INDIANA – The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today that it has awarded nearly $2.44 million in grants to 345 nonprofit and public organizations throughout the state. The funding, part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Arts Organization Support and Arts Project Support grant programs, will fuel a wide range of creative and cultural initiatives.
Receiving grants locally:
- Brown County Art Gallery Foundation Inc. – $10,381
- RiverSong Music, Inc. (DBA: Chamber Fest Brown County) – $6,014
- City of Jasper – Arts Department – $12,403
- Strings, Inc. in Dubois County – $5,445
- Traditional Arts Today in Dubois County – $8,214
- Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum in Greene County – $9,694
- Shawnee Theatre of Greene County – $5,527
- Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Jackson County – $4,862
- BCT Management, Inc. (DBA: Buskirk-Chumley Theater) in Monroe County – $10,785
- Bloomington Chamber Singers in Monroe County – $8,339
- Bloomington Creative Glass Center in Monroe County – $9,934
- Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in Monroe County – $7,271
- Constellation Stage & Screen in Monroe County – $12,162
- Early Music Associates Inc. in Monroe County – $8,207
- Girls Rock Bloomington in Monroe County – $5,190
- Lotus Education and Arts Foundation in Monroe County – $10,044
- Stages Bloomington in Monroe County – $5,872
- USA International Harp Competition, Inc. in Monroe County – $9,637
- Windfall Dancers, Inc. in Monroe County – $7,836
The grants were approved during the IAC’s July Quarterly Business Meeting, following a review process by 133 external experts. Out of 545 applications, 345 were recommended for funding, resulting in direct investment in 80 of Indiana’s 92 counties.
Two Grant Programs Support Diverse Projects
The funding is divided between two key programs:
- Arts Organization Support grants provide annual operating funds for established arts organizations, helping to sustain their artistic and administrative functions.
- Arts Project Support grants offer funding for specific, short-term arts projects or activities.
According to Dave Haist, Chair of the Indiana Arts Commission, the investment highlights the vital role of the arts in Indiana’s economic growth. “Each of our Commissioners believes deeply in the critical importance of the arts in making Indiana a place for all to want to live and work… and invest in Indiana’s future,” Haist said.
Miah Michaelsen, Executive Director of the IAC, emphasized the broader impact of the funding. “Art and creativity create stronger, more connected Hoosier communities,” she said. “Public funding for arts and creativity continually proves to be a high-return investment that improves the quality of life of Hoosiers and drives economic development within our state.”
