2006 was an extraordinary year filled with accomplishments for the arts in Indianapolis, and for the Arts Council of Indianapolis, too. How extraordinary? It included awarding more than $3 million in grants to local artists and arts organizations as well as ongoing implementation of our audience development initiative–the first such initiative in the United States.

The year included the creation of a new three-year strategic plan which focuses on bolstering the quality and significance of art in central Indiana by directing programs, efforts and energies to our very best artists and arts organizations while nurturing new and emerging artists.

The plan also reinforced the importance of using technology as a tool to increase access to art and audiences. The online database of artists has reached an all-time high and is rapidly approaching 600 artists and will soon include performance audio/video files. A new consumer website focusing on events, exhibits, programs and behind the scenes experiences is under construction as well as a site created to advance the council's mission as the region's primary arts advocacy organization. Both sites will debut in early 2007.

2006 witnessed ground-breaking public art exhibits, including Felix Gonzalez-Torres "Untitled" (For Jeff), Julian Opie: Signs and Shared Spaces/Shared Voices, a partnered program with IndyGo that featured original poetry as well as live readings and performances aboard IndyGo buses. It saw the continuation of Windows: Urban Interpretations, a public art program including site-specific art installed in vacant downtown office windows and new installations as part of the revolving work on Massachusetts Avenue. And Start with Art 2006 was the most successful in the event's history.

These are just a few of our accomplishments from 2006. You'll find even more as you read through this report. As you do, feel free to send us your comments at info@indyarts.org. And please stay tuned — 2007 promises more access to art, audience and our support than ever.

Sincerely,
Dan Appel
Chair, Board of Directors
Arts Council of Indianapolis

Greg Charleston
President
Arts Council of Indianapolis

Access to the arts in Indianapolis – broadly speaking, that's what the Arts Council of Indianapolis is all about. Access for artists and arts organizations to the tools, support and services they need to flourish and produce meaningful art. And access to the city's incredibly rich arts community for residents and visitors alike.

The council's mission is to advance and promote the arts through funding, advocacy, business, artistic and technical assistance, public and private support, and technology. To accomplish this, we focus on four strategic initiatives:

• Advocacy
• Support of Artists and Arts Organizations
• Audience Development
• Organizational Excellence

The council includes five key service areas:

• Advocacy and Granting
• Public Art Indianapolis
• Arts Marketing
• Artist Services
• Artsgarden

Naturally, these service areas frequently overlap to better support our strategic initiatives – and to bring artists, arts organizations and audiences in central Indiana together.

The Arts Council of Indianapolis was created in 1987 and its central focus was serving as an advocate for local arts organizations, a mission it fulfilled in part through granting the city's arts–related financial support. That focus hasn't changed; in 2006, we:

• Successfully advocated and received level funding for 2007 city funding from the City County Council.
• Processed, adjudicated and awarded more than $3 million in city and state grants.
• Received funding for a new round of the Creative Renewal Program for 2007 — totaling $375,000 in individual artist grants.
• Implemented the Indiana Arts Commission's Regional Partnership Program for central Indiana by integrating the state granting programs into the current city programs.
• Worked in partnership with the Cultural Development Commission to administer fast-track and collaborative marketing grants, and many other projects.
• Formed a Regional Advisory Council with representatives from eight central Indiana counties.

Supported by the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission, and perhaps one of the most visible of the council's programs, in 2006 Public Art Indianapolis:

• Continued development and implementation of a comprehensive Public Art Program for the city, which included revamping the revolving public art program on Massachusetts Avenue. The council provided funding, managed the artist selection process and increased artist stipends; the program now features four new site-specific projects to remain in place for the next two years.
• As part of the Windows: Urban Interpretations program, managed the creation of eight new site-specific art installations from local artists designed for vacant downtown window spaces.
• Created Shared Spaces/Shared Voices, a poetry and prose program in partnership with IndyGo that featured 50 pieces from 39 Indiana writers on placards placed aboard every large IndyGo bus until August 2007. The program also included 10 days of live readings aboard buses on two routes, and along Mass. Ave. in support of the IndyFringe Festival.
• Created and launched Julian Opie: Signs, the largest public exhibition ever produced by Julian Opie. The first city-wide project to be totally conceptualized by the council, it included new installations, video pods, educational guides and other resources to further enrich the exhibit.
• Began work on the public art components of the new Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

