Indianapolis Cultural Districts

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Indianapolis Cultural Districts are neighborhoods of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States that are officially designated by the City of Indianapolis government.

History

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Indianapolis's cultural district program was established as an economic development initiative of Mayor Bart Peterson's administration to promote public art and cultural development in the city. In 2002, Peterson formed the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission whose steering committee selected the initial five cultural districts in 2003: Broad Ripple Village, Canal and White River State Park, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, and the Wholesale District. Indiana Avenue was designated in 2004.[1] In response to the Great Recession, the commission disbanded in 2009; however, the program continued to operate with nonprofit support from the Indy Arts Council and Downtown Indy Inc.

In 2014, Mayor Greg Ballard designated Market East as the city's seventh cultural district. In 2025, Mayor Joe Hogsett's Department of Metropolitan Development oversaw an open call for applications that resulted 12 newly designated cultural districts and $500,000 in one-time grant funding distributed.[2]

List

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Broad Ripple Village sign, North College Avenue, 2007 Mass Ave sign, Massachusetts Avenue, 2013

The following are the neighborhoods and years that they received cultural district designation:[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Saltsgaver, Julie (July 2021). "Cultural Districts". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Lindquist, Dave (November 21, 2025). "City's roster of cultural districts spikes from seven to 19". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
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