Community Art

On Monday, July 16, 2018, Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath presented to the City Council in work session on the idea of “What’s Next for Art & Culture in Fishers.”

There has been great momentum for advancing art in Fishers in recent years, especially around the Nickel Plate District where the City and Fishers Arts Council have hosted four annual Arts Crawls and where public and performance art has popped up ranging from the Meyer Najem sculpture to the Edge Parking Garage Art Banners to beloved summer concerts and the most recent mural at Handel’s.

In looking to what’s next, the City is proposing the creation of a Fishers Arts & Culture Commission that will help facilitate a more comprehensive and strategic approach. The new Commission would be facilitated by the Department of Community Development and seek to engage and promote all forms of performing and visual art in Fishers in support of community and economic development efforts.

Additionally, the City plans to apply to the Indiana Arts Commission for a special designation of the Nickel Plate District to be recognized as a “Statewide Cultural District.”

To help guide the city’s efforts, a steering committee has been formed that includes Fishers residents Dan Kloc, Jocelyn Vare, and Lisa Vielee, who served most recently as president/past president of the Fishers Arts Council, along with Nickel Plate Arts Executive Director Aili McGill, who has responsibility for advancing art in Hamilton County. 

The City plans to form the commission this fall by ordinance, to be effective January 1, 2019. The Commission would include appointed members, as well as other affiliate members to encourage inclusivity & greater participation.  

If you are interested in learning more or would like to be involved in this collaboration to advance art & culture for Fishers, please contact City Planner Ross Hilleary, or plan to attend a Fishers Art & Culture Collaborative Meeting on Tuesday, September 18 from 5 – 6 p.m. at the Fishers branch of the Hamilton East Public Library.  It is free to attend, but registration is required for planning purposes. Register to attend the meeting.

View the July 16, 2018 Presentation (PDF).