Alternating Currents Documentary Wins Mid-America Emmy Award
Award-winning film produced in partnership with KWQC celebrates the people, places and investments that shaped downtown Davenport and the Quad Cities' creative community.
Alternating Currents: Energizing Downtown, a documentary produced in partnership with KWQC-TV6 and the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), has won a 2026 Mid-America Emmy Award in the Documentary – Cultural category. The award was presented Saturday, October 24, during the 50th Annual Mid-America Emmy Awards in Overland Park, Kansas.
The documentary explores the story behind Alternating Currents, the free, multi-day festival that brings music, film, comedy, visual art and other creative experiences to Downtown Davenport, Rock Island and Bettendorf each August. Beyond showcasing the festival itself, the film examines the decades of community vision, investment and collaboration that helped make an event of this scale possible in the Quad Cities.
"This documentary tells a much bigger story than four days of entertainment," said Kyle Carter, Executive Director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership. "It's about the people who believed in Downtown Davenport and the Quad Cities long before Alternating Currents existed and the investments that laid the groundwork for what we're seeing today. From River Renaissance to the continued growth of our arts, culture and small business community, it's a reminder that great places don't happen by accident. They take vision, commitment and people willing to invest in what's possible. We hope this story inspires the next generation of that work."
The documentary traces the community's transformation through the voices of artists, entrepreneurs, community leaders and the people who have helped shape the festival. It also recognizes milestones in Downtown Davenport's revitalization, including the River Renaissance initiative. In October 2001, 73% of Scott County voters approved a $5 million bond referendum supporting the larger $113 million redevelopment effort.
First launched in 2017, Alternating Currents has grown into a signature regional arts and cultural experience. The 2026 festival featured 238 free events across 55 venues and stages in three downtowns, showcasing hundreds of creatives and welcoming visitors from across the region and beyond.
"There's something really special about seeing the story of this festival told through the people who have helped bring it to life," said Alisha Espey, Alternating Currents Festival Director and Senior Program & Events Director for DDP. "We've always believed Alternating Currents could be something bigger than a festival. It's an opportunity to introduce people to our downtowns, celebrate the incredible creative talent in this community and show what's possible when people come together around an idea. To have that story recognized with an Emmy as we head into our tenth year is pretty incredible."
The documentary was produced by KWQC's Reel6 Studios team, building on KWQC's longstanding partnership with Alternating Currents. Filming began in summer 2024, with the documentary premiering in August 2025.
"When I saw what the team behind Alternating Currents had built, I knew it deserved a film. The story goes beyond the festival. It's about how arts and culture bring people together, help our downtowns grow, and reveal what makes the Quad Cities remarkable. We wanted to shine a light on the people whose vision and years of work made that possible. Seeing that story recognized with an Emmy is incredibly rewarding," said Andrey Arkhipov, Executive Producer of the documentary and Executive Creative Producer at Reel6 Studios.
"KWQC has been an integral partner to Alternating Currents for years, and their passion for storytelling is evident in every part of this documentary," Espey added. "Their team poured an incredible amount of heart, creativity and care into this project. We're so proud of what we created together and grateful to share this honor with them."
The Mid-America Emmy Award recognizes the work of Andrey Arkhipov, Brianna Nielsen, Trever Braet and Michael Robinson of KWQC; Alisha Espey and Kyle Carter of the Downtown Davenport Partnership; and Jennifer Verscha of the Quad Cities Chamber, whose collective creativity and dedication brought Alternating Currents: Energizing Downtown to life.
The Emmy recognition comes as Alternating Currents prepares to celebrate its tenth year, August 12–15, 2027. Festival organizers are planning new experiences and expanded opportunities for artists, businesses and audiences while continuing to build on the partnerships that have shaped the event.
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