Gov. Mike Braun has designated September as Creative Economy Month in Indiana to recognize the state’s arts and culture industry and its contribution to the Hoosier economy.
This announcement was made alongside Braun’s visit to the 2026 Indiana Creative Economy Summit hosted Sept. 15-16 in Indianapolis.
“Indiana’s arts and culture sector is on a roll thanks to Hoosier creatives, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators that are investing in their crafts while powering jobs, wages and communities forward,” Braun said. “This month’s designation as Creative Economy Month is a powerful recognition that Indiana’s creative industries are a significant driver of economic growth, workforce development, talent attraction and quality of place, building the character of our communities and making Indiana a place where people want to put down roots.”
According to a statement about the summit, the local arts and culture industry generates around $10.1 billion annually. This amount is an increase of nearly 33% from $7.6 billion in 2020 and represents approximately 2% of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). This local industry employs more than 92,600 Hoosiers statewide and provides workers $6 billion in combined wages and benefits.
The fourth annual Indiana Creative Economy Summit, hosted by Pattern, is designed to support the state’s creative economy by convening founders, funders and civic leaders driving the sector and recognizing that ‘creativity is big business’— the theme of this year’s event.
On the second day of the summit, attendees focused on the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI 2.0) Arts & Culture program.
According to a statement, READI 2.0 is a $65 million, first-of-its-kind statewide initiative recognizing arts and culture as powerful drivers of regional growth.
The program, funded by a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant, is pushing 49 creative projects across all of Indiana’s regions while attempting to accelerate tourism, talent retention and attraction, and continued economic and job growth.
According to local officials, these READI 2.0 Arts & Culture projects, announced in July, are expected to generate more than $369 million in investment in the state’s arts and culture economy.
These regionally driven projects are intended to help revitalize historic theatres, pavilions and entertainment venues; bring museum exhibits, galleries and learning spaces to life; create public art and sculptures; and support initiatives focused on building Indiana’s creative workforce and economy by investing in artists and entrepreneurs.
“Creativity is an essential part of economic development,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. “Indiana’s artists, creatives and entrepreneurs are contributing to job creation, small business formation, tourism and innovation in urban and rural communities across Indiana while bringing energy to our neighborhoods and downtowns, telling our stories, and creating the state’s identity. This week’s summit is a unique opportunity to convene industry leaders, advocates and partners to define the future of Indiana’s creative economy and set it on a trajectory of growth for years to come.”
For more information visit iedc.in.gov.
Contact Staff Writer Malik Simon at 317-762-7847.
Malik Simon is a Staff Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Memphis, TN, he graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies concentrating on journalism. Before joining the Recorder, he wrote for the Devil’s Gazette newspaper at MVSU and served as a freelance content and video editor. He seeks to use media to help communities flourish through literacy and factual reporting.
