The Indiana Arts Commission announced that ten Indiana communities have received training on how to accelerate their arts and culture development and been approved for grant funding through the Creative Convergence program. Creative Convergence is a program of the Indiana Arts Commission, conducted in partnership with the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University’s Miller College of Business. The program was launched in 2023 and consists of a two-day training workshop and an Early Action Grant Program. Teams of community members representing local government, economic development entities, arts organizations, educational institutions, tourism groups, and other community-focused roles were in attendance.
The two-day Creative Convergence workshop was held on November 21st and 22nd, 2024, in Fishers, IN. The training focused on how to embed arts and creativity in community and economic planning and solutions, how to work collaboratively across sectors, and how to effectively engage with community. View photos of the training.
Following the training program, communities had the opportunity to apply for a Creative Convergence Early Action grant. This grant program is designed to allow communities to apply the learnings from the workshop to a project that benefits creatives and the community. Each community received $10,000 in grant funding to support their project.
The Tipton Public Art Commission is utilizing the Creative Convergence Early Action Grant to launch the Tipton Teaching Artist in Residence program. The Tipton Public Arts Commission is collaborating with a visiting artist in residence to build community excitement and curiosity for arts activities. Programming includes workshops for families, youth engagement, creative community gatherings, and a culminating celebration.
The Franklin Public Arts Commission is utilizing the Creative Convergence Early Action Grant for a public art activation in downtown Franklin. The project features 180 kites hung overhead in downtown’s Artcraft Alley. The kites, in school and city colors, have a unique blacklight feature that allows them to glow, creating an art installation that draws residents and visitors to downtown throughout both the day and evening hours.
The complete list of participating communities, and their projects, are as follows:
- Chesterton, “Chesterton Cultural District”
- Evansville, “My Evansville (ME) - Veterans' Stories, Told Through Art”
- Franklin, “Artcraft Alley Kites”
- Kendallville, “Imaginuity - Immersive Art Experience”
- Mount Ayr, “Beacon for the Arts”
- Michigan City, “Artist in Residence Program”
- Pendleton, “Creative Convergence - An Interactive Artistic, Cultural, and Eco Trails Experience”
- Santa Claus, “Hometown Holiday Tree”
- Tipton, “Teaching Artist in Residence”
- Winamac, “Creative Hub Community Conversations Project”
Read about each of the Creative Convergence Early Action Grant Projects.
Participating communities applied to participate in the program. Applications for the next cohort of the program will open later this year. Communities with interest in learning more about participating in the future should contact Eric Ashby, IAC Director of Programs, at eashby@iac.in.gov.