INDIANAPOLIS — Recently, the city announced the launch of Create Indy, a comprehensive effort to advance Indianapolis’ growing cultural industries, as well as two new grant programs that will help to jump-start the city-wide investment strategy. As part of the announcement, the Create Indy Fund will invest in Indianapolis cultural districts and provide a funding source for up-and-coming cultural sectors through two new grant programs: Emerging Sectors, and Cultural District Awards.
The emerging grant program is designed to support innovative concept in art, music, food and drink, and other cultural that may not qualify for traditional funding sources, possibly spurring further growth. The first round of grant awards will total $50,000. Organizations and individuals may apply for up to $10,000.
The existing cultural districts — Indiana Avenue, Fountain Square, Mass Ave., Broad Ripple, and Market East — will find support for planning efforts for continued success and sustainability. Following a year-long planning process, these districts will be eligible for additional funding of up to $50,000 to support implementation.
Create Indy is funded by a coalition of community partners including the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Visit Indy, and the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
In addition to overseeing the distribution of the two new grant opportunities, Create Indy will aid in other planning efforts, including the Music City Strategy. In partnership with the Indy Chamber, Develop Indy, and Sound Diplomacy, the Music City Strategy wants to map the city’s music assets and build a strategy that drives economic growth by uplifting the music scene and related industries.
The second strategy is Film Indy. Started in 2016 Film Indy is the city’s film commission, dedicated to uplifting local visual artists as well as recruiting and supporting film and television productions that have potential for large economic impact, especially those that bring job opportunities to the city. The creation of Film Indy, an arm of Visit Indy, coincided with the implementation of an official film application with the City of Indianapolis. More than 200 film and media projects have had a collective economic impact of $9.7 million and created 800 jobs in the Indianapolis region since Film Indy’s launch in 2016.
According to the national Bureau of Economic Analysis, creative, artistic, and cultural employment accounts for over four percent of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), and is an often overlooked economic driver for cities and states. In fact, arts and cultural economic activity have been growing at a slightly higher rate than other sectors of the economy according to the most recent studies.
Industries that supply goods and services to arts and cultural enterprises have also grown, according to studies. Businesses that supply dance clothing, electrical workers installing lights for new theaters, concessions operators at new venues and festivals and more also benefit economically from a strong arts and cultural community. Overall, in 2014, nearly $730 billion was generated by the arts in the United States, and has been growing steadily.