The Herbert Simon Family Foundation is bringing a bold new art experience to Indianapolis this fall. On October 10, the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis (CAMi) will open its doors for “Risky Business,” a free, experimental creative showcase that highlights nine Indiana‑based artists working across music, dance, literature and visual art.
Funded by the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund
All participating artists are recipients of the foundation’s Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund, a program launched in 2023 to address a gap the foundation identified: most arts funding in the city flows to institutions rather than directly to creators. By providing financial support straight to individual artists, collectives and collaborations, the fund encourages creators to take artistic risks and pursue experimental projects without the constraints of traditional grant structures.
What to Expect
Curated by Creative Director and Performing Arts Curator Rishard Allen and Visual Arts Curator Lindsey Lord, the showcase will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 10. Attendees will encounter works that explore a range of timely themes, including environmental sustainability, displacement, systemic racism, substance‑use disorder, disability and anti‑violence. Each piece is designed to invite the audience into a contemplative experience that both challenges and inspires.
“The Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund is about providing artists the resources and freedom to experiment, take chances, and follow an idea even when they don’t know exactly where it will lead,” Allen said in a statement. “At Risky Business, attendees will witness what can happen when artists are encouraged to push beyond what’s familiar and embrace the uncertainty that comes with trying something new.”
Community Impact
The showcase aims to push Indy’s arts scene into “new visionary territory,” according to the foundation’s press release. By spotlighting locally funded, experimental work, the event hopes to spark excitement, inspire other creators, and demonstrate the power of direct artist support. The foundation describes the fund’s spirit as one that embraces “problem‑solving, messiness and uncertainty” inherent in creative risk‑taking.
“Risky Business” is free to attend, but registration is required. Interested visitors can learn more and sign up at cicf.org/indianapolis-creative-risk-fund. The exhibition promises a night of innovative art that reflects both personal and political challenges faced by today’s creators, offering Indianapolis a fresh cultural experience rooted in local talent.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
