A 2023 Retrospective – The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation

This annual retrospective tells part of the story of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.  The narrative and the actions of the Foundation are much broader and deeper than any single written piece.  The actions are the results of significant analysis, encounter, planning, and discernment by so many people… Foundation directors, staff, partners, colleagues, and, of course, those who lead organizations that represent a vital arts and culture life in the city of Indianapolis and beyond.

The actions of the Foundation are based on the philanthropic legacy of Allen Whitehill Clowes himself.  A community leader and man of great generosity, he continued the philanthropic traditions of his family throughout his life.  Mr. Clowes had the vision and commitment to found and fund the Foundation as an entity that would have continuing impact on expressions of arts and culture and the way that both of these important dimensions of living and the organizations focusing on them would positively affect and transform human life in Indianapolis. 

The AWC Charitable Foundation carries on Mr. Clowes love for the arts, hope for community, and spirit of generosity.  We do this in ways that honor historic values and traditions while also being alert to the many changes, opportunities and new visions that move us forward today and in the future.

Arts, Community, and Trust

Indianapolis and its surrounding region enjoy a lively arts and cultural life.  The creative culture thrives, and multitudes of people participate actively as artists, arts lovers, advocates, audience and participants.  The number of organizations contributing to a full artistic community experience continues to grow including large organizations and small ones, those of broad impact and those of targeted grass roots context, and traditional styles and avant garde ones.

Through the work of many arts and culture leaders and interpreters, the case for the creative community, entrepreneurship and impact is being made with increasing effectiveness.  Arts, artists, and their organizations are not peripheral to the lifestyle and economic success of this city.  Recent research shows ever more clearly how central these organizations and efforts are to the live-ability of this city and its economic growth.  Similar reflection also witnesses to the way that arts knit together the fiber of community and spirit of individual human beings.  Arts embody hope, honesty, aspiration, and vision for a whole and “beloved” community.

This is deeply hopeful for this community, and the AWCCF endeavors to be an instrument of that hope.  The Foundation and its leaders also recognize existing challenges.  Fragmentation and dissonance are experienced too much in our city and its wider environs.  Underserved and underrepresented communities struggle to experience invitation and justice.  The effects of the COVID pandemic continue as well.  They have had serious effect on artists and organizations as well as the city and its citizens.  Creative and cultural organization leaders have responded with tenacity, agility, and commitment.  They have risen to the challenges, but they are also experiencing fatigue.  Arts and culture organizations and their artists and leaders live in the midst of these realities and seek to respond to them in honest and responsible ways.

One of the movements that is affecting philanthropy far and wide is that of trust-based philanthropy and its practices of relational, consistent, transparent, and open generosity.  These values align with the philosophy and practice of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.  We strive to embody trust-based values and practices through action and relationship with the community, artists, and arts organizations.  The AWCCF perceives that developing a construct of trust in philanthropy coheres with the deeper goal of building trust in the city as a whole.

Continuing Work and New Initiatives

The primary work of the AWCCF is the stewardship of its resources and their use for the mission of the Foundation.  This is expressed through the prudent management of funds and their distribution to organizations primarily in Indianapolis and also in its surrounding region.  The Foundation provides grant funding to legacy organizations which were supported by Mr. Clowes. 

2023 saw a record number of grants and funding amount in its two cycles as well as the Summer Youth Program Fund and focused emergency grants. 

Work in the development of the Clowes Collection and Pavilion at Newfields continued during 2023 as visitor-ship grew dramatically along with participation in the “Artful Conversations” offerings.  The AWCCF remains in partnership with the Clowes Fund to support the collection and conservation efforts.  Foundation leadership also works to encourage Newfields community connection and DEIA work and has helped to welcome the new and highly qualified Director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Ms. Belinda Tate.

The Foundation pursues new work envisioned by its leadership and through the planning of its Legacy Committee.  It did this in 2023 through two particular initiatives:

• Support of Allen Whitehill Clowes Awards for two arts organizations for which awards are primary to mission and program:  The Hoosier Salon and the American Pianists Association.

• Support of public art and murals through an Indianapolis and Central Indiana major effort and partnership: The Arts Council of Indianapolis.

These are proving effective and successful as they also result in greater organizational impact and service to the community and generate further financial support for the organizations and specific projects.

