Two Indianapolis organizations hope a crowdfunding campaign will raise enough funds to qualify for an art-oriented state grant to paint new public murals featuring deceased local DJs and community figures Mpozi Tolbert and Ron Miner.
BRIDGE Collective and the Broad Ripple Village Association partnered to raise $12,500 for the effort before Sept. 19. If successful, the entities will receive a matching grant from the state-funded CreatINg Places program, part of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
“This proposed artwork will recognize the legacy of two Indianapolis icons,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch in a release. “It will serve as a fitting tribute to individuals whose work touched the lives of so many, and I am excited to see this project come together through the collective work of the community.”
A Broad Ripple mural that depicted Tolbert was painted over roughly a year ago, more than a decade after it had been painted following his death in 2006. The new public art installation will be located in roughly the same area, in an alley off of Guilford Avenue between Westfield Blvd and Broad Ripple Avenue. Donations can be made here.
Miner, also known as DJ Indiana Jones, died in 2020 and has a Broad Ripple mural off of College Avenue near the Red Line bus stop.
“BRIDGE Collective is thrilled to be partnering with the BRVA and IHCDA’s CreatINg Places Program to commemorate Mpozi Tolbert and Ron Miner (aka Indiana Jones), two larger-than-life individuals that left an indelible mark on our Indianapolis community,” said Jordan Dillon, executive director of the Broad Ripple Village Association, in the release.
CreatINg purposefully encourages communities to crowdfund for matching dollars as part of its goals to get the public involved and “instill community pride.” CreatINg Places launched in 2016 and has raised more than $11.1 million in public funds with an additional $9.5 million in matching state funds.
This article was written by Indiana Capital Chronicle reporter Whitney Downard.
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