Arts roundtable: funding

Last week, we at IBJ gathered a panel of local arts professionals to discuss funding issues. A story about that insightful talk will appear in the upcoming print IBJ while a video will appear on line. I’ll give you more information when it is posted.

Here’s a sneak peek, from IBJ reporter Kathleen McLaughlin: 

…The level of competition within the local arts scene quickly became apparent during the discussion. Jim Walker, who manages a youth-writing project called The Second Story and is a founding board member of Big Car Gallery in Fountain Square, complained that a few well-established organizations garner half the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ annual grant distributions, leaving grass-roots groups to compete for the rest. Noting that arts attract young professionals to live in the city, Walker said, “A lot of the funding goes to organizations that aren’t targeted at that younger population you’re talking about.”

Simon Crookall, CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, didn’t argue with Walker’s assertion, but said, “I hope the current constraint isn’t going to force us into in-fighting.

”My questions: Are there fundamental differences between younger and older audiences? And, in the struggles for funding in tough times, is in-fighting destined to happen?Your thoughts?