Indiana Humanities and Indy Reads invite the citizens of Indianapolis to cast their vote for an idea that uses the written word to better the Circle City. The organizations will host Read Indy, part of the 5×5 event series, on May 14 at the Fountain Square Theatre.
Now in its third year, 5×5 is a platform for new and innovative ideas for the arts. At the event, five finalists will have five slides and five minutes to present a creative project or program they have envisioned for the city of Indianapolis. The winner, selected by input from a live audience and a panel of judges, will be awarded $10,000 to take a creative proposal from an idea to action.
Indiana Humanities and Indy Reads searched for ideas that used literature, reading and/or the written word to create powerful arts and humanities experiences for the people of Indianapolis. The organizations received 43 submissions in response to their April call for applications.
The 5×5 Read Indy finalists and proposals include:
The House Poem Project
Phyllis Viola Boyd and LaShawnda Crowe Storm
Boyd, an artist and urban designer, and Crowe Storm, a mixed media artist, activist and community builder, propose a project to cover blighted houses with murals of poems written by area residents.
Pedals, Prose & Places
Ashlee Wilson Fujawa
Fujawa, the director of public relations at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, intends to use the award to create an interactive “choose-your-own adventure” bike ride, where participants bike to different parts of the city and encounter an author or “character” along the way.
Pop-Up Health Poetry
Emily Baughman
Baughman, a published poet and certified health education specialist, suggests the use of poetry stands at farmers markets and other summer events to allow visitors to solicit and read health related poems written by Indiana poets.
Read & Be Heard
Gordon Strain and Dianne Moneypenny
Strain and Moneypenny plan to ask Indianapolis residents to read aloud their favorite sentence from their favorite book and then compile recordings into an audio piece that will play from speakers installed around the city. They have published bilingual short stories, traveled the globe and created sculptures, paintings and installations around the U.S.
Voices from Central State
Elizabeth Nelson
Nelson, the director of public programs at the Indiana Medical History Museum, recommends a series of readings, performances and displays of literature and art by and about patients at Central State Hospital. This series would also include the launch of a historic tour on the former grounds of the hospital.
In addition to the presentation of these innovative ideas, event attendees will enjoy local libations from Sun King Brewery, propulsive music by Cultural Cannibals and plenty of Indy inspiration, including the announcement of the winner of Plan2020’s Love Indy t-shirt contest. Guests looking for more entertainment can venture to the 5×5 after party at New Day Meadery, located across the street from the Fountain Square Theatre.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program begins at 6 p.m. To RSVP for the event, visit readindy.eventbrite.com.