The Public Art for All Grants, administered by the Indy Arts Council, are designed to address systemic inequities in access to public art across Marion County, Indiana. Supported by the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, this grant initiative seeks to empower nonprofit and neighborhood-based organizations to deliver projects that promote equity, accessibility, and representation in public art. It specifically aims to correct geographic disparities, support underrepresented artist groups, and improve the condition of existing public artworks.

The program is a direct response to findings from a 2021 comprehensive “Public Art for All” inventory conducted by Rokh Research & Design Studio, with support from the Indy Arts Council. The inventory revealed several key challenges, including the presence of “public art deserts” where there is limited access to public art within a one-mile radius, disproportionate commissioning of public art for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and women or femme-identifying artists, and that nearly half of all public art is in critical need of maintenance.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and neighborhood associations based in Marion County. Organizations do not need to be arts-focused to apply. However, individual artists are not eligible to apply directly. Funding is only available for organizational projects aimed at improving equity in public art through new installations, engagement, or maintenance efforts.

Applications for the next funding round open on March 19, 2025, and close on April 27, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Award notifications will be sent by May 15, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to review the full application guidelines and Quick Start Guide, and attend either a virtual or in-person informational workshop. A virtual session is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, and a live workshop will be held on Saturday, April 12 at the College Avenue Branch Library.

For one-on-one guidance, applicants may contact Julia Muney Moore, Director of Public Art at the Indy Arts Council, at jmoore@indyarts.org. Meetings may also be scheduled for personal consultations. The Indy Arts Council offices are located at 924 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46204.