Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship

About the Program

What would you do if you were given $10,000 to go in search of creative inspiration?

In 1999, the Indy Arts Council, with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc., established the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship program as an invitation to central Indiana artists and nonprofit arts administrators to nurture their creative exploration and rekindle their spirits. Since then, the Arts Council has awarded $10,000 grants to nearly 500 individuals who have used the funding for travel, research, conferences, workshops, retreats, and other experiences.

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Creative Renewal Arts Fellows

A record 235 applications were submitted this year–we thank everyone who submitted proposals. A panel of national arts professionals selected these 40 artists and arts administrators to receive grants.

Jerry Lee Atwood, tailor/fiber artist

Josh Betsey, multimedia artist/designer

Carol Ann Carter, mixed-media artist

Richard Clark, visual artist/photographer

Deonna Craig, visual artist/teacher

LaShawnda Crowe Storm, mixed-media artist

Jordan Flores Schwartz, producing director, Fonseca Theatre Co.

Shannon Forsell, CEO & artistic director, The Cabaret

Ellie Garvey, jewelry artist & writer/illustrator

Sherry Hong, violinist

Willard Johnson, painter

Oreo Jones, hip hop artist

April Knauber, visual artist

Susannah Koerber, Indiana State Museum chief curator & research officer

Sabra Logan, dancer

Clare Longendyke, classical concert pianist

Eduardo Luna, founder, Arte Mexicano en Indiana

Sedalia Marie, vocalist/music educator

Ronan Marra, Storefront Theatre artistic director

Chantel Massey, writer & poet

Dani Oglesby, hair artist & designer

Pep-C, dancer/breakdancer/Bgirl

Teresa Reynolds, singer/songwriter

Ben Rose, multidisciplinary artist

Greg Rose / Heykidd, painter & curator

Eric Salazar, musician

Yemisi Sanni, fashion designer & textile artist

Chris Saunders, founding artistic director, American Lives Theatre

Andrew Scott, writer

Alicia Sims / The Uncut Diamond, multidisciplinary artist

Gregory Smith, senior conservation scientist, Newfields

Israel Solomon, visual artist/painter

Gwen Sunkel, comedian, actor & spoken-word artist

Jared Thompson, jazz musician

Manon Voice, spoken-word artist, poet & filmmaker

Sharon Weyser, French horn musician

Julia Whitehead, CEO & founder, Kurt Vonnegut Library & Museum

Lori Wolter Hudson, artistic director, The New Harmony Project

Michele Wood, visual artist

Too Black, poet/essayist

2022-2023 Creative Renewal Panelists

An impartial panel of five national arts professionals met in Indianapolis to review the applications and make recommendations to the Arts Council’s Board of Directors for final approval. They included:

Alice Escher, associate professor of dance, Tulane University
Kipp Kobayashi, Los Angeles-based visual artist
Quanice Floyd, executive director, National Guild for Community Arts Education in New York City; Co-founder, Arts Administrators of Color Network
Anthony Tognazzini, fiction writer and Oberlin College professor
Calida Jones, Hartford, Conn.-based violinist, music educator and consultant

Read the 2020-2021 Fellowship Stories

2020-2021 Creative Arts Renewal Fellowship
Discover the renewal journeys of nearly 40 local visual artists, poets, authors, dancers, and musicians.

View the Catalog

“This fellowship reminds us to dream big. I wouldn’t have pursued my dream to the end without this uplifting belief in me.” - 2020-2021 Fellow

Past Fellows

For more information, please contact the Arts Council grants department at (317) 631-3301 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Arts Council of Indianapolis is committed to working with the arts and cultural community to cultivate a sector that serves, celebrates, and values every resident of Indianapolis. We envision a city where engagement in the arts is not pre-determined by socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. We believe in a full creative life for all.

read our full equity statement

Joomla SEF URLs by Artio

Thank you to our funders

Visit Us

Indy Arts Council
924 N Pennsylvania St
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Directions

Indianapolis Artsgarden
110 W Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Directions

Indy Arts Council

Business Hours
Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm

Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday 9 am - 5 pm

Gallery 924
Tuesday - Thursday 10 am - 4 pm
(or by appointment)

Contact Us

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(317) 631-3301
Privacy Policy