Carmel arts grants to benefit 25 arts organizations

The City of Carmel has awarded 25 local arts organizations with $1,336,060 in grants from the City’s 2019 Arts Grant Program. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the City of Carmel’s financial support for local arts, which amounts to roughly one percent of the city budget each year. Since 2004, more than $11.5 million has been allocated to support local arts programs.

“It is our mission as a City to invest our money wisely in order to improve the quality of life, helping us to attract new economic development and private investments in our city. We have done this by building the framework for a community that values the arts,” said Mayor Jim Brainard. “As part of that strategy, it is important to support our local arts groups, which are worthy of public support. Studies by the Americans for the Arts show typical visitors to an event spend close to $30 per person, per event, in addition to the cost of admission. That’s money spent at our local restaurants, art galleries and other businesses.”

According to the most recent statistics from Visit Hamilton County, it is estimated that visitors that stay in Carmel spend about $332 million annually in lodging, food and beverage, transportation and attractions purchases and contribute significantly to the overall county tourism impact.

For every dollar spent in Hamilton County, 90 cents stayed local, contributing to the gross domestic product here. Visitor spending supports 11,553 jobs in Hamilton County and helps generate nearly $100 million in state and local taxes, saving local residents $779/year in taxes they would otherwise need to pay for the same services. Hamilton County ranks No. 3 in the state for total visitor spending and food and beverage accounts for the largest share of visitor spending in Hamilton County, totaling 34 percent of expenditures.

Following is the list of the 2019 recipients:

Actors Theatre of Indiana, $240,000

Bigger Picture Film Group, $5,000

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, $210,000

Carmel Clay Historical Society, $6,560

Carmel Community Players, $15,000

Carmel Fountain Square Committee, $12,000

Carmel Klavier, $25,500

Carmel Symphony Orchestra, $275,000

Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, $15,000

CYT (Christian Youth Theater of Indianapolis), $2,500

Great American Songbook Foundation, $230,000