As 2019 draws to a close and we reflect on the past year, we are so thankful for the support of our community. December 3rd is Giving Tuesday and your donation will help us to continue our work. The Harrison Center . . . for the Arts and for the City.

Donate

Our mothers never expected us to hang out with motorcycle “gangs”. Then again, our mothers never met the Rough Riders. Although they have been neighbors since 1994, we didn’t get to know them until they got involved with PreEnactIndy. Since then, they have opened their doors to both old and new neighbors by hosting Story Nights at their clubhouse. This summer, we were honored to instate the club’s President, Earl Cantrell, as a Greatriarch.

Greatriarch? Remember that word we created last year to describe long-time residents of the Hillside neighborhood? In 2019, we introduced six more greatriarchs (and showcased original art portraits of all 12) at Black Expo. The original six serve on an advisory board and help lead our monthly Greatriarch Gatherings for long-time residents of urban neighborhoods. Our hope is to help us all celebrate our neighbors, to diminish social isolation and give honor to where honor is due.

Our Cultural Entrepreneur program is thriving with interns who are eager to make a difference in the city. This year, Moriah Miller joined our staff as the full-time intern coordinator to support our 30+ cultural entrepreneur interns from Herron High, IUPUI, Ball State, Covenant, Indiana Wesleyan, Valparaiso, and Taylor Universities.

We believe that porching connects people. When people are connected, they are healthier. When people are connected in neighborhoods, their neighborhoods are healthier. When neighborhoods across the city are connected, the City is healthier. We are grateful for our porching partners, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that are making this happen.

We’re seeing (polka) dots! The Polk Stables (of the former dairy) on E. 16th Street has caught our eye and we are partnering with local entrepreneurs to explore a hub for our city that blends art and industry. Stay tuned as this project develops by...connecting the dots.

Our 3rd PreEnactIndy was stronger and more impactful than ever as we “preenacted” Monon 16 as a revitalized, inclusive neighborhood. We welcomed ImageNation film festival from Harlem, NYC, featuring progressive media by and about people of color; celebrated the automotive history of the neighborhood by displaying a National car built in the neighborhood, but now on display at the IMS museum; and featured Tiny Homes in the housing fair. We partnered with over 50 organizations, including Sapphire Theatre, Freetown Village, Asante Children’s Theater, Act a Foo, Felege Hiywot, ImageNation, King Park Development Corporation, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Central Indiana Community Foundation, Black Ink IT, the Jazz Kitchen and Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, and Tinker House Events.

Our artists are thriving, with opportunities that your support helps to provide. Here are some highlights:

Four of our artists, Shamira Wilson, William Denton Ray, Kyle Ragsdale, and Megan Jefferson, created Jiffy Lube murals.
Kyle Ragsdale had shows in Dallas, New Mexico, and New York.
Tom Day was commissioned by the Seattle Seahawks to create digital portraits of their draft picks.
Abi Ogle participated in artist residencies in Nebraska, Vermont, France, and Houston.
Quincy Owens and Luke Crawley created public art pieces in North Carolina, and in Jeffersonville and Carmel, Indiana.
Kate Oberreich, Liz Smith, Quincy Owens, and Lorie Lee Andrews participated in a new artist residency program in Samos, Greece.

ArtDish, our descending table dinner series in the Harrison Gallery continues to grow in popularity. This event has helped us build new relationships with celebrity chefs and allows us to introduce our artists to potential patrons. The table is also available for private event rentals. Midwest Center for Joint Replacement continues to be a major sponsor. Come check it out!

Other key partners supporting our work include the Arts Council of Indianapolis, City of Indianapolis, Indiana Arts Commission, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Central Indiana Community Foundation, Divers Family Foundation, Efroymson Family Fund, Indiana Landmarks, the Indianapolis Foundation, Speck Fund, Lilly Endowment/Summer Youth Program Fund, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, The National Bank of Indianapolis, Netherleigh Fund, Noyes Fund, Pittsburgh Foundation, Sun King Brewery, Patronicity/Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, Circle City Apartments, Big Green, Urban Times, Tinker Street Restaurant and generous people like you.

We were thrilled to receive $2.1 million from the Lilly Endowment to make the Harrison Center more accessible to a wider audience. In 2019, we completed architectural plans and bids and got started with this important work. We hired Molly Kelley as Event Coordinator, hosted over 100 new events, installed public art and restored our historic smokestack. In 2020, we’ll unveil our new karaoke elevator, rooftop classroom, a placemaking conference and, of course, more art and events.

By donating to the Harrison Center you build culture in Indianapolis – by hosting monthly gallery openings, offering studios to local artists, growing young entrepreneurs, and partnering with other organizations/neighborhoods to celebrate the arts and community. Please help with a tax-deductible donation. Donations can be made at www.harrisoncenter.org.

Thank you for partnering with us,

Joanna Beatty Taft
Executive Director

DONATE

Support the Arts this Giving Tuesday!