CHARACTER COUNTS! through the Arts! is a new partnership between the Iowa Arts Council (a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs) and the Institute for Development at Drake University. It gives artists training in CHARACTER COUNTS! concepts and language. They then use their talents to illustrate character lessons in schools and communities.

At Inauguration Day at the Iowa State Capitol, on January 17, 2003, students from several Des Moines elementary schools helped paint stained-glass-like patterns for a mural they'd designed based on the Six Pillars of Character. Dennis Adams, an Iowa Arts Council artist trained in CC!, worked with the students.