The Crooked Creek Cultural Campus is coming to a historic neighborhood on Indianapolis’ northwest side.
Located at the corner of 62nd Street and Michigan Road, the campus aims to be an educational hub providing Crooked Creek Community residents access to arts, culture and community-building opportunities. Spearheaded by Kerry Michael Manders, the Crooked Creek Cultural Campus was initially part of a KMM Foundation project to counteract a “deteriorating sense of community” that existed in the historic neighborhood even before the pandemic, according to a press release.
“I had a vision of what has developed into the Crooked Creek Cultural Campus — to provide access to all ages and backgrounds to art, culture, educational and community-building opportunities, while creating a ‘cultural focal point’ in the Crooked Creek Community,” Manders said in a statement. “This location is a natural fit since the Public Library is across Michigan Road from the Cultural Campus.”
The campus, which has overcome several zoning challenges since its conception, currently exists as a 3.5-acre “L” shaped wooded area, with plans to purchase an additional 4.5 acres.
The Crooked Creek Cultural Campus will maintain the property alongside Indy Parks, which will offer supplemental environmental science programming, such as tree and pond preservation classes, according to a press release.
The new facility will include an indoor multi-use theater and art gallery to support performance and visual arts programming, a caterer’s kitchen for special events and rentals and an outdoor venue for summer productions and concerts.
A Visioning Committee — including area residents, a lawyer, an architect, fundraisers and representatives from Newfields, Asante Children’s Theater and Pike Performing Arts Center — was developed to brainstorm a plan for the Crooked Creek Cultural Campus and potential programming offered there, Manders said.
“We’ve had early discussions with Indy Parks, Glick Neighborhood Center and others seeking collaborations,” Manders said in a statement. “Our goal is to add to and enhance existing opportunities in our neighborhood, NOT to duplicate services that already exist.”
Proposed arts programming includes poetry readings, storytelling, movie nights, book clubs and game nights. Through the aid of partnerships and sponsorships, the campus intends to support a youth artistic engagement program, a visiting comic book/creative writing/visual arts mentor, community coffee hours, seasonal farmers’ and crafters markets and financial literacy classes, according to a press release.
Once rezoning is confirmed, groundbreaking for the Crooked Creek Cultural Campus is planned for 2026. The organization is currently requesting grants and donations for the project. For more information, visit crookedcreekculturalcampus.org or kmmfoundationindy.org.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
