INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is honored to announce a $1.2 million grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Inc., supporting an expanded artistic partnership with Indianapolis Ballet and Butler Arts & Events Center. This transformational investment will fund five full-scale professional ballet productions accompanied by live orchestral music over the next two years at Clowes Memorial Hall.
The upcoming productions build on the success of the ISO’s recent collaborations with Indianapolis Ballet at Clowes Memorial Hall, including performances of Romeo and Juliet in 2024 and Swan Lake in 2025. Together, the three organizations are committed to creating world-class artistic experiences that enhance cultural vibrancy in Central Indiana.
Don Steffy, Executive Director of Indianapolis Ballet, celebrated the continued collaboration between the organizations, saying, “With every musical note played and dance step taken, this remarkable collaboration deeply enriches the artists, the audience, and our wonderful community at large.”
Aaron Hurt, Vice President of Arts, Events, and Enterprise Management at Butler University, echoed that enthusiasm, emphasizing the importance of Clowes Memorial Hall as a cultural hub for the city. “We at Butler are excited to see our partnership with both the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Ballet continue to grow,” Hurt said. “Clowes Memorial Hall was built to be the art center for Indianapolis and the home to major productions for the city. Through this gift from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, we’re able to continue to fulfill that mission and bring art of the highest quality to the Midtown Arts Cultural District.”
Designed to expand access to professional performing arts significantly, this collaboration combines the expertise, resources, and reach of all three institutions. The initiative aims to:
- Increase the availability of locally produced full-scale professional ballet productions
- Offer accessible performances for diverse audiences, including young adults and young families
- Strengthen Central Indiana’s creative ecosystem and reinforce Indianapolis as a premier arts destination
“The impact of these productions extends far beyond the stage,” said James Johnson, CEO. “This work helps cultivate a thriving arts community, fosters the next generation of audiences, and showcases the exceptional talent that exists right here in Indianapolis.”
The first two productions supported by this grant will include:
For more information about upcoming performances or ISO collaborations, please visit www.indianapolissymphony.org.
About the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
As Indiana’s largest non-profit performing arts organization, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra inspires and unites more than 200,000 people each year through our concerts and educational programs. From our home on Monument Circle in the heart of Indianapolis, the ISO serves a vibrant and evolving community through more than 150 concerts and mainstage education programs each season. The orchestra offers a diverse range of programming—including the Classical Series, the Printing Partners Pops Series, the beloved AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration, and the Film Series presented by Bank of America—all unified by a commitment to artistic excellence and creating inspiring, accessible, and transformative musical experiences. Learn more at www.indianapolissymphony.org.
About Indianapolis Ballet, Inc.
Indianapolis Ballet, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the advancement of professional ballet and dance education through extraordinary performances and world-class training. Centrally located in the heart of downtown, the Indianapolis School of Ballet (ISB) has served as Indiana’s premier destination for professional dance instruction since opening its doors to students in 2006. With its debut in early 2018, Indianapolis Ballet has established the presence of a fully professional, resident ballet company in the Circle City for the first time in over a decade. Both institutions are under the creative direction of Founding Artistic Director Victoria Lyras. For more information on how Indianapolis Ballet, Inc. is moving this timeless art form forward in Indianapolis, visit www.indyballet.org and follow @indyballet on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler Arts & Events Center (BAEC)
The Butler Arts & Events Center (BAEC) is home to Butler University’s event facilities, including performance venues, conference and meeting rooms, outdoor spaces, and housing. Its performance venues welcome more than 300,000 visitors annually, with 35,000 from the student matinee series. The BAEC is comprised of five venues, including its flagship 2148-seat venue Clowes Memorial Hall; the Schrott Center for the Arts with 475 seats; Shelton Auditorium with nearly 400 seats; Eidson-Duckwell Recital Hall with 135 seats, and Lilly Hall Studio Theatre with up to 100 seats. Programming includes the Butler Arts Presents events, BAEC’s Education Matinee Series, Jordan College of the Arts performances, Broadway In Indianapolis shows, various Butler lecture series, performances from local performing arts organizations, and a variety of national touring shows. Click here to see more meeting and event spaces suitable for functions from weddings and summer camps to seminars and conferences.
