I was reading the Press-Citizen today, and local rabblerowser Donald Baxter hit on a brilliant idea. Why doesn't Iowa have an “arts license plate”? We already have the highly successful REAP plate, a heritage plate, an education plate, and most recently a “share the road” plate that benefits the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. (Just look at all the specialty plates the state already offers!)Iowa should join other states like Florida and California in offering a specialty Arts plate, with the proceeds going toward a central organization like the Iowa Arts Council.

Here is an example design by Mr. Baxter (used with permission). An added bonus is that it makes use of the currently endangered Jackson Pollock painting at the University of Iowa Museum of Art.

Here is a link as well to the original blog post by Mr. Baxter. I think it's a great idea, and if you do as well–it might be worth bringing up to our local candidates.