Arts and culture in the Indiana Uplands are receiving a significant boost through more than $4.17 million in READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants. These investments will support a range of initiatives designed to strengthen the region’s creative economy, including an arts incubator, production hubs, public art, music performances, and an online platform connecting artists, resources, and professional opportunities. Together, these projects will create new opportunities for artists, enhance community spaces, support creative entrepreneurship, and increase access to arts and cultural experiences across the Indiana Uplands:
- Indiana University was awarded $3 million to launch the Uplands Regional Creative Commons, an arts and creative economy initiative in partnership with organizations and communities across the region. Initial infrastructure funding will support an arts incubator, a production hub, performance and exhibition programming, and an online platform connecting artists, resources, and professional opportunities across the Indiana Uplands.
- The Spencer-Owen County Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce were awarded $1 million for the Sweet OC Arts Park. READI funding supports Phase 1 construction—including an arts market pavilion, trailhead connection, sculpture garden, playground, landscaping, and public access improvements—and an artist business development program that will help local creatives sell their work and grow their businesses.
- The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement was awarded $158,413 to expand the Rural Placemaking Studio, a collaborative program that pairs communities with the IU Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design to transform public spaces through creative placemaking. READI funding will support an industrial printer, material costs, and faculty oversight, enabling signage, murals, panels, and other creative placemaking projects to be produced more quickly and affordably.
- The American Cello Institute was awarded $17,250 to launch free, high-energy chamber music performances in partnership with the IU Jacobs School of Music. Concerts and interactive educational experiences will be held in accessible venues such as schools, community spaces, & churches across the Indiana Uplands.
- In addition, two Indiana Uplands organizations were selected to receive READI 2.0 capacity-building grants. Pillar Arts (The Integrative Arts Creative Hub) and The STEAMery (The STEAMery Creative Campus: Arts, Education and Cultural Tourism in Rural Indiana) will access support, such as professional services and planning assistance, to bring these arts and culture project visions to life.
The READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative is a statewide program administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the Indiana Arts Commission, and made possible through generous support from the Lilly Endowment Inc. Read the full READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Announcement on the IEDC website.