What is a bustling metropolis without a few unique artsy touches from the eclectic creative spirits among us? Washington, D.C., Seattle, and San Francisco are the top three in a Forbes report of the 10 most popular cities for millennials. In addition to job availability, and cost of living, the places won out for having a dynamic cultural atmosphere.
In Indy, groups like Big Car, Indy Hub, People for Urban Progress, and the Harrison Center for the Arts are continuing to provide opportunities for artistic development across a variety of avenues. One such opportunity is the annual 5×5 Arts & Innovation ideas competition.
The competition is a series of four idea-generating, competition-style events. Each event has a different theme geared toward utilizing art as a community development tool. Presenters will have five minutes to present five slides, explaining their idea to a group of judges and a room full of attendees who in turn vote for their favorite project, awarding each winner $10,000 to make their dream a reality.
Last year, Malina Jeffers of Mosaic City presented her idea for a citywide art installation titled “I Am an Artist” as one of five finalists at Indy Hub’s competition. The installation is a collection of 52 photographs of local artisans from several different disciplines.
Jeffers, who describes her 5×5 experience as “exhilarating,” said that winning has exposed her to a whole new world of creative possibilities.
“Winning the 5×5 competition validated my ideas. It empowered me to think, ‘wow; young professionals have a real shot in Indy,’” said Jeffers. “When IndyGo reached out to offer that images exist on the side of their busses I was ecstatic. Not because ‘my’ project was getting more legs but because the message could be spread so much further. We have so much local talent here and I want more people to know that. After I won, artists obtained more opportunities – which is what I intended to happen.”
Currently, the “I Am an Artist” photo series is available for purchase as a set of playing cards at local shop Silver in the City.
This year’s competition kicks off with Big Car Collaborative hosting the first event on May 8 at Service Center for Culture and Community. The event theme, “Re:Connect,” calls for ideas that reconnect people with the environment, especially our local waterways. Ideas for the “Re:Connect” 5×5 are due April 27. The five selected presenters will be notified by May 1.
The remaining three events hosted by People for Urban Progress, Harrison Center for the Arts and IndyHub center on the broad themes of “Re:Purpose” (People for Urban Progress, June 27), “Re:Mix” (Harrison Center for the Arts, Aug. 1), and “Re:Populate” (IndyHub, Oct. 30).
“I love Indianapolis for having programs and ideas like this. What’s unique about this event is that it sources real ideas from real people – you don’t have to have a 501c3, you don’t have to have any credentials,” said Jeffers. “I would encourage any and everyone with a solid idea that would have a positive impact on Indianapolis to apply.”
For more information and to apply, visit 5x5indy.org.
