Indy Arts Council

2021 Annual Report:

A Creative Comeback

LETTER FROM CEO & PRESIDENT JULIE GOODMAN

"We cannot create what we can't imagine." - Lucille Clifton, poet

2021 was a year of resilience and momentum. Indy’s arts and cultural community staged a “creative comeback” to reconnect audiences through experiences that brought hope and healing. By the end of the year, 100% of nonprofit arts organizations were reopened–a remarkable achievement, considering that a year ago, we were facing 30,000 event cancellations and $8.6 million in financial losses per month.

Since March 2020, the Indy Arts Council has been honored to serve the Indianapolis community through some of the most rewarding work we’ve ever done. I've often turned to this quote from poet Lucille Clifton, shared with me by Keesha Dixon, executive director of the Asante Art Institute: “We cannot create what we can’t imagine.” Artists and organizations are helping us to imagine a more inclusive, equitable city. And they are calling us to action.

Thank you for responding to that call, because Indy’s creative comeback would look very different without all of you. The stories in our 2021 Annual Report are a reflection of our gratitude for your service, dedication, and support.

BY THE NUMBERS

$13.2 million

Investments in artists and organizations to continue serving in ways that advance equity, inclusivity, safety, and innovation.

1,200

Relief grants given to artists/cultural workers to ensure #IndyKeepsCreating.

71

Organizations funded through grant programs.

56

Percent of all funding administered that supported artists of color and/or POC-focused organizations.

175

Percent increase in funding to organizations focused on underserved populations.

2,500+

Central Indiana artists served.

2021 MONTH-BY-MONTH HIGHLIGHTS

January

The 9th annual High Art Billboards inspires drivers to look up at 10 original artworks.

A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) Committee, led by Orson Mason, is added to Indy Arts Council's Board of Directors.

February

The 25th annual Art & Soul festival, celebrated virtually, reaches 1.5 million viewers.

The Madam C.J. Walker mural by artist Tasha Beckwith debuts at the Indianapolis International Airport.

Indy Arts Council convenes the first Indy Arts & Culture Equity Task Force, attended by 80 arts leaders.

March

The SWISH arts & culture festival welcomes men’s college basketball fans to Indy.

April

Indy Arts Council hosts an online public panel review for the 2021 City of Indianapolis Annual Grants Program. New evaluation criteria centers on racial equity.

The first Public Art for Neighborhoods Community Connections grants infuse $50,000 into Indianapolis neighborhoods.

May

Welcome Race Fans, hosted in partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, shifts gears, with artists creating GIFs for the first time.

The 2021 Jiffy Lube Mural Series, an Indy Arts Council partnership, launches with a mural on Shadeland Avenue by Dan Handskillz.

Rokh launches the Public Art for All census, in partnership with Indy Arts Council and Art Strategies.

June

Gallery 924 reopens with Art + Activism, exploring how art drives awareness of complex social issues.

The KIND gallery opens at Indianapolis International Airport, organized in partnership with Indy Arts Council and the Harrison Center.

Channie Jones joins Indy Arts Council as the first Director of Equity Partnerships.

July

Indy Vax Pass, created in partnership with the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance, supports COVID-19 vaccine and negative test verification by arts & culture venues.

69 nonprofit arts & culture organizations receive $1.2 million through the City of Indianapolis Annual Grants Program.

In partnership with the Capital Improvement Board and Pacers Sports & Entertainment, 22 Indiana artists are selected to create artworks for the newly renovated Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

August

700+ arts and community leaders celebrate the city's "Creative Comeback" at Start with Art, our annual fundraiser.

#VaccinateIndy enlists artists to encourage residents to get COVID-19 vaccines.

The #IndyKeepsCreating Series welcomes residents back to public arts and cultural spaces.

September

The city’s first Bicentennial Legends mural, featuring cycling champion Marshall “Major” Taylor, unveiled downtown.

The 2021 DeHaan Artist of Distinction group exhibition opens at Gallery 924.

IndyChamber recognizes Indy Arts Council, along with artists and community partners, with three public art Monumental Awards.

October

Latinx artists celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special exhibition, curated by Arte Mexicano en Indiana, at the Indianapolis Artsgarden.

November

Indy Arts Council facilitates Racial Equity Institute-led Groundwater Training for staff and board members at 70+ arts and culture organizations.

The Explore Indy Arts holiday campaign, supported by the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, inspires residents to return to their favorite traditions.