The Legacy Committee continues its work envisioning new possibilities, initiatives and collaborations for the future.

Organizations Receiving Grants in 2023

The Operations Grants Cycle

These grants assist organizations in their ongoing mission and program.  They embody the most recent philanthropic learning that operational support is vital to organizations.  The AWCCF operations grants are buttressed by dialogue, careful review, and the foundation’s desire to support organizational mission and leadership.

The 2023 Operations cycle provided 94 grants to organizations of different arts foci and size.  The organizations receiving this funding included:

Actors Theatre of Indiana, Inc.

Alchymy Viols

American Cabaret Theatre, Inc.

American Lives Theatre, Inc.

American Pianists Association, Inc.

Arthentic Arts Incorporated

ArtMix, Inc.

Artrageous with Nate

Arts Council of Indianapolis, Inc.

Athenaeum Foundation, Inc.

Bach Chorale Singers, Inc. d/b/a Lafayette Master Chorale

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Inc.

Big Car Media, Inc.

Bloomington Chamber Singers, Inc.

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, Inc.

Brick Street Poetry, Inc.

Carmel International Arts Festival, Inc.

Claude McNeal’s Musical Theatre Training Program, Inc.

Columbus Pro Musica, Inc. d/b/a Columbus Indiana Philharmonic

Dance Kaleidoscope, Inc.

Deeply Ingrained, Inc.

Discovering Broadway, Inc.

Doctors Without Borders

Early Music Associates, Inc.

Echoing Air, Inc.

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Inc.

Ensemble Music Society of Indianapolis, Inc.

Festival Music Society of Indiana, Inc.

Fine Arts Society of Indianapolis, Inc. d/b/a Classical Music Indy

Freetown Village, Inc.

GANGGANG, Inc.

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, Inc.

Hancock County Children’s Choir, Ltd.

Harrison Center for the Arts, Inc.

Heartland Film, Inc.

Hoosier Salon Patrons Association, Inc.

Indiana Black Expo, Inc.

Indiana Music Education Association Foundation, Inc.

Indiana Repertory Theatre, Inc.

Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home Foundation, Inc.

Indiana University – Spirit & Place

Indiana Wind Symphony, Inc.

Indianapolis Art Center, Inc.

Indianapolis Ballet, Inc.

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Inc.

Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Inc.

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, Inc.

Indianapolis Men’s Chorus, Inc.

Indianapolis Opera Company

Indianapolis Parks Foundation, Inc.

Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, Inc.

Indianapolis Suzuki Academy, Inc.

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Inc.

Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival, Inc.

Indianapolis Women’s Chorus, Inc.

Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.

Indy Convergence, Inc.

IndyBaroque Music, Inc.

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Inc.

James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Assoc., Inc. d/b/a Riley Children’s Foundation

Jameson, Inc.

Kids Dance Outreach, Inc.

Kokomo Symphonic Society, Inc.

Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, Inc.

Lafayette Symphony, Inc.

Lantern Islamic Theater Company

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Indiana

Music for All, Inc.

New Harmony Project, Inc.

PATTERN, Inc.

Percussive Arts Society, Inc.

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis, Inc.

Phoenix Theatre, Inc.

Putnam County Coalition for Education and the Creative Arts, Inc.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana, Inc.

Storefront Theatre of Indianapolis, Inc.

Storytelling Arts of Indiana, Inc.

SullivanMunce Cultural Center, Inc.

Summer Stock Stage, Inc.

Summit Performance Indianapolis, Inc.

Terre Haute Symphony Association, Inc.

The daVinci Pursuit, Inc.

The District Theatre, Inc.

The Great American Songbook Foundation, Inc.

The Kokomo Park Band, Inc.

The Sapphire Theatre Company, Inc.

United Way of Central Indiana, Inc.

University of the Cumberlands, Inc.

Urban Musical Theatre Inc.

USA International Harp Competition, Inc.

White River Sound, Inc.

Writers’ Center of Indiana, Inc. d/b/a Indiana Writers Center

Young Actors Theatre, Inc. d/b/a React

Young Audiences of Indiana, Inc. d/b/a Arts for Learning

The Capital Grants Cycle

The foundation funded impressive, imaginative, and transformative capital projects in 2023.  These were projects of imagination and potential impact.  All of them exhibited careful planning on the part of the organizations and the vision to make a real difference.  They also contained learning and experience components.  Some projects brought new or renovated facilities to the service of the arts and community.  Others represented major new learning or arts experience efforts, while others empowered community development, artists, and residents as arts bring wholeness and empowerment to civic and personal life.

