Indy Arts Council

Last updated
Indy Arts Council
Formation1987
Headquarters924 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis, IN 46204
Location
President & CEO
Judith B. Thomas
Budget$1.7 m
Website https://indyarts.org/

The Indy Arts Council (sometimes referred to as the Arts Council of Indianapolis or Indianapolis Arts Council) is a nonprofit arts service organization based in Indianapolis that was established in 1987 by the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee. The organization's purpose is to introduce the arts to new audiences through community outreach while bolstering creative innovation and economic development. The Indy Arts Council supports over 100 organizations including the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. They have also worked to include local artists in events they have organized in partnership with the Indianapolis 500, Super Bowl XLVI, NCAA Final Fours, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the Indianapolis International Airport. The Arts Council generates funding from many notable institutions such as Indiana Arts Commission, Lilly Endowment, Indianapolis Foundation, and Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. [1] [2]

Contents

History

In 1987, the 10th Pan American Games came to Indianapolis leading to the Indianapolis community becoming host to an arts festival that would build up to the games' opening ceremony. The arts festival involved almost 40 local arts organizations that produced more than 200 events. After the Pan American Arts Festival, the Indy Arts Council became its own agency, no longer just a branch of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee. [2]

The Indy Arts Council opened the Indianapolis Artsgarden in September 1995 above the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets. This glass and steel dome connected to the Circle Center Mall was built using a donation of $12 million from the Lilly Endowment, Inc and has since been utilized as a venue for performances, exhibitions, and events. [3]

Art & Soul is a program developed by the Indy Arts Council in 1997 to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month in Indianapolis. The festival, including live music, dance, poetry, and theater, helps local Black artists launch their careers while featuring free art exhibits for the public and other various festivities. [4] The 2025 Art and Soul program began expanding beyond Black History Month with the help of the Madam Walker Legacy Center. [5]

In 2010, Gallery 924 was developed by the Indy Arts Center in the organization's Pennsylvania Street headquarters after the Great Recession caused many of Indianapolis's local galleries to close. [1]

A 2023 study showed that the nonprofit arts and culture sector in Indianapolis brought in more than $520 million in direct economic impact over the 2022-2023 year. That same year the Indy Arts Council gave funding to 85 local arts groups with a budget under $1.5 million. [6] As a result of this study's findings, the Arts Council requested their funding to be bumped up from $1.3 to $3 million in 2024. [7] The budget for 2025 was merely bumped from $1.3 to $1.7 million. [8] [9]

On June 25, 2025, the Indy Arts Council announced their five-year plan for 2025–2030 in the Indianapolis Artsgarden. The plan touches on the council's new mission "to champion arts and culture" in order to fulfill their vision of "a creative life for all". The Arts Council also developed five pillars they hoped to focus on during their five-year plan. These pillars included sustainable funding; everyday arts access; increased awareness; professional development and shared services; and arts and culture destination. [10] [11]

The Indy Arts Council also connects neighborhoods with local artist to paint signal boxes in representation of the area's history. [12]

Grant programs

Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship

In 1999, the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship was created by the Indy Arts Council with the support of Lilly Endowment Inc. in order to help encourage local artistic talent to remain in the city. In its first 25 years of existence, the fellowship provided more than 500 grants to Indianapolis's musicians, dancers, arts administrators, thespians, authors, poets, and visual artist. [13] [14] Every other year the fellowship is awarded to 40 individuals for the purpose of funding getaways that would provide an opportunity for them recharge their creativity. [15] From 1999 to 2023, the fellowship consistently provided $10,000 to its recipients until 2025 when the award amount was raised to $12,000. [13]

Notable recipients [16]

DeHaan Artists of Distinction

The DeHaan Artists of Distinction award program, administered by the Indy Arts Council, was brought into fruition in 2017 with the help of funds provided by businesswoman and philanthropist, Christel DeHaan. This award focuses on supporting contemporary artists and visual art projects with a $10,000 grant. As of February 2025, the program has supported 36 artists with more than $390,000. The recipient's finished projects get the opportunity to be exhibited in the council's Gallery 924. [17] [18]

Notable recipients [19]

References

  1. 1 2 "Arts Council of Indianapolis". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  2. 1 2 "Arts Council of Indianapolis". The International Center. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  3. ↑ "Indianapolis Artsgarden". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 2021-07-05. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  4. ↑ Delgadillo, Jennifer (2024-02-01). "Art & Soul 2024: Get to know the four Featured Artists". Mirror Indy. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  5. ↑ Bongiovanni, Domenica. "Art & Soul is expanding from February into a year-round series of events". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  6. ↑ Sheridan, Jill (2023-10-31). "Post-pandemic study shows increase in economic impact of Indy arts". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  7. ↑ Sheridan, Jill (2024-09-06). "Indy's arts council requests more than double its current funding, cites impact of public art". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  8. ↑ Lindquist, Dave (2024-10-04). "CIB, bond bank commit to increased support for Indy Arts Council". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  9. ↑ Beedie, Ariana; Indy Documenters (2024-10-11). "Reduced arts funding sends a ripple effect through the community". Mirror Indy. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  10. ↑ McGOWAN, CHLOE (2025-07-01). "Indy Arts Council released its 5-year strategic plan". Indianapolis Recorder. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  11. ↑ Mack, Justin L. (2025-06-27). "Making a more artistic and equitable Central Indiana". Axios. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  12. ↑ Young, Sophie (2024-09-20). "Ever wonder how those big metal signal boxes get painted?". Mirror Indy. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  13. 1 2 McGOWAN, CHLOE (2024-11-15). "Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship gives artists opportunity for rest; inspiration". Indianapolis Recorder. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  14. ↑ "Recharged: The Art of Creative Renewal". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  15. ↑ Lindquist, Dave (2023-01-06). "Artists and arts administrators recharge through fellowship grants". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  16. ↑ "Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship: Grant Information". Indy Arts Council. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  17. ↑ Indianapolis, Encyclopedia of (2023-11-13). "Christel DeHaan Family Foundation". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  18. ↑ Mack, Justin L. (2025-02-06). "Meet the Maker: 2024 DeHaan Artists of Distinction". Axios. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  19. ↑ "DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award". Indy Arts Council. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
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