Arts Marketing brings audiences, artists and arts organizations together. Highlights from 2006 include:

• Producing and distributing over 40,000 free Indianapolis 2006-2007 Cultural Calendars featuring approximately 500 citywide arts and cultural events. The calendars promote monthly "don't miss" events, as well as the IndyArts.org web site calendar with over 900 event listings.
• Implemented an expanded partnership with WFYI for marketing arts and cultural events in Indianapolis. In addition to funding existing programming (Art of the Matter, Across Indiana, and Indy in the Spotlight), two new programs were produced as were TV and radio advertisements supporting art programming and events. An arts calendar was produced and included in the monthly members newsletters. WFYI also produced the Start With Art 2006 video.
• Directing technology initiatives identified by Next Generation Consulting as part of the young audience research. This included development of the new IndyArts.org web site with new functionality to promote arts and cultural events and exploration of web-based on-line ticketing for the arts.
• Managed the local economic impact study of the arts as part of a nationwide study facilitated by Americans for the Arts, including the collection of financial information from arts and cultural organizations and audience surveys from 16 diverse arts events throughout the year. (The new study will be released in 2007.)

Artists are entrepreneurs, small enterprises that often need marketing, technology, and other types of business assistance services and programs. In 2006 Artist Services:

• Doubled the attendance at the Professional Development Workshops, which were organized in partnership with Primary Colors. Artists in attendance received professional instruction and assistance in topics including Marketing, Internet Technology, Public Art Process and Legal Matters, Part II.
• Directed nearly $300,000 in commissions as part of a partnership with Community Hospital East and North to 30 artists from the council's database.
• Added nearly 100 artists to the council's artist database, which now contains over 550 artists, and will soon include audio/video files showcasing performing artists.
• Helped improve and enhance the downtown urban landscape through the commissioning of six new windows as part of the Windows: Urban Interpretations public art program. This popular program now receives partial funding from a downtown property owner.
• Created additional exposure for artists through the Art Fan project, four custom fans featuring locally created artwork. The fans were distributed at outdoor performances, festivals and attractions at the Indianapolis Zoo, Jazz Fest, Symphony on the Prairie, Historical Society Concerts on the Canal, IRT, and Penrod. The fans' popularity spurred many attendees to seek them out in order to collect all four versions.
• Produced Visual Art Indianapolis: Your Guide to the City's Galleries, Museums and Public Art an expanded version of the Indianapolis Gallery Guide, which now includes art service and public art listings.

A unique space and downtown architectural icon, the Artsgarden offers free performances and exhibitions featuring artists from around the city, the state and the country. In 2006, the Artsgarden:

• Hosted an estimated 315 performances, including 17 acts during Art and Soul, Mistletoe Music Festival, the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra (in conjunction with the Conrad Hotel grand opening), various groups affiliated with the National FFA Conference and numerous local arts organizations.
• Received tremendous national visibility with ESPN's week-long presence in the Artsgarden during the NCAA Final Four.
• Commissioned two local artists to design and fabricate new holiday décor in the Artsgarden for the first time in 10 years.
• Continued the unique partnership in the Artsgarden between Circle Centre Mall, Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, and the Arts Council to jointly fund three "cultural concierges" who are providing consistent information and assistance on visitor services, the arts, and the city seven days a week.

