The arts and culture experiences are being led by volunteers on the Final Four Local Organizing Committee’s “Welcome Committee” including representatives from Through2Eyes, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Yelp, Arts Council of Indianapolis, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Indy Chamber & Indy Music Strategy, Indiana State Fair, and Rottmann Collier Architects. Together with the Arts Council, the Welcome Committee is working with The Indianapolis Cultural Trail as Executive Producer and Venue Host for the performing arts series and the storefront series is a partnership with Downtown Indy.
In addition to individual artists, the Arts Council will also work with creative collaborators, curators, production talent, and community partners in this programming including: GangGang, Indy Jazz Fest, Indy Music Strategy, Musical Family Tree, Rokh, St’artUp317, Indianapolis Movement Arts Collective, Classical Music Indy, Indiana Black Expo, the Indianapolis Public Library Center for Black Literature & Culture, and Arte Mexicano en Indiana.
These art activations are part of a city-wide effort to enhance and promote downtown Indianapolis during March Madness, and ensure a welcoming and safe environment. Indiana Sports Corp received a $905,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to fund these and other beautification/vibrancy efforts led by civic partners including Indiana Sports Corp, Visit Indy, Downtown Indy, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, IndyHub, Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick, the Indianapolis Urban League, Indiana Humanities, Indianapolis Airport Authority, and the Arts Council of Indianapolis.