April showers bring May festivities! We are excited for the cultural event lineup coming to Indianapolis this spring. At the forefront of it all we have GIPC Member Alan Bacon, Co-Founder + President of GANGGANG, who was able to set the stage for us regarding the coming months.
Access member profiles from previous months here. Have news you want shared? Let us know!
Can you share more about how GANGGANG came to be?
GANGGANG was a response to cities needing a revival and way forward in the midst of the double pandemic of 2020. The world stopping provided a crucial pause and a demand for immediate solution for human connectivity. GANGGANG was Malina and my answer to what US cities have relied on historically and what they’ll need to sustain themselves – the arts. GANGGANG exists as the creative advocacy firm that knows the arts are the path to equity.
You’ve been quoted, “A city is in a dangerous place when its creatives stop dreaming.” Can you share more about how GANGGANG empowers Indy’s creatives?
GANGGANG supports artists as an effort to center beauty, culture and equity in cities. The creative ecosystem in Indy is engineered by artists. They produce the creativity, execution and thought leadership found in beautiful places. When a city doesn’t have this asset, it is in a position with less vibrancy, economic development and is simply less attractive.
GANGGANG presents exciting events year-round. What events can Indy residents look forward to this Spring?
GANGGANG and Forty5 have partnered to create I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll, the city’s inaugural Black rock and roll festival that will take place on May 18th at the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis. Janelle Monáe will headline the festival, following live performances by Gary Clark Jr. and Robert Randolph—both of whom recently contributed to Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album—as well as Joy Oladokun, Meet Me @ the Altar, and Inner Peace. We have a series of really cool lead-up events to the festival that will be taking place throughout the remainder of April. These events give Indy residents the opportunity to vibe, connect with each other, and bond over our love for music and culture before the big day of the festival. More information about the event series can be found here.
How can GIPC members get involved?
We’re always open to collaborations and partnerships that build equity and aim to strengthen the city’s creative economy. As a result, GIPC members can get involved with us through a variety of ways, such as event collaborations, partnering with us for Indianapolis-based projects, volunteer opportunities, fundraising, and donations. Since we are a non-profit organization, the generosity of our donors allows us to continue our work of uplifting and advocating for creatives from all backgrounds.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Whether it’s providing creative direction, positioning artists and culturalists to better contribute and benefit from the creative economy, or the intentional reparational slant into the work we execute, we invite all who align with our mission to come alongside and think with us! Stay tuned for all GANGGANG’s events this summer! In addition to I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll, we have BLACK: A Festival of Joy, BUTTER Fine Art Fair, and so much more. There are always ways for people to get involved with our many citywide projects and initiatives.