The Fishers Arts & Culture Commission, established in 2019, approved several new art projects for several locations in the Nickel Plate Cultural District. The Commission received $460,853 for projects from the City of Fishers and plan to use $375,000 on Signature Projects and $85,000 on Quick-Action Projects. The RFP for the first of the quick-action projects opens today.
The Fishers Arts & Culture Commission recently received an allocation of $450,000 from the City of Fishers to use for art and culture projects in the community. The funds were acquired through the recent sale of the Meyer Najem building in downtown Fishers (11787 Lantern Road, Fishers). The City of Fishers received proceeds from this sale because of the Economic Development Agreement negotiated between the City and Meyer Najem in 2012. The Agreement included a provision stating the City would get its proportionate share of profit back to the Town Hall Building Corporation based on their provided incentive if the company refinanced or sold the building. Earlier this year, the building was sold to an investment group and the City received its share of profit.
As part of the Fishers Arts& Culture Commission’s master plan, completed in November 2019, residents identified permanent art installations as a top priority for implementation.
The upcoming art projects have been separated into two categories: Signature and Quick-Action.
Signature Projects
The two signature projects are the 116th Street & I-69 Gateway Feature and the Hamilton East Library at Nickel Plate Trail Interactive Art Piece. The signature projects will consist of a $275,000 art project on 116th Street in the median west of the I-69 Interchange bridge and $100,000 towards a future art project along the Nickel Plate Trail in the Library Plaza, slated for completion in 2021.
Quick Action Projects
The Quick Action Projects include new Edge Parking Garage Banners, Fishers Police Station Mural, Holland Park Art Features, Electrical Boxes, and Indiana Black History Temporary Art.
The temporary art for black history is the first project slated for completion. The Fishers Arts & Culture Commission reviewed the design concept and artist proposal and approved the project.
The other art projects will be approved through an RFQ process and require coordination with various stakeholders based on each project and a subcommittee of the Commission. Those projects will undergo the RFQ process, artist selection, and approval process with the goal of some of these projects starting in the fall. To learn more about the projects and the cost breakdowns click here.
- Edge Parking Garage Banners - $30,000
- Police Station Mural – $25,000
- Holland Park Art Features - $18,000
- Electrical Boxes - $10,000
- Indiana Black History Temporary Art - $2,000
The first of these RFPs opened Monday, August 3 for the Police Station Mural project. Artists may submit their proposals online here: https://www.fishers.in.us/bids.aspx?bidID=145.