Rochester - Art Mobile chosen by Creative Convergence Program

The Indiana Arts Commission announced that ten Indiana communities have received training and grant funding through the Creative Convergence Program.

Rochester is one of the ten communities chosen.

Conducted in partnership with the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University's Miller College of Business, Creative Convergence was launched in 2023 and consists of a two-day training workshop and an Early Action Grant Program. Teams of community members representing local government, economic development entities, arts organizations, educational institutions, tourism groups, and other community-focused roles participated in the program.

The Creative Convergence workshop was held on March 31 and April 1 in Fishers. Community teams learned how to embed arts and creativity in community and economic planning and solutions, how to work collaboratively across sectors, and how to effectively engage with community.

Following the training workshop, communities had the opportunity to apply for a Creative Convergence Early Action grant designed to allow communities to apply the learnings from the workshop to a project that benefits creatives and the community. Each community received $5,000 in grant funding to support their project. Communities also had the opportunity to leverage additional local and public support through the CreatINg Places program from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and Patronicity.

The Rochester - Art Mobile project states that the Times Theater Art Committee will launch an Art Mobile to deliver free art supplies and hands-on creative experiences directly into the community. Modeled on the nostalgia of bookmobiles, the project removes barriers of cost, transportation, and access - creating welcoming spaces for residents to explore, express, and connect.