Editing Spencer, Iowa (section)

==Arts and culture==

In 2004, Spencer's downtown business district was recognized as historic and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://spencercreates.com/liveculturehistory.htm | title = Culture & History of Historic Downtown Spencer| publisher= Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy (SPACE)|date=2004 |access-date= 13 August 2010}}</ref> As the county seat and a railroad stop, Spencer also served as a center of trade for the farming county.

Also in 2004, the State Historical Society of Iowa certified the Spencer Downtown Cultural District<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.culturalaffairs.org/shsi/historic-preservation/cultural_districts/list-of-certified-districts.html | title = List of Certified Cultural & Entertainment Districts}} State Historical Society of Iowa website. Retrieved on 13 August 2010.</ref> as one of the initial eight such projects across the state. Spencer's proposal for this designation included remodeling the old Spencer Middle School building as a multi-purpose facility, to include a senior citizen center, affordable housing units, and a restored facade.<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1508965.html | title = Launch of Spencer school apartments celebrated |work=The Daily Reporter |date= 10 March 2009| access-date= 13 August 2010}}</ref> Future work on the project for the former Middle School will restore the historic auditorium.<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1602590.html | title = Grand opening at remodeled SMS. }} The Daily Reporter (15 January 2010. Retrieved on 13 August 2010.</ref> The State Historical Society designation also recognizes the city's renovation of its Grand Avenue bridge to include a public art work: commissioned stained glass plates in an [[Art Deco]] style.<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1653200.html | title = Grand Avenue bridge art approved }} The Daily Reporter (17 July 2010).  Retrieved on 13 August 2010.</ref>

Current cultural attractions in Spencer include the Spencer Community Theater<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040620231029/http://www.spencer-iowa.com/ Spencer Community Theater]</ref> the Parker House Museum, Clay County Heritage, and various public art displays. Arts on Grand is a cultural attraction and nonprofit organization which supports local area artists with a gallery shop, exhibits, classes, workshops, tours, fundraising events, and other activities.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.artsongrand.org/ | title = Arts on Grand. }} Spencer Area Arts Council website. Retrieved on 13 August 2010.</ref> The Curiel-Reynolds School of Visual Arts (CRVA)<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.curielarts.org/ | title = Curiel Arts School of Visual Arts (Glass and Jewelry Art School) organization website. }} Retrieved on 13 August 2010.</ref> relocated from [[Detroit]], Michigan to Spencer in 2007.<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://www.americantowns.com/ia/spencer/organization/curiel-reynolds-school-of-visual-arts | title = information page for Curiel-Reynolds School of Visual Arts }} American Towns website. Retrieved on 13 August 2010.</ref>

Spencer's Public Library is where the [[library cat]] known as [[Dewey Readmore Books]] resided from January 18, 1988, until his death on November 29, 2006. His story, with much about the town of Spencer, is told in ''[[Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World]]'' (2008), by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter,<ref>Grand Central Publishing (2008)</ref> and related children's versions and audio books. Numerous works of art around town feature images of Dewey including “The Gathering: Of Time, Of Land, Of Many Hands," a community mosaic project designed to celebrate the Millennium.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cpag.net/guide/1/1_pages/1_3_04.htm | title=CPAG Guide }}</ref>