We’re not the first to say how lucky Indy is to have a collective of funders who understand that sometimes the best community improvement ideas have a hard time finding financial support.
Which, of course, is what the 5×5 Indy series is all about: giving our neighbors and friends an opportunity to present and pursue funding their incredible ideas.
These guys, they get that: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, the Efroymson Family Fund and the Lilly Endowment. (For the 2015 series, Plan 2020 will be playing a big part, too!)
Each 5×5 event centers on a theme selected by the event host and features five Indy residents presenting arts-based ideas for Indianapolis. The presentations are limited to five minutes and five slide each and are judged by a small panel of community representatives and the audience.
Over the past two years, a total of $80,000 has been granted through the 5×5 series to eight, grassroots projects that have each set out to improve one corner of our city. And when one corner is better, the whole city is a little better, too.
Honestly, it’s almost unbelievable how a single, arts-based idea can raise such awareness around a need or void in a community and then rally that same community into action. And we couldn’t be more excited to tell you about the four 2015 5×5 events that will be taking place starting in May!
Stop reading this post and mark your calendars right now with the following:
May 14, 2015 | READ INDY – submission deadline is April 10
presented by Indy Reads & Indiana Humanities
August 7, 2015 | LOOK INDY: The City is Your Classrom
presented by The Harrison Center for the Arts
October 15, 2015 | INVEST INDY
presented by Verge
November 12, 2015 | DREAM INDY
presented by Big Car
These events are when the presentations will take place. If you’re interested in submitting, you should be ready at least a month and a half in advance with your idea and you should submit it here.
The submission process is totally free and a fantastic way to help you think through some aspects of your project that you may not have already considered.
If you’re submitting idea, we definitely recommend doing a little research on the organization and theme you’re submitting to and don’t hesitate to reach out to them for clarification along the way.
Also, whether you’re presenting or attending, be sure to invite anyone and everyone you know. While the attendee vote counts, the more important part is that these 5×5 events will be some of the best displays of creativity and innovation you’ll see here in Indy. And it’s an incredible experience to be around that and to know how much people care about Indianapolis and its residents.
Because we’re so stinking crazy about this initiative, over the coming months we’ll be taking some time to catch you up with the past 5×5 winners and to help you get to know the 2015 5×5 Indy hosts. We hope you’ll follow along and help us spread the word about how Indy’s being changed by the arts.
#5x5Indy
