NEWS
A 2024 Retrospective – The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation
An enduring and continuing legacy of Indianapolis leader, philanthropist, and arts devotee, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation has prospered in its mission of support for arts, culture, and humanities organizations in Indianapolis and surrounding areas. The vision and work of the foundation grew in a variety of ways during 2024 due to the expanding imagination of the foundation’s board and staff, needs of arts and humanities organizations, and resources available for grantmaking.
The foundation’s leadership gives attention to the legacy and interests of Mr. Clowes. In 2024 it did this through the development of awards gifting to organizations that focus on excellence and recognition via competitions: the American Pianist Awards, the Hoosier Salon, and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. The recently established Legacy Committee has accomplished this work and the consideration of other grantmaking opportunities to reflect clearly the interests and priorities of Mr. Clowes as it also considers new areas of arts support and growth for the future.
One initiative in 2024, which is being continued into 2025, is a video/audio archival project based on interviews with people who knew Mr. Clowes and remember him and his contributions to the arts, communities, and the people of Indianapolis. This has been a particularly grace-filled endeavor yielding a portrait of his life, passions, service and friendships. It has also reflected his intent as a donor in many ways.
THE CONTEXT OF OUR WORK
Indianapolis and its surrounding communities have numerous vibrant and growing arts and culture manifestations organizationally and through the creativity of individual artists and leaders. This foundation has observed and supported the capacity building and sustainability of organizations as well as the introduction of new ensembles and organizations to the creative and expressive landscape of the city. Organizations have continued to emerge from the effects of the COVID pandemic. Arts organizations reflect commitment to their mission especially as it focuses on the underserved and represents diversity and equity in purpose and practice. Creativity itself flourishes in arts organizations large and small in many different settings. Some arts and humanities organizations have broad impact and national recognition. Others are smaller community focused efforts that have the same energy and vision for effectiveness. The AWCCF offers support to these organizations recognizing their energy and creativity which enhance the lives of human beings. The foundation is also focused on the effect of arts and culture organizations on neighborhoods and their development via the arts. Mr. Clowes believed that arts and humanities are sources of healing and wholeness for individuals and communities, and the foundation’s grantmaking reflects that belief.
There is a great deal of transition in arts and culture organizations, their leadership, and the challenges that they face. The AWCCF works closely with the Arts Council of Indianapolis and is thankful for Julie Goodman’s leadership as President and CEO. We wish her well as she makes her transition to a new role at the American Cabaret of Indianapolis. We also have been able to welcome new leaders in several organizations and look forward to partnerships and their development in leadership. The foundation has supported several efforts to examine and highlight the creative economy, its entrepreneurship and effect including 2024 work, research, and gatherings of Pattern and GangGang. There have been accomplishments in public support of the arts including increased city funding, but there remain challenges in the level of public arts funding and the actual decrease of that support in some surrounding communities.
TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT LONG INVOLVEMENT OF MR. CLOWES AND THE ALLEN WHITEHILL CLOWES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The AWCCF remains committed to two entities in which Mr. Clowes and his family have had considerable involvement and leadership through the years and for which there were important developments in 2024.
NEWFIELDS
The AWCCF and its sister foundation the Clowes Fund continue their partnership in the stewardship of the Clowes Collection and Pavilion at the museum. In 2024 both foundations renewed subvention grant commitments for ongoing support. The Clowes Fund (responsible for the loan and eventual gifting of the Clowes Collection) made the transfer of a major Rembrandt painting as its culminating gift to the museum. Together, the foundations have welcomed and engaged with the new President and CEO, Mr. Le Monte Booker Sr. and the recently named Director of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Ms. Belinda Tate. There is a positive basis for further partnership as Newfields grows in its offerings of art and nature to the diverse communities of Indianapolis and collaborates with them.
CLOWES HALL
One of the world’s/nation’s great performing arts facilities, Clowes Memorial Hall was built as a memorial to Allen Clowes’ father Dr. George H.A. Clowes and dedicated in 1963. It is a highly regarded and major venue for performances, being the 49th highest ticket sales hall in the world. Mr. Clowes’ hard work towards the design and construction of the hall (joined by partners, his family, and the Clowes Fund) and his devotion and support for the hall reflected his commitment to its success.
