An Arts & Culture Creative Concept Celebration, held March 20, brought business owners, organizational leaders, community members, artists and local officials together for an evening of music, interactive engagement and visionary thinking.

The highlight was the big announcement: PCT has received a $10,000 Early Action Grant to explore the concept of a Creative Hub in Pulaski County. Activities are made possible in part by the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

“Before we fully define what it could look like or how it would operate, we’re starting with the WHY and the WHO,” said PCT president and founder Brandi Larkin. “The WHY is clear: arts and culture improve quality of life and drive economic growth. The WHO is all of us: businesses, organizations, community members and local leaders. This Creative Hub isn’t something being built for the community. It’s being built BY the community. We’re inviting everyone to help piece together something that’s not only meaningful, but impactful.”

A Night of Celebration and Feedback

The event offered more than just an announcement; it offered a voice to the community. Guests took part in interactive activities designed to collect feedback and spark imagination:

• Question cards encouraged reflection on how arts and culture could shape the county’s future.
• Puzzle piece voting let participants cast votes for categories of how they’d like to see a future Creative Hub used.
• Sticky note stations on flip charts captured a wide variety of thoughts and visions from attendees.
• A live performance by Scotty Darda and a display of graphite art from local student artists added an inspiring creative touch to the evening.

Why It Matters

The celebration was rooted in five years of community development groundwork and a history of involvement in arts-focused efforts. While PCT has long recognized the value of the arts in enriching community life, recent personal development strides have deepened the group’s understanding of the substantial impact that comes from strategically investing in arts and culture. 

Following their participation in the Creative Convergence Workshop last fall - a program that explored how arts and culture can enhance quality of life, fuel economic growth, and serve as tools for placemaking - this grant marks a significant step toward creating an intentional, community-rooted strategy to draw people to Pulaski County and strengthen local pride and livability.

Arts and culture are proven community builders and economic drivers. As shared during the event:

• Rural counties with performing arts organizations experience three times the population growth compared to those without.
• Communities that prioritize arts and culture see higher visitor engagement, stronger businesses, improved school outcomes, and lower crime rates.
• In Indiana alone, the arts sector contributed $8.6 billion to the economy in 2021.

“Creativity isn’t just something that happens in the margins,” Larkin said. “When it’s intentionally built into our community, it adds value, inspires pride, and draws people in.”

What’s Next

PCT emphasized that this project is community-driven and still in the concept phase. The $10,000 grant will fund:

• Community conversations
• Pilot creative experiences
• Data collection and a final project report

Over the coming months, PCT will be hosting additional engagement activities, gathering feedback, and connecting with potential volunteers, partners, and sponsors. Whether you’re an advocate for arts and culture, enjoy attending community events, are a fellow Pulaski County enthusiast, or are simply curious, your voice matters. 

If you couldn’t attend the celebration, it’s not too late to be part of the process. PCT wants to hear from you. “Let’s build something extraordinary, TOGETHER!” Larkin said.

Stay Connected

PCT encourages everyone to follow its journey:

• Sign up for the PCT newsletter.
• Follow Pulaski County Tribe on Facebook for updates.
• Visit pulaskicountytribe.com often for project details and future feedback opportunities.

 About Pulaski County Tribe: Pulaski County Tribe is a community-driven organization dedicated to enhancing Pulaski County through communication, collaboration and celebration. By fostering pride and participation in Pulaski County, PCT works to create a brighter future for the community.