The AWCCF provided 48 grants to the following organizations.  The list includes both the name of the organizations and title of each project.

American Cabaret Theatre, Inc.  - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Initiative

American Journalism Project, Inc. - Two years of startup endeavors for the Indiana Local News Initiative:  Arts & Humanities

Arthentic Arts Incorporated – Capacity Building

Arts Council of Indianapolis, Inc. - Regional Public Art Pilot “180 in Color” Program

Athenaeum Foundation, Inc. - Taking Center Stage: A Campaign for the Athenaeum Foundation Theatre Renovation

Big Car Media, Inc. - Tube Factory Campus: Big Tube Renovation

Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, Inc. - Replacement of the performance and community outreach ballet flooring

Claude McNeal’s Musical Theatre Training Program, Inc. - Purchase and installation of sound equipment, portable staging and portable lighting

Columbus Pro Musica, Inc. d/b/a Columbus Indiana Philharmonic – Music stands for the Youth Orchestra

Conner Prairie Museum, Inc. - Prairie Pathway Center Exhibit Fund to create a Museum Experience

Crossroads Rehabilitation Center, Inc. d/b/a - Easterseals Crossroads – Sensory Garden

Damien Center, Inc. - One Home Capital Campaign, Mosaic Art Installation inspired by AIDS Quilt Memorial

Eskenazi Health Foundation, Inc. - Expansion of the Arts and Gardens at Eskenazi Health’s West 38th Street Campus

Freetown Village, Inc. - Capacity building and leadership transition

Friends of Indianapolis Animal Care & Control Foundation d/b/a Friends of Indy Animals – The Journey Home Capital Campaign: to build a new animal shelter for the City of Indianapolis

GANGGANG, Inc. - Research and program development projects

Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, Inc. - Update audio system and lighting for the Florence Theatre

Hancock County Children’s Choir, Ltd. - Computer purchase

Heartland Film, Inc. - Headquarters Phase II Renovation

Hendricks Live, Inc. - Purchase of a Steinway Grand Piano and a studio piano

Herron High School, Inc. d/b/a Herron Classical Schools – Herron Preparatory Capital Expansion Phase II

Indiana Humanities Council, Inc. - Meredith Nicholson House renovations

Indiana Music Education Association Foundation, Inc. - Capacity Building Project

Indiana Symphony Society, Inc. d/b/a - Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – Clowes Performing Arts Collaboration in Partnership with Indianapolis Ballet and Clowes Hall

Indiana University, Herron School of Art and Design – Basile Center for Art, Design and Public Life Directorship

Indiana University, IUPUI School of Liberal Arts – Spirit & Place: Capacity Building and Funding Transition

Indiana University, Radio & Television Services - “Major Taylor Champion of the Race” WTIU-PBS Documentary

Indianapolis Art Center, Inc. - Renovations to support ARTSPARK, connection to the White River and improving visibility to the Monon Trail

Butler University, Indianapolis Center for Arts Education and Innovation – Leadership support

Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Inc. - “In the City for A Global Community” Capital Campaign: purchase and renovation of new facility

Indianapolis Opera Company – 50th Anniversary Season Celebration and Concerts

Indianapolis Parks Foundation, Inc. - Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre lighting improvements

Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc. - Campaign for our Zoo, Community, World: The Allen Whitehill Clowes Nature Path

Irvington Presbyterian Church – Irvington Arts Collectives

Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, Inc. - Care for KVML and 543 Indiana Avenue projects

Lafayette Square Area Coalition, Inc. - Global Explorers Program

Landmark Columbus Foundation, Inc. - Bridging two cycles of Exhibit Columbus

Naptown African American Theatre Collective Inc. - Capacity Building

North Central High School Choir Parents Organization, Inc. - Founding North Side Sound, a middle school Show Choir

People for Urban Progress, Inc. - Purchase of equipment for recycling and arts projects

Percussive Arts Society, Inc. - Museum relocation expenses

Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis – Milner Chapel organ replacement

