Fifty of Central Indiana’s creative minds received $12,000 each through the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship.
The fellowship was created by the Indy Arts Council and Lilly Endowment Inc. in the 1990s and aims to rejuvenate the city’s artists. This year’s recipients were each awarded $12,000 to pursue activities that would “bring rest, inspiration and energy,” according to a press release.
“This year saw a record-breaking 332 applications — a 41% increase from previous years,” Nikki Kirk, director of community impact and strategic investment at Indy Arts Council, said in a statement. “These fellows stood out because they expressed a deep need for personal renewal and presented thoughtful, intentional plans for their well-being.”
Similar to an academic sabbatical, the fellowship places emphasis on the personal, creative and professional renewal of artists and administrators, with the idea that supporting an artist’s wellbeing will lead to a more resilient arts ecosystem and thriving community.
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In the last 25 years, the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship program has invested more than $5 million into Indianapolis’ local art scene, supporting more than 500 industry professionals in music, dance, literature, visual and performing arts and arts administration. The fellowship expanded this year to include 50 awards from the previous 40 and the individual award amount increased from $10,000 to $12,000.
“The Indy Arts Council is incredibly proud to support our city’s creatives through the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship,” Kirk said. “Each fellow has the freedom to choose renewal activities that resonate with them personally to support their mental health and creative wellbeing.”
A full list of the 2024-2025 Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship recipients can be found at indyarts.org. The review panelists for the 2024-25 Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship featured a diverse selection of non-local artists and art administrators, such as Leslie Appleget, Sarah Dhobhany, Malia’Kekia Nicolini, Ida Balderrama-Trudell and Jordan Sanford.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.