Arts Council of Indianapolis 2007 Annual Report 2.33 Mb

Successful community development demands an investment in the arts. Educators, law enforcement and government officials, business CEOs, parents, and arts and civic leaders all recognize the arts are an investment with incredibly valuable returns, including:

• Stronger, safer, more successful communities
• Brighter futures for our city's youth
• Stronger state, regional and local economies because of significant financial contributions
• Higher quality of life and a smarter foundation for the long-term health of Indianapolis

The Arts Council of Indianapolis is dedicated to making the community we share its best through the growth, management and support of the arts.

Since 1987, the Arts Council has been working to build central Indiana through the arts. By serving as a champion and advocate for local artists and arts organizations, the Arts Council pursues this mission each year by granting the city's arts-related funds, participating in and leading community initiatives, reaching out to new and established audiences, elevating the arts community through increased visibility and programming, and convening groups and encouraging collaborations. As a result, the arts in Indianapolis effectively generate the interest of local, regional and national audiences, advance the local economy and improve the quality of life.

In fact, the arts in Indianapolis boost the local economy by nearly half a billion dollars ($468 million) each year, according to a recent study released by the Arts Council, in partnership with Washington, D.C.-based Americans for the Arts. That's an increase of 59% since the last study five years ago, which gives credence to the city's ongoing cultural initiatives. It's also more than double the increase of the national average, a testament to the growth and development of the arts here. But dance, music, media arts, theatre, literature, and visual art are important far beyond the economic impact they deliver, or the stronger, safer communities they create. They are essential to the quality of life in Indianapolis and an inseparable part of who we are as a city and as individuals: No matter the perspective, the arts give life to a better Indianapolis.

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

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

The Arts Council's work includes five key areas:

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