Since September, Mirror Indy’s Documenters have attended four public meetings where arts funding for projects and organizations was discussed. Documenters are citizens who are trained and paid to take notes that often inspire Mirror Indy stories.
Documenters attend these meetings (and many more city, neighborhood and school meetings) to create a public record.
Here’s what Documenters found out:
Indy spends only $5.68 per resident on arts & culture
Sept. 5, City of Indianapolis Parks & Recreation Committee hearing
Julie Goodman, who recently stepped down as CEO of the Indy Arts Council, asked the committee to increase the arts funding budget from $1.3 million to $3 million.
Goodman said that even with this increase, funding would only be restored to what it was in the year 2005, not accounting for current inflation.
Goodman also explained to the committee that Indianapolis spends only $5.68 per capita — or per resident — on arts and culture. This budget is well behind peer cities, like St. Louis and Cincinnati, which spend over $100 per capita.
New public art coming to neighborhoods
Oct. 22, Public Art for Neighborhoods selection committee
The meeting was organized by the Indy Arts Council and a group of community members who are invested in the decisions.
Updates were provided for public artworks that are happening now, including traffic signal box art projects.
A traffic signal box on the intersection of Epler Avenue and Bluff Road, before and after local artist Christina Hollering painted it.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?fit=780%2C585&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=780%2C585&ssl=1″ alt=”On the left is a photo of a large gray metal box, with a concrete base. On the right, the same box is painted with a blue and yellow background, pink peonies and red tomatoes.” class=”wp-image-35501″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?resize=706%2C530&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image.png?w=1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Signal-boxes-composite-image-1024×768.png?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>
A sculpture by Mongolian artist Zheng Lu, to be installed at Henry Street and Innovation Way near the White River State Park, was proposed and approved. The budget for this project is $846,000.
A work by artist Jerome Goff, to be installed at 18th and Meridian streets, was proposed by TWG at The Stella, a housing developer. The project, costing $43,930, would be completed by June 2025 The committee approved the project.
Several public art proposals — including an art installation at the Frederick Douglass Park and a mural at the Indianapolis Public Library’s Fort Ben branch — were presented by artists
If approved, these projects would be funded by the Indy Arts Council’s Public Art for Neighborhood grants, which award $500 to $5,000 for selected projects.
The state of Indiana’s creative economy
Oct. 25, Indiana Creative Economy Summit at the Stutz
Arts and business leaders at the Indiana Creative Economy Summit discussed the economic impact of “diminished creative and cultural opportunities,” per Indy Documenter Margo Kelly.
The creative economy includes music, visual arts, performing arts and creativity in other industries such as tech. The day-long event was hosted by PATTERN and you can read the full creative economy report.
Some of the topics discussed included how to attract, retain and develop talent.
In one panel discussion, Tim George of Pathemy Strategies noted that the 15 states with the most arts and culture in the U.S. also have an average income that is $20,000 greater than Indiana’s.
Mirror Indy reporter Breanna Cooper covers arts and culture. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on X @BreannaNCooper.
Jennifer Delgadillo is Mirror Indy’s arts and culture editor. You can reach her at [email protected].
