SOUTH BEND, Ind. (July 13, 2026) – The Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) has announced the recipients of READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative awards. The South Bend – Elkhart region will receive $9.15 million for five projects. The region submitted 34 applications (out of 319 applications submitted statewide). Over $400 million was requested, with project costs ranging from  less than $3,000 to $19 million.

The South Bend – Elkhart region fund recipients are:

• Historic State Theater South Bend Transformation, Community Foundation of St. Joseph County – $4 million
  The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County will redevelop the blighted, historic State Theater into a multi-screen cinema and performing arts venue, preserving the building’s historic exterior while rebuilding the interior. Five theaters will support simultaneous film, live performance, lecture and educational programming — filling a cultural gap in the region. A sustainable operating model will ensure the theater’s long-term viability.
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• Howard Park Bandshell, City of South Bend – $3 million
  The Howard Park Bandshell will turn South Bend’s premier park into a year-round destination for medium-scale performances and festivals, filling a regional gap for high-quality outdoor performing arts venues. The project includes a 2,000-square-foot stage, green rooms, and updated AV, electrical and lighting infrastructure. It aligns with the Downtown South Bend 2045 Plan and the region’s arts and cultural plan.
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• Freight Street District Initiative, City of Elkhart – $1.5 million
  The Freight Street District Initiative combines mixed-use redevelopment with two signature investments: Love Plaza, featuring a sculptural recreation of Kelby Love’s 1996 mural, and capital improvements to the National New York Central Railroad Museum. The project will transform an underutilized corridor into a walkable, culturally rich destination that builds community pride and expands cultural access.
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• Music Town, Visit South Bend Mishawaka – $350,000
  Music Town strengthens the South Bend – Elkhart region’s live music ecosystem by connecting artists, venues and residents through a unified community calendar and coordinated venue scheduling. Already operating in Elkhart, where it has doubled the number of music shows, the program is expanding into South Bend and Goshen. The award will fund more shows and help bring touring acts to the region.
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• Northern Indiana Clay Center, Northern Indiana Clay Alliance – $300,000
  The Northern Indiana Clay Center will establish downtown Goshen’s first permanent, public-facing ceramics facility, offering studio memberships, workshops, artist residencies and exhibition space in a historic 8,000-square-foot building. Partnerships with area schools and community organizations will serve residents across generations. The project builds on more than 15 years of ceramics programming that has made the region a national destination for ceramic arts.
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In January of 2024, the State of Indiana announced a $250 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to the IEDC to help bolster quality of place efforts throughout the state. Named the Redevelopment & Arts Initiative, the funds offered $185 million toward reviving blighted areas, and $65 million toward boosting arts and culture in communities around the state.

In 2025, the IEDC provided funds for regions to take part in an arts and culture planning process. Working with consulting firm Designing Local, the South Bend – Elkhart region conducted a public survey, focus groups and one-on-one conversations, and developed a steering committee  to inform the plan. The draft plan was presented to the community for feedback at a series of workshops, and the final was adopted by the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority at its December meeting. View the Arts & Culture Plan here.

“These awards tell a story about how our region works,” said Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. “Every READI Arts & Culture dollar coming into South Bend – Elkhart is matched by ten more from local and private partners, which is the highest leverage of any region in Indiana and represents more than $100 million in potential investment. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because our communities built an arts and culture plan together and then put real skin in the game. From the potential transformation of the State Theater to the Freight Street District to a new bandshell at Howard Park, these are projects our residents will feel in their daily lives, and they’re proof that investing in creativity is investing in economic growth.”

For more information on READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grant recipients statewide, click here.

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About South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership is a collaboration of regional stakeholders focused on economic development, workforce development, talent retention, and entrepreneurial growth. By fostering a connected community, the Partnership works to enhance the region’s competitiveness and improve the quality of life for all residents and make it the most prosperous region in the Midwest. For more information about the Regional Partnership, visit SouthBendElkhart.org.

About the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA)

Formed in 2015, the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) represents the three Indiana counties of Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph. The RDA is overseen by a five-member board, each appointed by the mayors and commissioners of member counties and municipalities. The RDA is committed to the continued improvement of the South Bend – Elkhart region and receives staffing support from the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, the lead regional economic development organization for the region. For more information about RDA, click here.