In addition to our programs and initiatives, the council made significant advances toward operational excellence. In 2006, these advances were reflected by:

• The most successful Start with Art event in the organization's history, which included keynote speaker Dan Pink, and the awarding of the ARTIs, which featured a new award for the most significant impact to the community.
• Four CEO/Board Presidents meetings, working in collaboration with the Arts Consortium. Agendas included the first day-long Board Development Retreat for arts organizations, presentations by the Mayor, and a funding discussion with four city councilors.
• The completion and approval of the 2006-2009 new Strategic Plan based on a comprehensive assessment, work plans, staff retreat, and board and staff questionnaires.
• Refined and prepared detailed analysis of the 2006 and 2007 Operating Budgets.
• A balanced 2006 operating budget.
• An increase in operating expenses for 2007 by 2.5 percent, while maintaining reductions overall in operating expenses by more than 20 percent since 2004.
• The completion of a new operating procedures manual for staff as a companion to the Employee Handbook.
• Continued increase in communication with partner agencies and key constituencies.

Programs and services of the Arts Council of Indianapolis are made possible, in part, through generous contributions and funding support from:

Foundations and Corporations

• Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Inc.
• AT & T
• CICF Employee Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation
• Circle Centre Development Corporation
• Citizens Gas & Coke Utility
• Community Hospitals Foundation, Inc.
• Cultural Trail Fund, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation
• Efroymson Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation
• Elliot Company of Indianapolis
• F.C. Tucker Company, Inc.
• Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association
• Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
• The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation
• Jones Middle School
• Lilly Endowment Inc.
• Messer Construction Company
• MetLife Foundation/Arts and Business Council of Americans for the Arts
• Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation
• The Penrod Society
• Ritz Charles Caterers
• Schahet Hotels, Inc.
• Starbucks Coffee
• TSE Consulting - Indianapolis
• Two North Meridian Company
• Upper Arlington Schools

Individuals

• Edgar & Barbara Ancona
• Dan & Kate Appel
• Dennis Bassett
• Bryce H. Bennett
• Jim Birge
• Dennis E. Bland
• Ted & Peggy Boehm
• Barbara & Mike Branic
• Diana M. Brenner
• Ronald & Theodora Brooky
• Curtis & Stephanie Brough
• Elizabeth Chrisman
• David L. Deming
• Rollin Dick
• Lori Efroymson-Aguilera & Sergio Auilera
• Dan & Beth Elsener
• Richard E. Ford
• Phyllis & Ed Gabovitch
• Perry & Michelle Griffith
• Abigail Hohmann
• Stan & Sandy Hurt
• Erik Johnson
• Doris Karr
• Robert & Vera Keefer
• Dr. Vasiliki Keramida
• Walter & Cynthia Knabe
• Chuck & Penny Knorp
• Senator Richard Lugar
• William & Rose Mays
• W. Tobin McClamroch
• Molly Miely
• Shawn Mulholland & Keira Amstutz
• Dale & Heidi Neuberger
• Marcus Oliphant
• Gerald & Dorit Paul
• William Petty
• Forrest & Anna Marie Pyle
• Myrta Pulliam
• David Riley
• N. Clay & Amy Robbins
• Fred & Jane Schlegel
• Theresa M. Shaheen
• Yvonne Shaheen
• Deborah Simon
• Timothy & Christine Steigerwald
• Ryan & Natalie Steinert
• Jennifer Sugarman
• Donald G. Sutherland
• Sylvia Trotter
• Mark Varnau
• Jonathan & Cynthia Vaughn
• Pauline Walker
• Joshua Waymire
• Betty Yeager
• Raul & Deborah Zavaleta

Government Agencies

• Capital Improvement Board of Managers
• City of Indianapolis
• Indiana Arts Commission
• Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission
• National Endowment for the Arts

Start with Art - Title Sponsor

• JP Morgan Chase

Start with Art - Platinum Partners

• Indiana Supply Corporation
• The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation
• Regions Bank
• Simon Youth Foundation

Start with Art - Gold Partners

• Christel DeHaan Family Foundation
• Klipsch Audio Technologies
• The National Bank of Indianapolis
• Schahet Hotels, Inc.

