History
Indianapolis's cultural district program was established as an economic development initiative of Mayor Bart Peterson's administration to promote public art and cultural development in the city. In 2002, Peterson formed the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission whose steering committee selected the initial five cultural districts in 2003: Broad Ripple Village, Canal and White River State Park, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, and the Wholesale District. Indiana Avenue was designated in 2004. [1] In response to the Great Recession, the commission disbanded in 2009; however, the program continued to operate with nonprofit support from the Indy Arts Council and Downtown Indy Inc.
In 2014, Mayor Greg Ballard designated Market East as the city's seventh cultural district. In 2025, Mayor Joe Hogsett's Department of Metropolitan Development oversaw an open call for applications that resulted 12 newly designated cultural districts and $500,000 in one-time grant funding distributed. [2]
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