The Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority adopted a new community-driven arts and culture strategy for the South Bend – Elkhart Region.

The RDA and staff at the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership worked with consulting team Designing Local to develop the regional arts and culture plan. The plan provides a vision for more deeply integrating arts and culture into the Region. It will serve as a roadmap for regional organizations and local governments in implementing the community’s vision.

“The State of Indiana’s Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative – or READI – program has transformed the way communities across our Region think about quality of place,” said Tim Sexton, RDA chair, in a press release. “This plan elevates that progress by showing how strategic investments in arts and culture can deepen our identity, strengthen our neighborhoods and amplify the impact of the work already underway.”

In 2025, Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced funds for regions to take part in an arts and culture planning process. After a data gathering phase, a draft plan was presented to the Region over the summer through a series of workshops in Elkhart, Marshall and St. Joseph counties to gain further insight.

“The South Bend – Elkhart Region has never lacked creativity or talent – what we’ve needed is a shared vision to elevate what’s already exceptional,” Bethany Hartley, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership president and CEO, said. “This plan gives us that. It captures our tenacity, our commitment to excellence and our belief that world-class arts and culture don’t just belong in big cities – they belong right here at home.”

In January 2024, the State of Indiana announced a $250 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to help bolster quality of place efforts throughout the state. Named the Redevelopment & Arts Initiative, the grant will support reviving blighted areas, as well as boosting arts and culture in the community.

The Arts & Culture Plan will be the lead document in the Region’s bid for these funds. Under the direction of Governor Braun and in partnership with the Indiana Arts Commission, the IEDC plans on awarding funds from the Arts Initiative to specific projects across the state in 2026.