$65 Million in grant funding is impetus for first ever regional Arts & Culture Plan

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published February 18, 2026 at 4:08 PM CST

The Regional Arts & Culture Plan Open House, was held int he lobby of the Victor Theatre in Evansville, Tuesday Feb. 17. Guests included Artists Aaron Soulberry (white t-shirt) who often facilitates arts exploration in others. "I'm hoping events like this will expand that into more places," he said. "I think this is a city that you can put yourself up on a wall and display it and exhibit and be as happy for yourself as you can be." — The Regional Arts & Culture Plan Open House, was held in the lobby of the Victory Theatre in Evansville, Tuesday Feb. 17. Guests included Artist Aaron Soulberry (white t-shirt) who often facilitates arts exploration in others. "I'm hoping events like this will expand that into more places," he said. "I think this is a city that you can put yourself up on a wall and display it and exhibit and be as happy for yourself as you can be."

The Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority has released its brand new Arts & Culture Plan to help align regional arts and culture initiatives with an emerging state grant opportunity, and chart next action steps

Ashley Diekmann with the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (EREP) facilitated the question and answer session at the Arts & Culture Open House, Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The lobby of the Victory Theatre in Evansville is the setting for an informational open house for the new regional Arts & Culture Plan, with snacks and highlights of the plan available for perusing.

The Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (SWIRDA) unveiled the plan February 17, the day after a new application portal opened to access $65 million in grants administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation from the Lilly Endowment. This is specifically for arts and culture projects in Indiana.

This new plan has several priorities such as “public art placemaking,” and suggests the need for a new midsized venue of 300-700 seats.

“It's kind of that 'Goldilocks' scenario,” said Ashley Diekmann with the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (EREP), regarding the venue of this size missing from the region. The plan’s region includes Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.

Such priorities were gleaned from focus groups. The study was funded by READI grants and the Lilly Foundation.

“To fund this initiative $65 million throughout the state — that's not something that we've been able to really see before,” Diekmann said. “So this is an opportunity for us as a region, as well as other regions in the state, to really make an impact, to drive Indiana arts and culture to a whole new level.”

The plan also aligns with existing plans such as the Ohio River Vision and city Tourism Master Plan. Diekmann said these grants are for non-profit entities, not individuals.

Artist Aaron Soulberry attended the informational event. He can’t apply for a grant as an individual, but he can for an event he’s creating with non-profit collaborators.

“It's definitely going to be one of those things that's going to take some money," he said. "Knowing that there's n option for money coming into this will make it take it a step above being something so grassroots."

Soulberry said state funding could grow his project into "one of Evansville's biggest weeks, other than the Fall Festival.”

Projects can be submitted until mid-April. The arts plan prioritizes leveraging the region’s riverfront, historic assets and strong creative workforce.

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The strategic plan can be seen here

Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Chief Operating Officer Heather Kelsey networks with Arts & Culture Plan Open House attendees. Kelsey is overseeing the EVPL's new arts programming. She agrees that the area needs a midsized venue — something the EVPL could also use for programming.

About the Arts & Culture Plan, from EREP
The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP or Region) engaged Hunden Partners (Hunden) to complete a regional arts and culture development plan for the region comprised of Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties. The goal of the Project is to establish actionable next steps for both existing and future venues and a defined arts and culture vision for the region. This study, made possible by the Indiana READI Grant and Lilly Endowment, will help structure the Region’s entertainment, arts, and culture strategy based on existing gaps and opportunities in the market. With $65 million in contributions to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation from the Lilly Endowment to be dedicated to arts and culture projects in the state, this study will help align priorities for future funding initiatives from these funds among other sources.