The REPORTER
NBA All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis is less than 30 days away, and the NBA All-Star 2024 Host Committee, alongside partners at Indy Arts Council, GANGGANG, and Indiana Humanities, announced today a series of arts and culture immersive experiences and interactive exhibits for fans coming downtown for February’s event. During a press conference at the Indianapolis Artsgarden, the Host Committee outlined the NBA All-Star footprint for downtown Indianapolis, Indy’s Home Court, and discussed the significant impacts NBA All-Star 2024 is having on the creative economy in Indianapolis and across the state.
Additionally, the Indy Host Committee announced The Tip Off, a first-ever NBA All-Star opening ceremony at Bicentennial Unity Plaza on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 15. More details will be announced at a later date, but The Tip Off will mark the formal start of NBA All-Star 2024 and include music, notable personalities and officials, and more.
“There is incredible excitement around NBA All-Star 2024 because fans know there will truly be something for everyone downtown, and, working with our partners, we have created an experience at Indy’s Home Court that will not only amaze visitors to the downtown but leave a lasting legacy on our city and state economies,” said Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO and Chairman of the NBA All-Star 2024 Board of Directors.
A $1.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. enabled the Host Committee to create The Tip Off; leverage vacant retail space to showcase local arts, music, and culinary talent; and create public art experiences throughout Indy’s Home Court.
The Indy Arts Council, GANGGANG, and the Indiana Humanities have led the curation of the activations as part of their work on the Host Committee, and the result ensures Indy’s Home Court will be alive with energy and creativity for all downtown visitors during NBA All-Star 2024. Together, the partners will bring to life a combination of light-based public art installations, sculptures celebrating Indiana’s basketball tradition, large-scale storefront murals, graffiti art, interactive pieces, and the return of Indiana’s equitable fine art fair – BUTTER at Indy’s Home Court. In addition to the visual arts installations, fans will be treated to 24 DJs throughout Indy’s Home Court, photo stations, and unique experiences in key fan zones like Georgia Street and Bicentennial Unity Plaza.
“Sports and arts have always been great teammates in Indianapolis, and we’re going to see that on full display during NBA All-Star 2024,” said Julie Goodman, Indy Arts Council President & CEO. “Indy Arts Council is honored to partner with GANGGANG, Indiana Humanities, and the Arts & Culture Committee to center Indy’s incredible creative talent. Our team’s focus has been on large-scale public art activations that will inspire and engage all who visit Indy’s Home Court. We’re also excited for the ongoing impact some of these artworks will have through our Sidewalk Galleries program with the City of Indianapolis.”
NBA All-Star 2024 is, uniquely, the intersection of sports, arts, culture, and fashion, a global celebration of the game of basketball, and a way to highlight Indiana’s diverse and thriving creative talent. Elements like the arts and culture experiences unveiled at the press conference will not only give fans an experience unlike any previous NBA All-Star, but they are also designed to promote equity and drive investment into Indy’s creative economy that will have lasting, sustainable impacts.
“The Arts & Culture committee has developed incredible activations to welcome residents and visitors to downtown, integrating an unprecedented number of artists into NBA All-Star 2024,” said Mali Simone Bacon, GANGGANG Co-Founder and Executive Director. “GANGGANG is thrilled to lead creative direction and production for what will be a once in a lifetime experience in Indianapolis.”
Led by Mali Simone Bacon and Alan Bacon at GANGGANG, the Host Committee has created a Cultural Corridor in Indy’s Home Court, along Washington Street, to showcase local brands. Plaid & Pearls Coffee, a local woman-owned business, will take over the location formerly occupied by Pearings at Washington and Meridian, while the former Rock Bottom site next door will be converted into The Suite featuring the Henderson Bar, food from the International Marketplace, music curated by Chreece Presents: Nap City The Basement, comedy by Made Man Improv, and retail curated by Cargo Streetwear Boutique.
Finally, GANGGANG, with curators Deonna Craig, Kia Davis, and Alan Mills will turn the 19,000 square feet of the Indianapolis Artsgarden into BUTTER at Indy’s Home Court. Programming will include a full exhibition alongside the Creative Summit at Indy’s Home Court. Serving as a new model for economic justice in the arts, BUTTER maintains its commitment to sell or loan 100 percent of the artwork, giving 100 percent of the proceeds to artists.
Led by the Indy Arts Council, with support from partners Joanna Nixon and London Heist, other art activations fans will experience during NBA All-Star 2024 include:
- Six light-based public art installations, including three experiences by Indianapolis artists
- Two temporary murals by Indianapolis artists Jingo de la Rosa and Jonathan Southern will adorn the east and west facades of the Indianapolis Artsgarden.
- Sidewalk galleries: large-scale murals by Indy artists will decorate storefronts along the streets of Indy’s Home Court, immersing visitors to the downtown in diverse artwork seemingly at every turn.
- Fifteen of Indianapolis’ most fascinating street and graffiti artists will create new masterpieces on the Pennsylvania and Delaware rail underpasses, just north of South Street.
- Hoosier Historia: a group of 24 diverse artists from across the state will bring to life their interpretations of some of the most memorable and iconic people, moments, and places in Indiana basketball history on 6-foot basketball sculptures.
NBA All-Star 2024 takes place in downtown Indianapolis Thursday, Feb. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 18. Indianapolis last hosted the event in 1985.