Indy Arts Council Launches Five-Year Plan to Transform Central Indiana into Arts Hub

The Indy Arts Council has unveiled an ambitious five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming Central Indiana into a vibrant and inclusive arts and culture hub by 2030. This initiative, announced on June 26, 2025, follows an extensive two-year planning process that engaged nearly 3,000 regional stakeholders, including artists, arts organizations, funders, civic partners, and community residents.

The strategic plan identifies five key priorities: achieving sustainable funding, ensuring everyday arts access, increasing awareness, offering professional development and shared services, and establishing the region as a premier arts and culture destination. These focus areas are designed to address significant challenges identified during the community engagement process, such as lack of awareness and affordability, which have been barriers to arts participation.

Established nearly four decades ago, the Indy Arts Council serves as Central Indiana's leading arts advocacy and service organization. Its mission is to champion arts and culture, fostering meaningful engagement by nurturing a culture where artists and arts organizations thrive. The development of this strategic plan marks the council's most inclusive and comprehensive planning effort in over a decade.

Key findings from the community engagement process revealed that while 79% of residents participate in local arts, only 48% feel their needs are fully met. The primary barriers identified are lack of awareness (46%) and affordability (34%). Additionally, residents strongly value the arts' contributions to quality of life, education, and community well-being, with 79% supporting private funding for the arts. Arts professionals highlighted the need for increased funding, professional development, and equitable resource allocation, emphasizing priorities such as networking opportunities, advocacy, and support for diverse communities. Artists expressed the need for mentorship, equitable funding, and access to affordable spaces, underscoring themes of better artist support, increased community engagement, and visibility for local talent.

The strategic plan outlines five key priorities for the next five years:

1. Sustainable Funding: Expand and diversify sustainable funding for artists and arts organizations, aiming to be a top-five funding source in Indianapolis.

2. Everyday Arts Access: Ensure that arts, culture, and creativity are accessible to all regional residents daily, leading to more art, for more people, in more places.

3. Increase Awareness: Remove the lack of awareness of arts and culture offerings as a barrier to engagement, becoming the go-to information source on the regional arts and culture sector.

4. Professional Development & Shared Resources: Increase professional development and services for regional artists and arts organizations, making Indianapolis a magnet for artists and creative businesses.

5. Arts & Culture Destination: Catalyze investments for an Arts & Culture Hub/District & Festival, with the goal of Indianapolis becoming a top 10 arts and culture destination nationally.

The plan includes a benchmarking analysis comparing the Indy Arts Council's resources with 14 peer organizations, setting the stage for targeted improvements and broader community impact. Notably, Indianapolis spends only $5.68 per capita on arts and culture, significantly lagging behind peer cities like St. Louis and Cincinnati, which spend over $100 per capita.

The implementation of this strategic plan is expected to have profound social and economic impacts. By addressing barriers such as awareness and affordability, the plan aims to increase community participation in the arts, fostering a more inclusive cultural environment. Investing in the arts has been shown to stimulate local economies. For instance, events like the BUTTER art fair have significantly bolstered Indianapolis's economy, drawing national attention and increasing cultural and social impact. The focus on sustainable funding and professional development is poised to create a more supportive ecosystem for artists, potentially attracting and retaining creative talent in the region.

The Indy Arts Council's strategic plan represents a significant commitment to transforming Central Indiana into a vibrant and inclusive arts hub. By addressing key challenges and leveraging community input, the plan sets a course for substantial social and economic benefits, positioning Indianapolis as a leading arts and culture destination by 2030.