Indy Arts Council's Visionary Plan to Elevate Central Indiana's Cultural Landscape by 2030

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On June 25, 2025, the Indy Arts Council unveiled its comprehensive five-year strategic plan at the Indianapolis Artsgarden, aiming to transform Central Indiana into a vibrant and inclusive arts and culture hub by 2030. This plan, developed in collaboration with Next Practice Partners, is the culmination of a two-year process that engaged nearly 3,000 regional stakeholders—including artists, arts organizations, funders, civic partners, and community residents—through surveys, focus groups, and interviews.

The strategic plan introduces a new mission "to champion arts and culture" and outlines five key focus areas:

Sustainable Funding: Ensuring consistent financial support for the arts sector.
Everyday Arts Access: Making arts experiences accessible to all community members on a daily basis.
Increased Awareness: Enhancing public awareness and appreciation of local arts and culture.
Professional Development and Shared Services: Providing resources and training to support artists and arts organizations.
Arts and Culture Destination: Positioning Central Indiana as a vibrant hub for arts and culture.

The plan also highlights key findings from community input, such as high participation in local arts (79%) but only 48% feeling their needs are fully met, with barriers including lack of awareness (46%) and affordability (34%).

Brenda Horn, Indy Arts Council Board Chair, emphasized the collaborative nature of the plan, stating, "We approached this project with curiosity and humility—and frankly, a lot of patience." She added, "We’re eager to do more to champion arts and culture in Indianapolis, and in 2020, we began the process of discovering how to do so most effectively."

In March 2025, Judith B. Thomas was appointed as the new President and CEO of the Indy Arts Council. Thomas brings over three decades of experience contributing to significant city events, including the Indiana Black Expo and National FFA. She previously served as Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement for Indianapolis and as President of the Madam Walker Legacy Center.

The Indy Arts Council has been actively seeking increased funding to support its initiatives. In 2025, the council requested a line-item increase in the proposed Indianapolis budget to better fulfill its mission of distributing grants to arts and culture not-for-profits in the city. The proposed amount for 2025 was $1.3 million, consistent with the allocations in 2023 and 2024. However, the council emphasized that static funding represents a disservice to not-for-profits vying for dollars in the annual grants program.

The arts and culture industry significantly contributes to Indianapolis's economy. A 2023 national study by Americans for the Arts credited Indianapolis-based not-for-profit arts organizations and their audiences with delivering $523.8 million in annual economic impact. The industry supports 7,478 full-time equivalent jobs in Indianapolis and generates more than $87 million in local and state government revenue.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) also released a strategic plan in January 2025, envisioning the Orchestra as a dynamic and unifying leader in the arts and a key economic driver in central Indiana. The plan outlines strategic goals to ensure long-term sustainability and innovative leadership in the arts as the Orchestra approaches its centennial anniversary in 2030.

The Indy Arts Council's strategic plan aims to address the challenges identified through community input and strengthen Central Indiana's arts and culture landscape over the next five years. By focusing on sustainable funding, everyday arts access, increased awareness, professional development, and positioning the region as an arts and culture destination, the council seeks to create a more inclusive and vibrant cultural environment for all residents.