At the end of 2024, the AWCCF made the second highest grant in its history to Butler University/Clowes Hall for significant renovation and expansion of the hall’s capacity and effect. The grant will support three foci:
Expanded seating in the hall’s boxes and balcony enhancing visual sightlines and total audience capacity.
The building of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom, a new facility that will function as a gathering and performing space.
Necessary building and stage construction for increased agility in delivery, production and performance quality.
Community and press leaders were present in mid-December for the public announcement of this grant and its impact on the hall, university, city, and surrounding neighborhood, and the announcement has been positively received. The project is a premiere part of Butler’s “Gateway Project”, supported by Lilly Endowment funding, which envisions a strengthened and vital Midtown Indianapolis.
PARTNERSHIPS
The foundation aims to build rapport and communication with arts and humanities leaders and organizations for which it provides support. It also participates fully in the Indianapolis Arts Funders group composed of foundations sharing similar focus and the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance serving foundations and philanthropic endeavors throughout the state. The AWCCF supported performance by a premiere Indianapolis Jazz Foundation ensemble at the IPA’s 2024 Conference dinner and program. As noted above, collaboration with the Arts Council of Indianapolis remains an important opportunity for learning and collaboration.
The partnership between the AWCCF and the Clowes Fund is one of enduring power as well. The governing and staff leadership of the two foundations remain in close contact, as their interests intersect in many ways. Part of the learning in the AW Clowes archival project has been the notable impact of the Clowes family and Fund through the decades.
LEADERSHIP
The AWCCF is acutely aware of the importance of leadership in its philanthropic mission and the mission of arts, culture, and humanities organizations. The foundation is blessed with strong governing and staff leadership working for common vision and goals. We also gain insight from fellow philanthropic and organizational leaders in our communities.
It remains a time of accelerated transition for arts and humanities leaders which brings additional opportunity and stress. Arts and community leaders reflect great resilience, perseverance and tenacity as philanthropic entities encourage leadership education and development. The AWCCF seeks to be an agent for this encouragement.
Organizations Receiving Grants in 2024
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 2024 Operations cycle provided 96 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 Piano Awards, Inc.
Arte Mexicano En Indiana
ArtMix, Inc.
Artrageous, Inc.
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.
Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc.
Festival Music Society of Indiana, Inc.
Fine Arts Society of Indianapolis, Inc. d/b/a Classical Music Indy
Fonseca Theatre Company, Inc.
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.
Hendricks Live Inc
Hoosier Salon Patrons Association, Inc.
Iibada Dancers, Inc. d/b/a Iibada Dance Company
Indiana Music Education Association Foundation, Inc.
Indiana Repertory Theatre, 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 Museum of Art, Inc. dba Newfields
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 Youth Orchestra, Inc.
Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.
Indy Convergence, Inc.
IndyBaroque Music, Inc.
International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Inc.
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association, Inc.
Kheprw Institute, Inc.
Kids Dance Outreach, Inc.
Kokomo Civic Theatre, Inc.
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library Inc.
Lafayette Symphony, Inc.
Lantern Islamic Theater Company
Lutheran Child and Family Services of IN
Music for All, Inc.
New Harmony Project, Inc.
PATTERN, Inc.
Percussive Arts Society, Inc. and Rhythm! Discovery Center
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.
Windfall Dancers Inc.
Young Actors Theatre, Inc. d/b/a React
Young Audiences of Indiana, Inc. dba Arts for Learning
The Capital Grants Cycle
The foundation funded impressive, imaginative, and transformative capital projects in 2024. These are projects of vision and potential impact. All of them exhibit careful planning on the part of the organizations and the vision to make a real difference. They also contain learning and experience components. Some projects bring new or renovated facilities to the service of the arts and community. Others represent major new learning or arts experience efforts, while further projects empower community development, artists, and residents as arts bring wholeness and empowerment to civic and personal life.
The AWCCF provided 50 grants to the following organizations. The list includes both the name of the organizations and the title of each project.
