Indiana Art and Culture Roundtable

John C. Pickett is the executive director of the Indianapolis Opera.

If there was a clarion call from the roundtable discussion held among CEOs of Indy’s cultural industry, it would be that we all wish to see central Indiana’s cultural portfolio rise to the level and expectations in the vision often articulated by city and state leaders AND that we need those leaders in government and, most importantly, in the corporate community to take up this cause.  While there is agreement that what we produce provides needed vitality to a city/state working to attract high quality talent for employment and visitors, the support from the community – public and private – is not yet enough to sustain the vision.  We all look to the great success of the sports industry knowing that it took strong, active leadership from the corporate community to make it a reality and to keep it growing.  Solutions found in other dynamic cities which have found funding mechanisms need to be explored to see if there is a fit for Indiana.  We often point to Denver which has voted in a 1/10th of 1 percent sales tax option to support cultural growth in their community. The voters have consistently approved this tax in a referendum every four years since 1988.    The first year it provided Denver’s cultural industry $14 million and this past year provided $44 million. While the optional sales tax solution may not fit our situation, funding sources must be identified to provide sustainability.

The clarion call, however, is not just about funds – it is that our community needs the same type of emphasis, focus and recognition by our leaders as the sports initiative has received. The statistics are there to justify this effort with proven economic impact of nearly half a billion dollars.  Aggregate audiences outnumber those of sports.  Studies, local and national, over the past couple of decades continue to demonstrate this.

There is strong agreement among all of us who have the privilege of leading Indy’s cultural organizations that we provide compelling cases for what we provide for our constituents and the community at large.  Do citizens realize the gap filled by many of our programs due to the decline of arts-in-education in our schools?  Everyone agreed that the arts not being more central to our educational systems does not bode well for the future in terms of the city’s cultural audiences and, more importantly, for the education of creative problem solvers of the future.  Do people realize that the public funds that are provided enable our organizations to provide free and reduced admissions, in-school programs and residencies, etc.?

Often, these discussions turn to potential arguments of arts vs. sports.  I personally always resist this.  A first-rate city needs it all.  Indy has the potential to be a well-rounded great city.  The assets are here – whether it be the world’s best children’s museum, one of the nation’s few 52-week symphonies, art and historical museums of great repute, strong and varied theaters and, yes, a vital professional opera company.  We can make the case but we need the validation and work of visionary leaders to build the infrastructure needed to not only sustain quality programs but build collaborations and projects fitting of the results this city has achieved in sports, life sciences, higher education, etc.

The clarion call is there.  We hope discussions like the one facilitated by Inside INdiana Business leader Gerry Dick will continue and garner the support and leadership needed to make visions a reality.