Robert D. Beckmann, Jr. was a founding board member of the Indy Arts Council in 1987. He was an active arts advocate, patron, a performing and visual artist, as well as a community leader. Upon his death in 2001, he bequeathed funds to the Arts Council for the creation of a fellowship program to support emerging artists of all disciplines in central Indiana. It is through the lasting generosity of Robert D. Beckmann, Jr. that we offer this fellowship opportunity to emerging artists throughout central Indiana. Within the last 10 years the Arts Council has awarded Beckmann fellowships to musicians, dancers, theater directors and lighting designers, painters, sculptors, installation artists, and poets.

Justin A. Carney is an artist and educator that uses autobiographical photography to question how death and grief affect familial connections—the bonds that keep a family together and cause them to separate, and how grief shapes an individual. Much of Carney’s artistic practice deals with confronting and exposing grief surrounding death to create an avenue for not only himself but also for others to find healing and cope with the deaths in their lives.

Seamlessly blending the infectious allure of rock beats with soul-stirring charisma that’ll have you grooving from the very first note – Remington Michel Stone is serving up their unique sound with an edgy twist that demands attention. Stone isn’t content with just adding to the scene – they’re rewriting the script. The tracks from their debut album “Death of the American Mall” aren’t just songs; they’re powerful conversations delving deep into the fabric of what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.