This month’s State Update features: IU Eskenazi Museum of Art reimagining the future of art engagement with $5M Lilly Endowment grant; IU Southeast receiving a Community Collaboration Fund grant to expand entrepreneurship education and outreach; IU Indianapolis dance program for individuals with Down syndrome going global; and IU Dining's significant economic impact on Indiana farms and food businesses.
IU Eskenazi Museum of Art to reimagine future of art engagement with $5M Lilly Endowment grant
Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a transformative $5 million grant to the Indiana University Foundation that will allow the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University to strengthen its ability to connect people with art in meaningful ways. The investment will expand the museum’s capacity to welcome new audiences, deepen community relationships and create more engaging experiences for visitors across Indiana.
IU Southeast receives Community Collaboration Fund grant for ETA and Business Transition Initiative
Indiana University Southeast has received a $40,000 Community Collaboration Fund grant for the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and Business Transition Initiative. The grant, in partnership with regional organizations, including the Jeffersonville Township Public Library, Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Southeast and the Chamber of Commerce of Harrison County, will enable IU Southeast and IU Innovates to expand entrepreneurship education and outreach across the region by increasing awareness of ETA as a viable pathway to business ownership. Through educational programming, regional events, and partnerships with community organizations, the initiative will connect aspiring entrepreneurs with business owners planning for succession, helping preserve locally owned businesses, retain jobs, and strengthen the regional economy.
IU Indianapolis dance program for individuals with Down syndrome goes global
When Rachel Swinford, clinical professor of kinesiology at IU Indianapolis, worked on her PhD dissertation in 2011, she wanted to research the benefits of dance for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. Her research developed into Live Laugh Dance, a summer program organized by the School of Health & Human Sciences, Franklin College, and Down Syndrome Indiana, with the goal of supporting individuals across the state. 15 years later and Live Laugh Dance is now international.
IU Dining has significant economic impact on Indiana farms and food businesses
A new report from FARMWISE Indiana and Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute quantifies IU Dining's direct economic impact on Indiana farmers and food producers for the first time. In Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024 – June 2025), IU Dining spent more than $4 million with 51 Indiana farms and food businesses, representing 23% of its total food budget. Using the National Farm to Institution Metrics Collaborative framework, researchers analyzed nearly 4,700 food items purchased by IU Dining and identified direct investments in Hoosier farmers, food manufacturers, and value-added producers. The report found that $1.4 million went directly to Indiana farmers, while an additional $2.6 million supported Indiana-based food businesses.