October 2, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Session Description
Learn how communities across the Indiana Uplands are using arts and culture resources to create vibrant places where people want to live, work, and visit. Explore strategies from the Arts & Culture Plan that support community vitality, resident engagement, and economic growth.
Session Presenters
Miah Michaelsen is Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), where she oversees statewide programs and partnerships that promote the arts as an essential part of Indiana’s economic and civic landscape. She has been a key leader in the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture initiative, a collaboration between the Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation that invests in transformational projects across the state.
Prior to joining the IAC, Michaelsen held leadership positions with the City of Bloomington, the Bloomington Area Arts Council, and the Children’s Hands-On Museum. Her career has focused on the intersection of arts, public policy, placemaking, and community development, helping communities leverage cultural assets to shape identity, encourage participation, and increase visitation and investment.
Marce Johnson is Chief Executive Officer of the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation. Since 2019, she has led efforts to advance economic prosperity in Owen County through entrepreneurship, placemaking, and local investment. Johnson also serves as Executive Director of La Campagne Ministries and brings a creative perspective to her work as a photographer and artist.
Johnson has been instrumental in advancing the Sweet Owen County Arts Park, a transformational riverfront project in Spencer supported by READI 2.0 Arts & Culture funding. Designed to blend public art, recreation, environmental stewardship, and arts entrepreneurship, the project seeks to create a distinctive destination that celebrates Owen County’s character while generating new possibilities for artists, businesses, and visitors.
Paige Sharp is the Assistant Director of the Arts for the City of Bloomington. Before stepping into her role with the City of Bloomington, she built a 20+ year career in arts philanthropy and community development across Indiana. Notably, she spent 11 years at the Indiana Arts Commission, serving as the Deputy Director of Programs and Chief Equity Officer. She also has extensive experience in museum arts education, having previously held positions at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. Additionally, she operates a private consultancy, Sharp Visionarts LLC.
Julie Halbig is Vice President for Economic and Community Development at Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), where she helps advance regional initiatives that enhance the competitiveness and livability of the Indiana Uplands. Working across 11 counties, she collaborates with local governments, community organizations, and regional partners to identify initiatives that promote long-term success and help communities thrive.
Halbig helped lead the creation of the Indiana Uplands Regional Arts and Culture Plan, which established a shared vision for the role of arts and culture in the region’s future. Developed through extensive engagement with artists, residents, and community leaders, the plan highlights regional assets and outlines strategies to expand creative opportunities, celebrate local identity, and position the Indiana Uplands as a destination for residents, visitors, and businesses alike.