December

The 10th annual TINY exhibition, featuring 500+ original works by 120 artists, breaks Gallery 924 sales records.

Final grants are awarded to nonprofit arts & culture organizations as part of the $10.2 Indy Arts & Culture Restart and Resilience Fund made possible by Lilly Endowment Inc.

OUR 2021 STORIES: CREATIVE COMEBACK

“No matter where you are on your journey, take the time you need to remember where you come from, who you are and dream for tomorrow, but just remember to come back.” - from "Creative Comeback," a poem by Tatjana Rebelle, featured at Start with Art 2021

Yadin Kol was a 2021 Featured Artist. Photo by Wildstyle Paschall.

25 Years of Art & Soul

The festival celebrating Black creativity went online and reached its largest audience ever.

The Major Taylor mural was unveiled downtown in September 2021. Photo by Robert Annis.

The first Bicentennial Legends mural

The Marshall "Major" Taylor portrait paid tribute to the international cycling champion and racial justice advocate.

Swish Indy

This sports-arts partnership was truly worthy of the word "unprecedented."

Artwork by Clayton Hamilton. Photo by Lenny White.

"Art + Activism" opens at Gallery 924

The Gallery 924 exhibition marked the one-year anniversary of the Murals for Racial Justice project.

#VaccinateIndy

The public health campaign called on artists to help reduce hesitancy surrounding COVID-19 vaccines.

Wug Laku Mental Health & Wellness Grants

A new grant program honored the legacy of a beloved Indianapolis visual artist.

#IndyKeepsCreating Series

What started as a hashtag grew into a two-year program to support artists and arts organizations.

OUR 2021 TEAM

Pictured at Start with Art 2021. From left to right:

Jeff Mountjoy, Indianapolis Artsgarden Production Coordinator
Mike Prusa, Indianapolis Artsgarden Director
Shannon Linker, VP of Artist Services & Engagement
Jennifer Delgadillo, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Kate Oberreich, Artist Engagement Coordinator
Khaled Khlifi, Grants Services Manager
Amanda Kingsbury, Director of Marketing & Communications
Lindsey Lord, Director of Artist Services and Gallery 924
Julie Goodman, President & CEO
Ernest Disney-Britton, VP, Community Impact & Investment
Lauren Gendron, Accounting Manager
Bailey Peycha, Equity & Impact Coordinator
Alexis Sanford, Indianapolis Artsgarden production support
Channie Jones, Director of Equity Partnerships

Julia Muney Moore, Director of Public Art
Candy Marshall, Executive Assistant
Shawn Jones, Website & Network Manager

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tanya Stuart Overdorf, Chair - President, Tanya S. Overdorf, P.C.
Brenda Horn, Vice Chair - Community Volunteer
Greg Wallis, Interim Treasurer/Immediate Past Chair - Virtual CFO, Summit CPA Group
David Nie, Secretary - Partner, Ice Miller LLP
Orson Mason, DEIA Chair - Community Volunteer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Karen Alter - CEO/Partner, Borshoff
Dr. Virgil Chan - Physician, OrthoIndy
Inez Evans - President and CEO, IndyGo
Deseri Garcia - President, Vida Aventura
Heather H. Harris - Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Sarah Hempstead - Principal, Schmidt Associates, Inc.
Michael Hulka - VP and Deputy General Counsel, Eli Lilly and Company
Aleesia Johnson - Superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools
Karen Kennelly - Owner and President, k-squared
Monika Mala - COO, Foster Success
Lucia Mar - Senior VP and Market Executive of Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America
Shawn Mulholland - VP, Corporate Development, Shiel Sexton
Jason Noyan - Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Jill Hauser Robisch - VP & Sr. Business Development Officer, The National Bank of Indianapolis
Adrienne Sims - VP of Talent Management, OneAmerica
Ryan Vaughn - President, Indiana Sports Corp

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Dan Appel - Gregory & Appel Insurance
Frank Basile - Community Volunteer
Bryce Bennett - Partner, Riley Bennett & Egloff, LLP
Barbara Branic - Community Volunteer
Adam Chavers - Senior VP, Browning Investments
Ted A. Givens - President, TAG Consulting, LLC
Michael Huber - President/CEO, Indy Chamber
Stan Hurt - Community Volunteer
Erik Johnson - Community Volunteer
Krista Skidmore - President and Co-Founder, FlashPoint
Mark Varnau - Community Volunteer
Susan Williams - Community Volunteer