VIGO COUNTY HISTORY CENTER
 

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January 27

Honoree Reception- Black History Month Banners

• 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

• Vigo County History Center (map)

The Honoree Reception will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Vigo County History Center, and the Banner Unveiling Ceremony will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the corner of 7th Street and Wabash Avenue.
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Indiana Arts Commission accepting applications for Arts Project Support grant program

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) and its Regional Arts Partners announced today the opening of applications for the Fiscal Year 2027 Spring Arts Project Support grant program.  

Arts Project Support grants provide nonprofit organizations and public entities with funding to support a specific arts activity, such as a one-time event, a single production, an exhibition, an educational workshop, or a series of related arts activities such as art classes or training sessions. Applications are accepted twice per year, with organizations eligible to receive one grant award per fiscal year.      

The purpose of the program is to provide broad access to arts opportunities throughout the state. Applicants may request up to $4,000 to support their project, and there is no match requirement. Projects must occur between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 to be eligible for FY27 Spring Arts Project Support.      

“Arts Project Support grants provide Indiana communities with an opportunity to increase the quality of life and quality of place for local residents,” said Miah Michaelsen, IAC Executive Director. “Arts and creativity are a community and economic development driver, and we are proud to support Hoosiers who are working to making Indiana a better place to live, work, study, and stay through the arts.” 

Applications for the Arts Project Support program are reviewed and scored by members of the public. Reviewers play a significant role in application evaluation for public funding by reviewing, scoring, and providing comments on submitted applications. Learn more about serving as a grant reviewer and submit an interest form.     

Applications for Arts Project Support are due March 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. eastern time through the IAC's online grant system. Learn more and access the guidelines.     

January 15, 2026                                           

Arts Commission Accepting Applications for Business Training and Creative Community Development Programs

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) is now accepting applications for both the Creative Convergence and the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator programs. Creative Convergence is a team-based workshop and funding opportunity aimed at creative community development. On-Ramp is a program for artists and creative entrepreneurs seeking training and resources around establishing or supporting an arts-based portfolio career in Indiana.   

The Creative Convergence program is held in partnership with the Indiana Communities Institute (ICI) at Ball State University’s Miller College of Business. The program consists of a two-day, in-person training and the opportunity to apply for a Creative Convergence Early Action grant. The in-person workshop will take place from March 31-April 1 in Fishers, Indiana. The training focuses 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. The grant program is designed to allow communities to apply the learnings from the workshop to a project that benefits creatives and the community and offers awards of up to $5,000.   

The program is designed to be completed by teams of three to four community members, including at least one representative from government, economic development, neighborhood or community development, or the business community, one representative from an arts or civic organization, and one local artist or creative. The team will work together throughout the training and the execution of the project.   

Applications for Creative Convergence will close on February 20, 2026. Questions can be directed to Anne Johansson, IAC Community Services Manager, at AJohansson@iac.IN.gov.   

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The On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator  is comprised of a three-day in-person intensive entrepreneurship and community engagement workshop with the opportunity to apply for up to $2,000 in fellowship funding to put the training into action. The 2026 On-Ramp workshop will be May 13-15, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Designed by Elaine Grogan Luttrull of Minerva Financial Arts, On-Ramp focuses on key business concepts for a successful creative career including defining value, business structure, identifying and marketing to customers, pricing strategy, marketing strategy, managing expenses and generating revenue, taxes, and planning.   

The On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator is designed for emerging creatives who are interested in pursuing a portfolio career. The program is part of the IAC’s Business Development suite of programs for artists, designed to help artists launch, sustain, and grow creative businesses in Indiana. On-Ramp is designed to follow the Vision & Venture Workshop Series and to precede The Creative Leap Business Series, though completion of Vision & Venture is not required for acceptance into the program. 

Applications for On-Ramp will close on February 18, 2026. Questions can be directed to Jordan Adams, IAC Artist Services Program Manager, at JoAdams1@iac.IN.gov. 

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Arts Commission Announces Creative Aging Summit

(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), in partnership with the UIndy Center for Aging & Community (UIndy CAC), is excited to announce the Lifelong Arts Indiana Creative Aging Summit on March 23, 2026, at the University of Indianapolis campus in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This free, one-day in-person learning opportunity will bring together aging service providers, libraries, communities and arts organizations, as well as artists and experts on creative aging around supporting the expansion of arts learning for older adults in Indiana. The convening will offer learning, networking, and resources to anyone interested in providing arts experiences to older adults using the Lifelong Arts Indiana model.

Lifelong Arts Indiana, a multi-year initiative of the IAC, is designed to bring evidence-based participatory arts programming to older adults across Indiana to improve health and wellbeing outcomes through best-practices trainings and funded residencies. Research on the programming revealed that the Lifelong Arts Indiana model improved the mental and physical health of older adults, created meaningful employment opportunities for artists, and created sustainable community partnerships.

"Lifelong Arts Indiana has been a multi-year effort from our agency and partners to improve health outcomes and reduce social isolation among older Hoosiers through art and creativity," said Miah Michaelsen, Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission. "We are grateful for the opportunity to share the impact and importance of this work and to help encourage its utilization across Indiana and beyond."

More information regarding the full summit agenda and speakers will be announced over the coming weeks and made available on the IAC website. Seating is limited and all attendees must register in advance. Learn more about the event and register by March 9, 2026.

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CLICK HERE TO READ THIS WEEK'S IAC "THE SCOOP" E-NEWSLETTER FOR MORE NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES!!
LINK TO SUBSCRIBE TO IAC E-NEWSLETTERS: https://www.in.gov/arts/about/news/

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ATTENTION VISUAL ARTISTS--CALL TO ENTER

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The Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County will host a regional art exhibit celebrating America 250 titled America @ 250: Expressions of Freedom.

This exhibit will invite artists of all ages and levels of experience to submit works that reflect what freedom means to them. It invites artists, students, families, and visitors to participate in a meaningful civic celebration highlighting perspectives, histories, and creative expressions unique to our region. Deadline: March 7, 2026
Download Prospectus/Entry Form

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