Landmark Columbus Foundation Announces Special Projects and Events in Celebration of Columbus Area Bicentennial
Recognized as official Bicentennial Projects, these efforts are built from the organization’s mission to care for, celebrate, and advance the cultural heritage of Columbus, Indiana and are set to have lasting impact for generations to come
Columbus, Indiana — Landmark Columbus Foundation Directors and Staff recognize that the Columbus Area Bicentennial challenges us to consider who and what came before us and imagine what will come beyond 2021. The organization has taken this as an opportunity to imagine new futures and consider what to leave behind that can benefit future generations—an opportunity to think big and search for meaning in our lives and work that will have lasting benefits.
Today Landmark Columbus announces six key initiatives that will put in motion projects and events that will have a lasting impact and benefits across many parts of our community, and visibility in and far beyond our city.
“We are so proud to have this organization in our community and to see the impact it makes every day,” said Rick Johnson, Landmark Columbus Foundation Board Chair. “And we’re glad to be doing our part to celebrate this moment in community history.”
Many of these projects stem from the strong connection our organization enjoys with Heritage Fund—the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, which partnered with the organization to win a major grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The generous support for many of these projects and events comes directly from this grant with a desire to increase leadership efforts and strengthen the area we serve.
“We have been building something very special with a wide variety of collaborators and partners,” said Executive Director Richard McCoy. “Each of
these projects and events are built from this remarkable community and designed for everyone to better know what makes this place so amazing.”
Exhibit Columbus 2021 Exhibition New Middles
Now in its third cycle, the 2021 Exhibit Columbus Exhibition opens August 21 in downtown Columbus and runs through November. 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, These new works connect with the iconic buildings, landscapes, and public art that make this place so special.
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 feature 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 runs through July 25. A reception will take place on July 10 at 2:00 pm.
Civic Vision: 75 years of design and community in Columbus, Indiana
Set for publication in fall 2022 by Monacelli Press, 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 text by 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.
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.
Progressive Preservation Revolving Loan Fund
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.
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.
Image available upon request. More information at
