Before and Beyond
2021
The Columbus Area Bicentennial challenges us to consider who and what came before us and imagine what will come beyond 2021. This is an opportunity to imagine new futures and consider what we want to leave behind that will benefit the next generation—a chance to think big and search for meaning in our lives and work that will have lasting benefits.
This moment has inspired our organization to launch major projects and events that each connect to the Bicentennial theme of “Legacy,” and focus on the important stories from our past that have made our community what it is today.
Many of these projects and events stem from the strong connection our organization enjoys with Heritage Fund—the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, which has allowed us to collaborate to win a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The generous support for much of this work comes directly from this grant that was designed to increase leadership efforts and strengthen the area we serve.
2021 Exhibit Columbus Exhibition New Middles: From Main Street to Megalopolis, What is the Future of the Middle City?
Now in its third cycle, the 2021 Exhibit Columbus Exhibition opens August 21 in downtown Columbus and runs through November. Curated by Iker Gil and Mimi Zeiger, the groundbreaking project features more than a dozen site-specific outdoor installations by internationally acclaimed artists, architects, designers, university professors, and Columbus high school students. Under the theme New Middles: From Main Street to Megalopolis, What is the Future of the Middle City?, these new works connect with the iconic buildings and landscapes of Columbus. The theme explores the future of the center of the United States and the regions connected by the Mississippi Watershed.
The Artwork of Carole Wantz: Collected Stories from Columbus, Indiana
This exhibition at the Indiana State Museum celebrates the remarkable career and life of one of the Columbus area’s best-loved artists, Carole Wantz. She painted some 150 paintings from 1975–1985 that show this area and its people at their best. Paintings include scenes from some of the most significant moments of that era, including major paintings of J. Irwin Miller and Arvin Industries. The exhibition opened in April and ran through July 25.
This exhibition travelled to Columbus and was installed throughout downtown during the fall of 2021. This part of the exhibiton was made possible in part by a grant from our regional arts partners, the Columbus Area Arts Council and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Downtown Columbus, photo by Iwan Baan
Civic Vision: 75 years of design and community in Columbus, Indiana
Set for publication in summer 2024 by Monacelli, this book will illustrate how civic leadership in the Columbus area has uniquely worked to improve the quality of place as a key driver for community-wide success, and how design excellence continues to play a central role. Featuring images by world-renowned photographer Iwan Baan and writing by architecture critic Matt Shaw, the book will explore the impact of the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program and how the “Columbus Way” of creating public-private partnerships has led to success. It will tell this story in a beautiful and accessible way as a lasting contribution to future generations.
Downtown Columbus, photo by Hadley Fruits
Countywide Assessment of Cultural Heritage Resources
This year Landmark Columbus launches a first-ever, county-wide assessment of the modern built environment. It will be assessed and documented over the coming years by local, regional, and national experts. Advising on this work will be collaborators from Indiana Landmarks and DOCOMOMO-US. Information will be archived with the open-source software program, Arches, which is managed by the Getty Conservation Institute. A beautifully designed website will be created to publish the data.
Downtown Columbus, photo by Hadley Fruits
Progressive Preservation Revolving Loan Fund for Cultural Heritage Resources
With $600,000 in seed funds from the Lilly Endowment Inc. grant, Landmark Columbus Foundation launches the Progressive Preservation Loan Fund in partnership with Heritage Fund—the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County as a new tool for Bartholomew County. Dollars will directly assist qualifying property owners by loaning capital for maintenance and improvement projects for significant buildings and landscapes. The existence of this fund is based on best practices from leading preservation organizations, including Indiana Landmarks, Los Angeles Conservancy, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Inside the Commons, photo by Hadley Fruits
Landmark Columbus Foundation Operating Endowment Campaign
With over $500,000 in seed funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. grant and in partnership with Heritage Fund—the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, Landmark Columbus Foundation launches a five year endowment campaign with a target goal of $2.25m. Once fully funded, the endowment will sustain the core operating expenses of the organization and ensure its long-term sustainability for many generations to come.
Our Inaugural Annual Report
