A new musical cooperative will give local artists a chance to rehearse, record and produce their work on a budget. The Indianapolis Music Cooperative, located in the Circle City Industrial Complex, will also offer educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for those looking to skill up.
Founded, in part, by Richard “Sleepy” Floyd of the band Native Sun and Kai McGinnis, workers at the cooperative hope it will be a hub for aspiring and professional musicians for years. To assist in the creation of the organization, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) announced a partnership through the IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program. If the Indianapolis Music Cooperative raises $50,000 by Nov. 3, the IHCDA will provide a matching grant.
“This community space is a wonderful way for musicians in Indianapolis to explore their passion,” Crouch said in a statement. “We want to provide a space for Hoosiers to learn, grow and record great music for years to come.”
The project is also supported by the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and the Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation.
With over $13,000 already raised, Floyd is looking forward to helping the next generation of local musicians find their sound.
“[Collaboration] is the secret sauce of this whole situation,” Floyd said. “We’re already starting to see those collaborations happening, so when the cooperative arrives, we’ll see the windfall of those interactions, that’s what we’re banking on. It creates a stronger community.”
To help more artists get into the studio, prices for the Indianapolis Music Cooperative are a fraction of the cost of a typical studio session.
MAKE MUSIC
For more information on the Indianapolis Music Cooperative, visit www.indymusiccoop.org.
The cooperative will offer tiered subscriptions — the first priced at $29 a month, the second at $99 and the third at $199 — the most expensive, McGinnis said, is less than the price of a few hours in most Indianapolis studios. The 6,000-square-foot coworking space will be open 24 hours, allowing artists and engineers flexible schedules to complete their work. The first tier provides artists with a recording space, the second with recording and rehearsal space, and the third includes production.
The space gives artists the chance to develop new skillsets and collaborate with new artists. Access to the Indianapolis Music Cooperative gives musicians an opportunity to learn how to produce their own work and share what they know with other artists.
In addition to the cooperative, a 4,000-square-foot all-ages venue will be included in the space with its own funding already secured. This gives budding musicians the chance to get their foot in the door, not just in writing and recording, but performing live, as well.
“That’ll have a great impact,” Floyd said. “… It fosters so many opportunities for underage individuals, and I’m really excited about that.”
Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.
