Indianapolis: A City Flourishing with the Humanities and Arts

Indiana Humanities is excited that the 2023 National Humanities Conference has been rescheduled from 2020 to 2023, the year of its 50^th Anniversary! 

The conference and Indiana Humanities’ critical role as its host have already been featured in the Indiana Business Journal. Marisol Gouveia, Director of Engagement at Indiana Humanities, was quoted in the article: “We know the landscape and will provide on-the-ground support throughout the process. Above all, we want to make sure everyone feels welcome in Indianapolis.”

Indianapolis, the 17th largest city in the nation, is a day’s drive or less for 80-percent of the population with the #1 Airport in North America for 11 years. And “Indy,” most famous for racecars and the Indy 500, has a flourishing arts and culture scene that is known as one of “America’s Next Great Food Cities.”

Here are a few “pit stops” within a five-minute walk of the conference hotel that Indiana Humanities Board Chair Chris Gahl recommends:

Eiteljorg Museum: Indianapolis translates to “City of Indians,” and this thoughtful museum curates and celebrates Native American culture, including the tribes indigenous to our city.  Conference attendees will have the opportunity to explore the Eiteljorg during the conference’s opening reception and other cultural attractions around Indy.

Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library: Vonnegut was born and raised in Indy, and this museum has a new, bigger home. An eclectic gathering of items are showcased, including a re-creation of his writing space, his favorite coffee cup, family photos and original manuscripts. 

Cafe Patachou: This farm-to-table restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch, has been sourcing locally since the 1980s, before it was cool. In October, chances are you can sit outside overlooking the Indiana statehouse, made of Indiana limestone. It’s the same local stone used to build the Empire State Building and many of the buildings in our nation’s capital.  

Stay tuned for more about Indianapolis when 2023 National Humanities Conference registration opens in July!