Start with Art - Silver Partners

• Community Hospitals Foundation, Inc.
• Gregory & Appel Insurance
• Michelle and Perry Griffith
• NCAA
• The Shaheen Foundation

Start with Art - Bronze Partners

• Baker & Daniels LLP
• Barnes & Thornburg LLP
• Borshoff Johnson Matthews
• Bowen Engineering Corporation
• BRENNER DESIGN
• BSA LifeStructures
• Colliers Turley Martin Tucker
• ICE MILLER LLP
• Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association
• The Indianapolis Star
• L'Acquis Consulting Engineers
• LDI, Ltd.
• Lilly Endowment Inc.
• Mark M. Holeman, Inc.
• RATIO Architects, Inc.
• The Steak n Shake Company

ARTS COUNCIL OF INDIANAPOLIS
2006 ANNUAL GRANTS PROGRAM

Funding for the 2006 Annual Grants Program was provided through a variety of sources. City of Indianapolis funding was made possible by the City of Indianapolis and the Capital Improvement Board. Grants awarded through the Regional Arts Partner program were provided with support from the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

2006 CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS FUNDING

Arts Organization Support

• American Cabaret Theatre
• American Pianists Association
• American Theatre Organ Society
• Art With a Heart
• Asante Children's Theatre
• Bands of America
• Beckmann Theatre
• Cantabile
• Children's Museum of Indianapolis
• Children's Theatre Institute, Inc.
• Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University
• Dance Kaleidoscope
• Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
• Etheridge Knight, Inc.
• Festival Music Society of Indiana, Inc.
• Fine Arts Society of Indianapolis
• Footlite Musicals
• Freetown Village
• Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre
• Harrison Center for the Arts
• Heartland Film Festival
• Herron School of Art and Design
• Indiana Partnership for Young Writers
• Indiana Repertory Theatre
• Indiana State Museum Foundation
• Indianapolis Art Center
• Indianapolis Arts Chorale
• Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra
• Indianapolis Children's Choir
• Indianapolis Civic Theatre
• Indianapolis Museum of Art
• Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art
• Indianapolis Opera
• Indianapolis Symphonic Band
• Indianapolis Symphonic Choir
• Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
• Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival
• Indy Baroque
• Indy Choruses
• InterAction Theatre, Inc.
• International Violin Competition of Indianapolis
• Madame Walker Theatre Center
• Motus Dance Theatre
• National Art Museum of Sport
• New World Youth Orchestras
• Orkestra Projekt
• Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis
• Phoenix Theatre
• Pike Performing Arts Center
• Primary Colours
• Ronen Chamber Ensemble
• ShadowApe Theatre Company, Inc.
• Storytelling Arts of Indiana
• Susurrus
• Urban Arts of Indianapolis
• VSA Arts of Indiana
• WFYI Teleplex
• Writers' Center of Indiana
• Young Audiences of Indiana

Community Arts Project Support

• African Community International
• At Your School, Inc.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis
• Dyslexia Institute of Indiana
• Eagle Creek Park Foundation
• Friends of Holliday Park
• Indiana Black Expo
• Indiana Historical Society
• Indianapolis Marion County Public Library Foundation
• Indianapolis Senior Center
• Indianapolis Zoological Society
• International Center of Indianapolis
• Jewish Community Center, Cultural Arts Department
• Jordan College of Fine Arts -- Butler Community Art School
• Nationalities Council of Indiana
• President Benjamin Harrison Foundation
• YMCA of Greater Indianapolis