16 Tech Community Corporation – Planning Grant for The Park and Public Art at 16 Tech
A Children’s Habitat Inc. - Outdoor Sensory & Adaptive Playscape
American Piano Awards, Inc. - Capacity Building and Rebranding
Artrageous, Inc. - Capacity Building and Renewal
Aspire Higher Foundation, Inc. - The GRoW House/Community Facility & Artist Residence
Athenaeum Foundation, Inc. - Biergarten Wall Repairs
Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, Inc. - White Christmas Set Equipment
Butler University – Clowes Memorial Hall Capital Improvements
Christ Church Cathedral – Choir School Artists in Residence
Crossroads Brass Band, Inc. - Percussion Equipment
Crown Hill Heritage Fdn Inc – “Crown Hill Forever” Arboretum Care & Historic Renovation
Dance Kaleidoscope, Inc. – Shared Portable Dance Floor with Indianapolis Ballet
Discovering Broadway Inc. - City-Wide Survey: World Premiere Musicals in Indianapolis
Epilogue Players, Inc. - Stage Lighting System Upgrade
Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis – Indy Center & Green Space Art Experience
Harrison Center for the Arts, Inc. - Capacity Building for Fund Development Campaign
Indiana Black Expo, Inc. - Performing Arts Academy Auditorium Renovation
Indiana Blind Children's Fdn, Inc. - No Limits: An Arts Series focused on Access for All
Indiana Entertainment Foundation, Inc. - Amazing Indiana Music Stories Campaign
Indiana State Museum Foundation Inc. - K-12 Informal Learning Research
Indiana Symphony Society, Inc. d/b/a Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - Allen Whitehill Clowes Performing Arts Collaboration (Indy Ballet, ISO and Clowes Hall)
Indiana University - Eskenazi Museum of Art – Conservation Camera Equipment
Indiana University - IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences - Hidden Stories: Documenting Chin Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Indiana
Indiana University - IU Bloomington Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, & Design - Advancing Building Innovation through Additive Manufacturing
Indianapolis Art Center, Inc. - Building Community Through Art Capital Campaign
Indianapolis Ballet Inc. - Eye on the Future Capacity Building Project
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fdn Inc - Innovation Workshop Space in Renovated Museum
Indianapolis Movement Arts Collective, Inc. - Open Stage Programming for Dancers
Indianapolis Professional Association, Inc. - Achievement Awards & Youth Empowerment Program
Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, Inc. - Consultant Led & Community Engaged Strategic Plan Extension
Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Inc. - Capacity Building
Indianapolis Women's Chorus, Inc. - Capacity Building
Indianapolis-Marion Co. Public Library Foundation, Inc. - Encyclopedia of Indianapolis Development
Indy Convergence, Inc. - Strategic Renewal Plan
Kids Dance Outreach, Inc. - The Outfit Main Studio/Performance Space Development
Kids First Incorporated – Zionsville Studio Installation
Kokomo Symphonic Society, Inc. - Harmony of Heritage: A Celebration of Black Music in History
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library Inc. - Collection Preservation
Noblesville Creates, Inc. - New Headquarters
PATTERN, Inc. - Creative Indiana: Mapping the Economic Canvas
People for Urban Progress, Inc. - Replacement and Upgrade of Equipment
Phoenix Theatre, Inc. - Lighting the Cultural Centre
Shelby County Players, Inc. - Phase 2 Facility Expansion
Sheldon Swope Art Museum, Inc. - HVAC System Upgrade to Preserve Art Collection
Southside Art League, Inc. - Artists’ Studios
St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, Inc. - Musical Moments: Creating a Sound Foundation for Infants with Hearing Loss
Summer Stock Stage, Inc. - Year-Round Programming
Taylor University – Looking In/Reaching Out: Engaging with the Boren Art Gallery
Urban Musical Theatre Inc. - Equipment Update and Improvement of Digital Technology
USA International Harp Competition, Inc. - Orchestra for the 2025 Competition
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. 2024 saw the support of continuing and new organizations in an expanded programmatic effect.
