In 2007, arts organizations in Indianapolis were worried. Mayor Bart Peterson was a supporter of the arts and had gradually increased the city’s financial support of the arts each year of his tenure leading Indy.
But Peterson lost to Greg Ballard in the 2007 election. Ballard had been announcing city spending cuts as he prepared to assume office in 2008. The arts groups were bracing for a financial hit.
Then, something unexpected happened. The new mayor informed the local arts community that they would take some cuts since the new mayor was reducing city spending in nearly all aspects of the municipal budget, but the arts would take only a small cut in financial support. The incoming mayor saw that spending on the arts was one of the most effective economic development strategies the city had.
Why do I tell this story now? Because the Fishers arts community is beginning to gain traction locally and what support the arts will receive in our city may be part of the discussion in the 2019 local municipal election.
Fishers elected officials have taken some small steps in supporting the arts locally, but our fair city is a long way off from being a big supporter of local artists.
It was announced last Friday that the Indiana Arts Commission has named the Nickel Plate District in the downtown Fishers area as a statewide cultural district. The city has an ordinance in place creating a local Arts & Culture Commission which is scheduled to begin meeting in early 2019.
But here is the most interesting development: Local arts groups, particularly the Fishers Arts Council, are gearing up to raise money for a city arts facility, based on a story written by Italia Contreras published on Nov. 26 in the Indianapolis Star. The council is aiming to raise $500,000 by the year 2020 to make that arts facility a reality.
Is it time for our city to incorporate the arts into economic development plans? Just look at our friends to the west. Carmel has made the arts a major component in developing their city. Adam Aasen, a candidate for Carmel City Council in the upcoming election, argued that Carmel’s investment in the arts has paid big dividends. In a commentary published Saturday in the Hamilton County Reporter, Aasen says even a small government investment in the arts will create a multiplier effect that can help small businesses. (Full disclosure: Adam is a friend of mine and we co-hosted a weekly film podcast that is in hiatus at the moment.)
Now, I know many people in Fishers will immediately say, we don’t want to be like Carmel, why should Fishers get involved in the arts too? I get that argument and I do not believe Fishers will or should be as deeply involved in supporting the performing arts as Carmel. I do not want another Palladium here in Fishers. The Carmel Palladium is a wonderful venue but I do not think Fishers needs anything approaching that.
What I believe is that Fishers should consider providing some support to the many artists struggling to bring quality artistic events to Fishers. Private donations are a major part of that effort. If the Fishers Arts Council shows there is enough support in our city through fund raising efforts, then the city should consider support for the arts. What level that takes is up to those with the responsibility for the local purse strings.
Mayor Scott Fadness has a mantra – he wants Fishers to be a vibrant, smart and entrepreneurial community. It is my view that the arts fit well into all three parts of that mantra.