In 2016, the Indianapolis city government adopted its “equity priorities,” which led to a significant expansion of its annual grants program. Since then, the program has been instrumental in providing funding for the local creative economy, increasing from 45 organizations to 91. This year, nearly $1.5 million was awarded to 91 nonprofit arts and culture organizations.
The annual grants program has remained a core component of the city’s support for arts and culture since 1987. Organizations that received funding were evaluated based on their community impact, artistic alignment, and organizational capacity. One such organization that benefited from this program is El Sistema Indianapolis.
Gloria Jimenez, a WISH-TV contributor, joined News 8 on Monday to discuss the significance of the initiative. The expansion of the annual grants program highlights the need for fostering a vibrant creative sector and supporting local cultural initiatives in Indianapolis.