The AWCCF provided 34 grants to organizations that do summer programming in the arts and cultural sector. The organizations receiving funding included:
ArtMix, Inc.
Big Car Media, Inc.
Claude McNeal's Musical Theatre Training Program, Inc.
Dance Kaleidoscope, Inc.
Deeply Ingrained, Inc.
Discovering Broadway Inc.
El Sistema Indianapolis, Inc.
Flanner House of Indianapolis Inc
Fonseca Theatre Company, Inc.
Footlite Musicals, Inc.
Freetown Village, Inc.
Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis
Happy Hollow Children's Camp, Inc.
Harrison Center for the Arts, Inc.
Iibada Dancers, Inc. d/b/a Iibada Dance Company
Indiana State Museum Foundation Inc.
Indiana University Foundation – Herron School of Art & Design
Indianapolis Art Center, Inc.
Indianapolis Ballet Inc.
Indianapolis Children's Choir, Inc.
Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival, Inc.
Indianapolis-Marion Co. Public Library Foundation, Inc.
Indy Convergence, Inc.
Kids Dance Outreach, Inc.
Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis, Inc.
St. Richard's Episcopal School, Horizons Program
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Inc.
The Performing Arts Conservatory Inc
Urban Musical Theatre Inc.
Westminster Neighborhood Services, Inc.
World Changers School of the Arts, Inc.
Writers' Center of Indiana, Inc. - dba Indiana Writers Center
Young Actors Theatre, Inc. d/b/a React
Young Audiences of Indiana, Inc. dba 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 2024 grants were given in response to increasing violence and war in the world, natural disasters, and other emergency needs. The organizations that received grants (reflecting multiple occasions of funding in different emergency situations) included:
All Hands and Hearts Smart Response, Inc.
American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
American National Red Cross
UNICEF USA
World Central Kitchen, Inc.
A WORD ON THE IMPACT OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CAPITAL GRANTS INITIATED IN 2024
Capital Grants previously approved but finding their initiation and, in some cases, conclusion in 2024 made great impact in many areas of importance for the good of people and their experience of arts, culture, and humanities. These projects represent the following areas and foci:
Musical Arts – Jazz in new summer settings and long-standing competitions and festivals; classical music in small ensembles, restored educational environments, collaborative concert offerings; space and performance support for vocal and choral groups; curation of artifacts and library for the American Songbook tradition.
Dance and Movement – Capacity building and performance support for exceptional ballet in the city and encouragement of smaller dance ensembles; studio and performance improvements for dance groups in city and suburbs; new facilities for in-city dance focusing on underserved children.
Theatre Arts – Equipment for Indianapolis and surrounding communities’ theatrical groups; transition support for new leadership in long-standing theatre company; a major gift for recognition of long-time Indiana theatre artist and leader through a theatre renovation; cutting edge production in youth theatre.
Facility Construction and Restoration – historic buildings restored and developed in Indianapolis and surrounding communities; new performance venues and equipment support.
Community and Neighborhood Development through the Arts – new community -based arts initiatives; programming for arts development in neighborhood schools; museum Latino culture, translation, and arts exhibits; project for neighborhood arts and facility revitalization; community arts and culture reporting via a major local news initiative.
Visual Arts – Significant projects to enhance gallery and educational environments; major public art and mural projects in Indianapolis and beyond, support for the Clowes Collection and Pavilion, neighborhood arts initiatives.
Strengthening of BIPOC arts and learning – education and exhibits addressing history of and response to inequity and racism; documentaries on BIPOC leaders and artists; incubation of new BIPOC theatre companies and ensembles and capacity building for existing ones.
Gardens and environments of wholeness and healing – sensory gardens for therapeutic purposes; landscaping projects for health and educational facilities; renewed entry gardens for the Zoo.
The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation has had a full and vibrant 2024 continuing Mr. Clowes legacy, assessing needs and opportunities in communities, and working with many partners. We have listened to and learned from organizations and their leaders while imagining the foundation’s future and making grants to sustain and strengthen robust ideas, programs, and initiatives for the wholeness and hope of communities and the people that live in them.
This mission and work remain a great privilege.
Dr. James B. Lemler, President