Southside Art League, Inc. - Flooring replacement

St. Richard’s Episcopal School, Inc. - Endowment Building Campaign expenses and capacity building

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Inc. - Latino Culture Initiative: Multi-Lingual Resources, Latino Culture Exhibits

The District Theatre, Inc. - HVAC system

The Great American Songbook Foundation, Inc. - Library and Archive Three-Year Capacity Building Project

Windfall Dancers, Inc. - Roof structure stabilization

Summer Youth Program Fund

The AWCCF partners with other Indianapolis foundations and funders to provide significant and broad assistance to community organizations that develop and implement programs for children and youth during the summer months.  In 2023 these organizations gained strength following challenges during the pandemic period.

The AWCCF provided 25 grants to organizations that do summer programming in the arts and cultural sector.  The organizations receiving funding include:

ArtMix, Inc.

Big Car Media, Inc.

Claude McNeal’s Musical Theatre Training Program, Inc.

Dance Kaleidoscope, Inc.

Deeply Ingrained, Inc.

Discovering Broadway, Inc.

Fonseca Theatre Company, Inc.

Footlite Musicals, Inc.

Freetown Village, Inc.

Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis

Harrison Center for the Arts, Inc.

Horizons at St. Richard’s Episcopal School

Indiana Black Expo, Inc.

Indiana State Museum Foundation, Inc.

Indianapolis Art Center, Inc.

Indianapolis Ballet, Inc.

Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Inc.

Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, Inc.

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis, Inc.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Inc.

Urban Musical Theatre Inc.

Westminster Neighborhood Services, Inc.

Young Actors Theatre, Inc. d/b/a React

Young Audiences of Indiana, Inc. d/b/a Arts for Learning

Emergency Relief Grants

The foundation provides grants each year for emergency relief in crisis situations around the world, in the nation, and locally.  In 2023 grants were given in response to refugee resettlement opportunities and challenges, natural disasters, and other emergency needs.  The organizations that received grants included:

All Hands and Hearts Smart Response, Inc.

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

American National Red Cross

Doctors Without Borders USA, Inc.

Episcopal Relief and Development

UNICEF USA

United States Association for UNHCR

World Central Kitchen, Inc.

What we are watching

The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation benefits from strong partnerships, deep connections with organizations, and a discipline of analysis and inquiry regarding trends, needs, opportunities, context and challenges.  We are alert to changes and developments in the community as a whole and more specifically in the arts and culture life of the community.  We are watching several things at present.

• The strength of the creative culture in Indianapolis and its region.  Entrepreneurship is on the rise as is advocacy for the financial and societal impact of the creative culture and its philanthropic and governmental support.

• Emerging partnerships and their strengthening.  Collaboration has grown in its expression and intensity.  Part of this was due to the pandemic, but it has grown far beyond that.  The AWCCF is investing in partnerships and their success as we also pursue collaboration with other philanthropic and arts research/council institutions.

• Expansion of BIPOC and Latinx arts and culture organizations in number and impact.  There is a greater number of these organizations and growing visibility and action.  DEIA awareness and planning has infused the vast majority of Indy arts organizations even as challenges continue to exist.

• Changes in giving and generosity.  There is legitimate concern about the reduced numbers of donors in the United States even though philanthropic giving continues to grow.   We seek to encourage generosity from individuals, government, and foundations alike in the city and surrounding areas. We also are deeply thankful for the legacy gifts of recently departed Indianapolis philanthropists such as Christel DeHaan and Marianne Tobias who have shaped arts organizations and life here for decades.

• Leadership transition and effectiveness.  There is vast transition amongst arts and culture organizational leaders in this city including CEO’s, other critical organizational positions, and governance and board leadership.  These leaders are visionary, committed, and able.  They also describe a sense of fatigue in many instances.  Indy is blessed with good community leadership organizations.  How might new initiatives in leadership development specifically for arts leaders strengthen the sector?

• The healing and wholeness brought through the arts.  We are learning more about the power of visual, performing, and garden arts to heal and bring wholeness to individuals and communities and affirm this intentional development.

The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation seeks to play a philanthropic role of generosity and effectiveness.  It does this in collaboration with a great number of organizations, leaders, and participants in arts and culture organizations.  This retrospective concludes with a word of thanksgiving to so very many organizations and individuals.

Dr. James B. Lemler, President