E Pluribus Unum receives $50,000 Joyce Award

Central Indiana Community Foundation is proud to announce it has received the prestigious Joyce Award from the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation in support of E Pluribus Unum, a public art project by Fred Wilson commissioned for the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick. Since 2003, the Joyce Awards program has been the only granting opportunity exclusively supporting artists of color in major Midwestern cities. The $50,000 award is made directly to arts organizations, and is meant to support the work of individual artists as well as significant community engagements.

Since October, E Pluribus Unum has been on hold while the CICF and the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee's Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network hold additional community conversations in 2011.

“Receiving a Joyce Award is a great honor,” said Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) President and CEO Brian Payne, who is leading the Cultural Trail's $2 million investment of new public artwork along the Trail. "While we remain fully committed to a process that will allow much more dialogue about this project, a process that is fully supported by the Joyce Foundation, this type of national recognition acknowledges and celebrates the vital role art is playing in creating the opportunity for dialogue around race relations in Indianapolis."

For more information visit http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/12511_JoyceAward.

Construction update

Capitol Ave. & Alabama St. Corridor
(two blocks: Capitol Ave. from Washington St. to Maryland St. and Alabama St. from Market St. to Washington St. See map.)
Most of this winter's work has focused on Alabama St. pouring concrete drives and installing the light fixtures.
Capitol Ave. is being prepped for concrete and and light fixture installations. Asphalt and asphalt pavers will be installed once it gets slightly warmer (around 40 degrees).
Both blocks are scheduled to be completed by May.

Southeast Corridor
(Washington St./Pennsylvania St./Virginia Ave. to Shelby and Prospect streets mostly on Virginia Ave. See map.)

Utility work continued last month on Virginia Ave. just south of South St. (see photo) Traffic lanes have shifted.

The official construction bid was awarded to Hunt Paving Company. Work is expected to begin in March. A public meeting will be scheduled prior to start date to share more information on the construction schedule. 

Central Corridor
(Washington St. from Alabama St. to West St. See map.)
IPL continues its utility work in preparation for construction. This work began near Delaware St. and moves west finishing near Capitol Ave. around May. The official construction bid is scheduled for Jan. 26 through INDOT. Construction may begin approximately 60 days later or around the end of March. A public meeting will be scheduled prior to the start date to share more information on the construction schedule. Work is planned from now through the end of the year on Washington St. between Alabama St. and Senate Ave. After the Super Bowl in February 2012, the remaining section from Senate Ave. to West St. will be completed.

West Corridor
(On Blackford Ave. from Indiana Ave. to White River State Park. See map.)
This corridor is scheduled to bid through INDOT in March.

For more information, contact Gail Payne 317.713.3333 or Gail@IndyCulturalTrail.org.

Winter fitness starts with a clear path

When it snows, running, walking or cycling may seem next to impossible. Just when you thought the winter weather would make it easier to skip your workout, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail's Maintenance Endowment has cleared the path for your success!

Thanks to many generous private charitable contributions, the Maintenance Endowment provides funding, in addition to city services, for trash pick up, landscape maintenance, cleaning and most importantly this time of year -- SNOW REMOVAL!  Whenever we receive at least two inches of snow, the combined paths and bike paths are de-iced and cleared. 

So grab an extra layer and enjoy a clear, safe path that connects you the very best of downtown Indianapolis.  If you're especially grateful for this service, click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Need an extra perk?  A dollar from every bag of Cultural Trail mix goes to the Cultural Trail Maintenance Endowment. You'll find it exclusively through the Best Chocolate in Town . (Makes a great Valentine's Day gift!)