12 Indiana groups get $5,000 grants as part of America250 initiative

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Arts Commission on Thursday announced $60,000 in grants to 12 organizations that will have programs to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Each of the 12 selected organizations will receive $5,000 through the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission’s America250 grant initiative. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Indiana General Assembly are funding the one-time program. The grants were designed to connect participants with American history in anticipation of the nation’s milestone.

A news release issued Thursday from the Indiana commission said the selection process for the program was highly competitive, with than 100 applications. The 12 selected programs, all to happen in 2026, were chosen to represent every Indiana region and cover a range of artistic disciplines.

The City of Jeffersonville Public Arts Commission will use its $5,000 grant to host “From 1776 to Tomorrow: A Multi-Arts Journey” on the riverfront, with live performances and hands-on art activities. The programming will showcase American arts and culture spanning from the nation’s founding in 1776 through 2026.

In Muncie, the Youth Symphony Orchestras of East Central Indiana will support a project titled A Musi...