INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) will spend up to $1.5 million to support arts and culture projects across the state, the organization announced earlier this week.
The recent round of funding is part of the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 grant program, which received a $250 million boost from Lilly Endowment Inc. in January. $65 million of the $250M is allocated to support arts and culture initiatives.
According to an IEDC press release, READI 2.0 regions can each receive planning grants for up to $100,000 to support arts and culture projects. Local governments can use these grants to install new public art, improve museums and performing arts venues, establish competitions and festivals, attract performing artists to their region, and develop architectural designs.
“Through this investment, we’re encouraging a statewide effort to cultivate Indiana’s creative economy for generations to come,” Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg said in a press release.
A U.S. Department of Commerce report found Indiana’s creative industries made up 2.1%, or more than $8.6 billion, of the state’s GDP in 2021.
Read more of the Mia Hilkowitz story for the Indiana Capital Chronicle, here.
