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Arts and culture organizations suffer severe financial losses during pandemic

Indy Keeps Creating Fund aims to help local artists and organizations
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INDIANAPOLIS — Arts and culture non-profit organizations like museums, music venues, and art centers in Indianapolis are in need of funding during the pandemic.

“It’s been brutal, as it has been for so many industries,” Julie Goodman, CEO and President of Arts Council of Indianapolis said.

Goodman says the industry represents 30,000 jobs in our community and serves about eight million residents and visitors every year.

“It’s our actors, our theater professionals, our dancers,” Goodman said.

The Arts Council works with 70 organizations every year awarding grants.

“That’s everything from the Harrison Center, community-based art centers, the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, the Indianapolis ballet, and Dance Kaleidoscope,” Goodman said.

Since the pandemic began, research from the Arts Council shows that arts and culture organizations have been losing 8-point-6 million dollars every month in Indianapolis.

“We need more support at the federal level to make sure our venues don’t close,” Goodman said. “We are really getting in the danger zone on a lot of our music venues in our beloved venues.”

On Friday night, the Arts Council is holding a virtual event called (Re)Start with Art. The goal is to raise $1 million. The money will be awarded to local artists and organizations in need of emergency funding.

The money can be used for basic living expenses for local artists and emergency operating support for art and culture organizations.

Click here to donate to the Keep Indy Creating Relief Fund.