Arts Council announces calls for 300+ Indy artists to create during March Madness

Graphic by Sam Pacis
The Arts Council of Indianapolis seeks more than 300 central Indiana-based artists to activate downtown Indy with new outdoor art, music, and cultural experiences for residents, fans, and visitors as the city welcomes 68 NCAA men’s basketball tournament teams from across the nation in March. The initiative will put a spotlight on the city’s creative talent for local, national, and international audiences, while offering paid opportunities to artists who have suffered severe income losses during the pandemic.
Artists can learn more about the opportunities in the Indy Arts Guide’s classifieds section. The deadlines to submit information are February 15 and 17. Artists or teams of artists are sought to:
  • Present pop-up dance, music, spoken word, and other performances in public spaces such as Monument Circle, Lugar Plaza, and Georgia Street and other locations. Details here
  • Provide existing visual artwork and literary art/poetry to be installed via high-quality digital reproductions in vacant downtown storefront windows. Details here
  • Create new, temporary, site-specific art interventions in vacant downtown windows and storefronts to serve as colorful backdrops. Details here
  • Create dimensional, interactive, 10×10-foot basketball-court themed murals in four central locations. Details here
Other art and cultural experiences will include a self-guided walking/bike tour of Indy’s “must-see” public art around downtown and a tour of iconic basketball history locations led by community historian Sampson Levingston. Levingston is best known for his walk-and-talk tours that celebrate the artistic and cultural heritage of famed Indiana Avenue.
The arts and culture experiences are being led by volunteers on the Indiana Sports Corp’s “Welcome Committee“ including representatives from ​Through2Eyes, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Yelp, ArtsCouncil of Indianapolis, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Indy Chamber & Indy Music Strategy, Indiana State Fair, and ​Rottmann Collier Architects​. Together with the Arts Council, the Welcome Committee is working with Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. as executive producer and venue host for the performing arts series and the storefront series is a partnership with Downtown Indy.
In addition to individual artists, the Arts Council will also work on this programming with creative collaborators, curators, production talent, and community partners including GANGGANG, Indy MusicStrategy, and PATTERN.
These art activations are part of a city-wide effort to enhance and promote downtown Indianapolis during March Madness, and ensure a welcoming and safe environment. ​Indiana Sports Corp received a$905,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.​ to fund these and other beautification and vibrancy efforts led by civic partners including Indiana Sports Corp, Visit Indy, Downtown Indy, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, IndyHub, Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc., Indianapolis Urban League, Indiana Humanities, IndianapolisAirport Authority, and the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
“The​ opportunity to engage so many artists and creative partners in such meaningful ways is incredible and is another important catalyst to accelerate recovery and reopening of our sector and city,” said JulieGoodman, Arts Council President and CEO. “Indy was ‘made for this moment’ and these civic partnerships and artist engagements will take things to a level that will truly enable us all to showcase what we are made of.”
Written By
More from Staff
Renegade Shoot: Midwestern Outlaw
Photography // Violet Short Styling/Wardrobe // Laura Walters (Styleriot) Hair/Makeup // Megan...
Read More
0 replies on “Arts Council announces calls for 300+ Indy artists to create during March Madness”