed collaborating with others who share a passion for advancing the arts in our community.

During the day, I have the privilege of teaching art at Holdrege High School. It's inspiring and rewarding to work with young artists, and I'm continually impressed by their creativity and dedication.

Read all of Nancy's Letter

We're Honored: Iron Horse Wins Two Awards at the Chamber Honors Banquet

Some of the Iron Horse Arts District board on hand at the Holdrege Chamber Honors Banquet to receive our Heart of Holdrege Award.

Photo by Aaron Henderson. From left: Lori Larson, Rebecca Anderson, Cassie Ehrenberg, Allisha Melroy, Ryan Ehrenberg, Kristine Jacobson, Parker Hamling, Luke Mills, and Jason Sidel.

What a night! At the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce Honors Banquet on Friday, the Iron Horse Arts District was recognized with not one, but two awards – and we are deeply humbled by both.

Our Executive Director, Cassie Ehrenberg, was presented with the Connector Award, which honors an outstanding leader who collaborates and partners in the Holdrege community. This recognition speaks to the heart of who we are as an organization — we believe the best things happen when we work together.

The Iron Horse Arts District also received the Heart of Holdrege Award, which honors an organization that has made a significant contribution of community service, unity, and resources to improve Holdrege – in our case, for the Festoon Lighting we've installed downtown. To be recognized this way by our community means everything to us.

Thank you to the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce, and thank you to this incredible community for making our work possible. We are just getting started!

Read the Press Release

March Pop-Up Art Gallery:
An Evening with Andrea Skiles

Save the date for our March Pop-Up Art Gallery artist reception, featuring poetry by Andrea Skiles and a selection of related visual artwork from our call for art. Meet our featured artist, enjoy her vibrant poetry, and partake in light refreshments as you connect with fellow art lovers!

Artist Reception:

Thursday, March 12 | 5–7 p.m.
Holdrege Area Public Library

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience how the written and visual arts can speak to each other — and to be part of the warm, welcoming community that makes events like this so special.

Sherry McClymont & Carol Kayton gallery promotional image.

Learn More About the Gallery

Open to the public; donations to Iron Horse Arts District encouraged. We hope to see you there!

Artisan Expo | May 30, 2026

Join Us as a Vendor or Supporter!

Saturday, May 30 | 10 AM–3 PM | Downtown Holdrege

The Iron Horse Artisan Expo is coming back as a standalone event! Join us for a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and community as we bring together artists, makers, and shoppers for a vibrant day in the heart of downtown Holdrege. The Expo highlights unique fine and commercial art while supporting the talented artists who create it.

Are You an Artisan Vendor?

There's never been a better time to sign up — and we mean that literally. Register by April 1 and lock in our discounted rate of just $45 (and no, that's not an early April Fool's joke!). After April 1, the fee increases to $60 through May 15. Food trucks and cottage food makers are also welcome — contact us about availability.

Apply to be an Artisan Vendor

Support the Artisan Expo

We are looking for donors and sponsors to help make this event a success! Whether you're a business or an individual who loves the arts, there are several ways to get involved:

Presenting Support: $2,500
Hospitality Support: $1,000
Demonstration Support: $500
Program Support: $250+

Interested in becoming a supporter? Learn more on our Support page or reach out to Cassie Ehrenberg at 308.248.0001 or email [email protected].

Support the Artisan Expo!

Artist Bureau Spotlight: Chelsey Neville

Each month, we're shining a spotlight on one of the talented artists in our new Iron Horse Artist Bureau — and this month we are proud to spotlight Chelsey Neville, a self-taught painter whose work captures the quiet beauty of rural Nebraska.

A first-place award winner in the professional division at the Nebraska State Fair, Chelsey began her painting journey with commissioned works ranging from stock cars to watercolor portraits of family homes. Her art embodies a simpler, country spirit — rooted in rustic and pastoral scenes. There is something deeply familiar and comforting in her work, the kind that makes you pause and appreciate the golden light stretching across an open landscape. We are so glad to have her as our featured Artist Bureau artist this month!

Chelsey takes commissions - reach out to her through our site!

Read More about Chelsey

Join the Artist Bureau

Are you a local or regional artist looking for more visibility and connection? The Artist Bureau is the place for you! For just $40 per year, you'll be part of a growing community of artists whose work we actively promote and celebrate.

Join the Artist Bureau

Become an Arts Supporter!

The Iron Horse Arts District is growing — and we'd love for you to grow with us. Our Arts Supporter Program makes it easy to connect your support directly to the projects and programs that matter most to you.

Every dollar invested in the Iron Horse Arts District helps make Holdrege a more vibrant, creative, and connected community — and right now, that local investment matters more than ever. Like many nonprofits, we are navigating a shifting funding landscape where grants we have historically relied on are becoming more competitive and, in some cases, disappearing altogether. Our greatest opportunity for success lies right here at home.

When you support Iron Horse, your dollars stay local — funding the events, art, programs, and spaces that make downtown Holdrege a place people want to be. Whether you are a business looking for meaningful community visibility or an individual who believes in the power of the arts, there is a place for you in this work. No contribution is too small, and every partnership matters.

Contact us at 308.248.0001 or [email protected] to learn more or to discuss a support opportunity that feels right for you.

Learn More

Upcoming Events & Programs

There’s a lot happening at Iron Horse, and even more on the horizon:

Call for Walls: We are looking for business/building owners who might like to brighten up an exterior wall of their establishment in downtown Holdrege with a vibrant art piece in 2027!
Thursday, March 12 | 5–7 PM Artist Reception — March Pop-Up Art Gallery featuring Andrea Skiles. Held at Holdrege Area Public Library.
Thursday, April 9 | 5–7 PM Artist Reception — April Pop-Up Art Gallery featuring Kip & Kent Stephens. Held at Lost Way Brewery.
Tuesday, April 21 | 6–7:30 PM Quarterly Community Insight Night Location TBD. Hear what's ahead for the Iron Horse Arts District, share your ideas, and help shape the future of the arts in Holdrege. We want to hear from you!
Saturday, May 30 | 10 AM–3 PM Iron Horse Artisan Expo in Downtown Holdrege.

See All Event Information

Want to get involved?

Whether or not you classify yourself as an artist, we would love your support in increasing arts and culture opportunities in the Holdrege area. We have numerous projects in the works and would appreciate your time, assistance, or financial support.

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Iron Horse Arts District
PO Box 20
Holdrege, NE 68949-0020

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