Since its inception in 1996, the Spirit & Place Festival has been a powerful force in fostering civic engagement through the arts, humanities and religion.
The Spirit & Place Festival is a one-of-a-kind celebration, blending arts, culture, spirituality and public discourse in an inclusive, community-driven environment. The annual festival, which takes place every November, invites participants to explore big ideas and reflect on them through creative expression, all while cultivating community bonds.
The essence of Spirit & Place lies in its focus on community participation. Every year, individuals and organizations from diverse sectors and backgrounds across Central Indiana are encouraged to pitch their event ideas for the festival. Whether you’re an artist, writer, poet, musician, religious leader, educator or social activist, your ideas and contributions are welcomed.
The festival’s open-call approach allows anyone with a creative and thoughtful event concept to participate. Each year, the festival focuses on a theme that serves as a lens through which events and discussions are framed. For example, in the past, themes have explored topics such as gratitude, nourish and change. The goal is to create a theme that is broad enough to encourage diverse interpretations.
For the upcoming Spirit & Place Festival in 2025, the theme of NATURE invites participants to reflect on the world around us and the intricate relationship between humans and the natural environment. But the theme is not limited to environmentalism or outdoor experiences alone. It also invites deeper philosophical exploration into the “nature of” various societal and cultural issues. How do we define what’s “natural” in our lives? What is the role of spirituality in our understanding of nature? How do the arts help us interpret the natural world?
Event application process
So, how can you be a part of the Spirit & Place Festival? First, submit a proposal for an event that will engage the public with the festival’s yearly theme of NATURE. Events can range from philosophical reflections on NATURE to immersive environmental experiences that invite participants to connect with the natural world around them.
To submit an event proposal, you’ll need to outline the experience you want your audience to have; how you’ll explore the theme; how you will use the arts, humanities, and/or religion; and who your collaborating partners are. Every event must partner with at least one other community organization or individual to help bring the vision to life.
For those considering applying to be a part of Spirit & Place Festival, the best advice I can offer is simple: meet with me! With over 20 years of event design and planning experience, I find joy in helping others create something special that gives back to the wider community. I love learning about the creative and compassionate work happening in our community, and I’m always open to hearing ideas and brainstorming solutions.
In the past 10 years that I have been with Spirit & Place, I have witnessed our festival event partners live into Spirit & Place’s values and mission more deeply. There is a real commitment to designing events that bring people together, uplift traditionally undervalued voices, and strive to add a bit of goodness into the world. Artists, scholars, activists, congregants and others are a creative and moral force Spirit & Place is proud to support.
For those whose event proposals are accepted, the Spirit & Place team offers robust support to ensure the success of each event. This includes a $200 stipend to help cover event costs, as well as access to marketing materials, one-on-one event coaching, and additional training opportunities. The festival organizers are deeply invested in helping event partners succeed, providing guidance throughout the process — from idea generation to execution.
Additionally, the festival’s commitment to inclusion means that a diverse group of reviewers from various faith traditions, racial backgrounds, genders and age groups evaluate all event submissions. This ensures a wide range of perspectives and experiences are considered when selecting the final lineup of events.
Spirit & Place also has a variety of tip sheets, checklists, worksheets and video tutorials to help with the application and event design process. Also, on our website, there is a list of meetings that we strongly recommend for interested applicants to attend, including application help, event brainstorming, and other resources.
Ready to get involved?
If you’re inspired by the power of community, creativity and connection, we invite you to take the next step and become part of the Spirit & Place Festival. Whether you’re an artist, activist, educator or community leader, your voice and ideas are an essential part of what makes this festival special.
Visit Spirit & Place today to learn more about how you can submit an event proposal, access helpful resources, and get involved in this year’s festival. Together, we can create a space where ideas flourish, people come together and community bonds are strengthened.