2006 REGIONAL ARTS PARTNER FUNDING

Arts Organization Support

• Actors Theatre of Indiana
• American Cabaret Theatre
• American Pianists Association
• American Theatre Organ Society
• Art With a Heart
• Asante Children's Theatre
• Bands of America
• Beckmann Theatre
• Cantabile
• Carmel Symphony Orchestra
• Central Indiana Dance Ensemble
• Children's Museum of Indianapolis
• Children's Theatre Institute
• City Center Children's Theatre
• Conner Prairie
• Dance Kaleidoscope
• Etheridge Knight, Inc.
• Festival Music Society
• Fine Arts Society of Indianapolis
• Footlite Musicals
• Freetown Village
• Greater Greenwood Community Band
• Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre
• Harrison Center for the Arts
• Heartland Film Festival
• Herron School of Art and Design
• Indiana Partnership for Young Writers
• Indiana State Museum Foundation
• Indianapolis Academy of Music
• Indianapolis Arts Chorale
• Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra
• Indianapolis Children's Choir
• Indianapolis Civic Theatre
• Indianapolis Marion County Public Library Foundation
• Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art
• Indianapolis Symphonic Band
• Indianapolis Symphonic Choir
• Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival
• Indy Baroque
• Indy Choruses
• InterAction Theatre, Inc.
• International Violin Competition of Indianapolis
• Jazz Arts Society of Indiana
• Madame Walker Theatre Center
• Morgan County Community Concert Association
• Motus Dance Theatre
• National Art Museum of Sport
• New World Youth Orchestras
• Orkestra Projekt
• Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis
• Phoenix Theatre
• Pike Performing Arts Center
• Primary Colours
• Ronen Chamber Ensemble
• Russian Ballet Academy of Indianapolis
• ShadowApe Theatre Company
• Shelby County Players
• Storytelling Arts of Indiana
• Susurrus
• Theatre on the Square
• Urban Arts of Indianapolis
• VSA arts of Indiana
• Writers' Center of Indiana

Project Support

• African Community International
• ARIGO, Inc.
• At Your School, Inc.
• Big Car Media
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis
• Brookside Elementary School
• City of Greenfield
• Damar Services, Inc.
• Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis
• Dyslexia Institute of Indiana
• Eagle Creek Park Foundation
• Friends of Holliday Park
• Gallery 2:34
• Girls Incorporated of Shelby County
• Indiana Black Expo
• Indiana Historical Society
• Indianapolis Chinese Community Center
• Indianapolis Parks Foundation
• Indianapolis Senior Center
• International School of Indiana
• Jewish Community Center, Cultural Arts Department
• Jordan College of Fine Arts — Butler Community Art School
• Marian College
• Marion Adams School Corp
• MSD Washington Township
• Nationalities Council of Indiana
• Nicholson Performing Arts Academy
• Phillips Music Guild
• President Benjamin Harrison Foundation
• Prevail, Inc. of Hamilton County
• Shelby County Arts Fest
• St. Michael's Catholic School
• United States of Mind
• Wayne Township Education Foundation
• WFYI Teleplex
• YMCA of Greater Indianapolis

Arts Council of Indianapolis, Inc.
As of December 31, 2006
Preliminary and Unaudited

2006 Revenue
Parks Department	1,543,500
Capital Improvement Board	1,000,000
Cultural Development Commission (for Public Art and Citywide Marketing)	502,213
Indiana Arts Commission	532,655
Restricted Funding for Other Programs (for Otterness acquisition, Art & Soul, Creative Renewal Program)	697,500
Other Revenue (Individ, Corp, Fdntn, Earned)	1,294,908
Total Revenue	5,570,776
Expenses
Grants and Funding Programs	2,871,780
Community Collaborations (for Public Art, Regional Partnership, Art & Soul, Start with Art)	945,632
Special Projects (for Audience Development Initiatives, Technology)	200,533
Indianapolis Artsgarden	327,058
Public Policy and Information (for Research and Development Projects)	163,529
Administration	443,192
Marketing Communications (for Art & Soul, Arts Organizations Websites, and General Marketing)	591,638
Total Expenses	5,543,362

To download a pdf of the full 2006 Annual Report, click on the link below.
Arts Council of Indianapolis 2006 Annual Report