$1.3 million will support local arts in 2019 . . .
The City of Carmel has awarded 25 local arts organizations with $1,336,060 in grants from the City’s 2019 Arts Grant Program. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the City of Carmel’s financial support for local arts, which amounts to roughly 1 percent of the city budget each year. Since 2004, more than $11.5 million has been allocated to support local arts programs.
Brainard
“It is our mission as a City to invest our money wisely in order to improve the quality of life, helping us to attract new economic development and private investments in our city. We have done this by building the framework for a community that values the arts,” said Mayor Jim Brainard. “As part of that strategy, it is important to support our local arts groups, which are worthy of public support. Studies by the Americans for the Arts show typical visitors to an event spend close to $30 per person, per event, in addition to the cost of admission. That’s money spent at our local restaurants, art galleries and other businesses.”
According to the most recent statistics from Visit Hamilton County, it is estimated that visitors that stay in Carmel spend about $332 million annually in lodging, food and beverage, transportation and attractions purchases and contribute significantly to the overall county tourism impact.
For every dollar spent in Hamilton County, 90 cents stayed local, contributing to the gross domestic product here. Visitor spending supports 11,553 jobs in Hamilton County and helps generate nearly $100 million in state and local taxes, saving local residents $779 per year in taxes they would otherwise need to pay for the same services.
Hamilton County ranks No. 3 in the state for total visitor spending and food and beverage accounts for the largest share of visitor spending in Hamilton County, totaling 34 percent of expenditures.
This year’s grant recipients
- Actors Theatre of Indiana, $240,000
- Bigger Picture Film Group, $5,000
- Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, $210,000
- Carmel Clay Historical Society, $6,560
- Carmel Community Players, $15,000
- Carmel Fountain Square Committee, $12,000
- Carmel Klavier, $25,500
- Carmel Symphony Orchestra, $275,000
- Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, $15,000
- CYT (Christian Youth Theater of Indianapolis), $2,500
- Great American Songbook Foundation, $230,000
- Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, $59,500
- Hoosier Salon Art & Patron Association, $30,000
- Indiana Association of Chinese-Americans, $3,500
- Indiana Ballet Conservatory, $20,000
- Indiana Music Education Association Foundation, $7,000
- Indiana Wind Symphony, $41,000
- Indianapolis Children’s Choir, $6,500
- Indianapolis Opera, $8,000
- Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, $17,000
- International Talent Academy, $10,000
- Janus Developmental Services, $10,000
- M3 Theatre Camp, $2,000
- Museum of Miniature Houses, $5,000
- The Carmel Apprentice Theatre (The CAT), $80,000