The City of Indianapolis has opened a new opportunity for neighborhood organizations to bring cultural projects to life through a $500,000 Cultural Districts Fund. This pilot program was approved in 2025 to help reimagine and expand cultural districts in ways that support the creative economy, equity, and community development.
Applications are open from August 1 to August 31, 2025 for one-time funding to celebrate the culture, identity, and creativity of Indianapolis neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods and organizations can apply for funding to support cultural projects that showcase the arts, foodways, language, traditions, and other elements that make their community unique.
There are two tiers of eligibility:
This fund is designed to:
An evaluation committee will review applications in September based on the following criteria:
Awardees will be notified in mid to late September. A public meeting announcing the recipients will be held by the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) in October.
For questions, contact DMDCommunications@indy.gov.
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