Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship gives artists opportunity for rest; inspiration

Fifty of Central Indiana’s creative minds received $12,000 each through the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship. The fellowship was created by the Indy Arts Council and Lilly Endowment Inc. in the 1990s and aims to rejuvenate the city’s artists. This year’s recipients were each awarded $12,000 to pursue activities that would “bring rest, inspiration and energy,” according to a press release.& “This year saw a record-breaking 332 applications — a 41% increase from previous years,” Nikki Kirk, director of community impact and strategic investment at Indy Arts Council, said in a statement. “These fellows stood out because they expressed a deep need for personal renewal and presented thoughtful, intentional plans for their well-being.” Similar to an academic sabbatical, the fellowship places emphasis on the personal, creative and professional renewal of artists and administrators, with the idea that supporting an artist’s wellbeing will lead to a more resilient arts ecosystem and thriving community. READ MORE: Sneak peek at the Center for Black Literature and Culture’s new programming In the last 25 years, the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship program has invested more than $5 million into Indianapolis’ local art scene, supporting more than 500 industry professionals in music, dance, literature, visual and performing...