Paige Sharp
Principal
Paige, a practicing artist, brings nearly 30 years of experience as a community development professional within the arts and culture sector. Her vast experience covers the areas of relationship and consensus building, community engagement, needs assessment, community program development and implementation, and strategic visioning. She has direct experience developing cultural asset maps, engaging diverse and rural communities, and managing complex systems and programs. She served as the Deputy Director of Programs for the Indiana Arts Commission for nearly 11 years and was appointed the agency’s Chief Equity Officer in 2021 because of her leading agency efforts for the years leading to that appointment.
Paige brings significant field experience and thoroughly recognizes the unique challenges and opportunities rural Indiana arts and cultural organizations face. Paige is also an expert in “arts and” or cross-sector partnerships between the arts and non-arts sectors, and brings significant Cultural District develop expertise for which she has consulted nationally.
Her creative vision and collaborative approach have consistently inspired positive organizational growth, delivering results that exceed established goals.
Sara A. Peterson
Management Consultant
SaraPetersonConsulting.com
Sara has been a consultant since 1998. In that time, she has assisted hundreds of organizations — from small, all-volunteer start-ups to a multi-billion-dollar funder. Her work includes board development, planning and facilitation, program development and evaluation, organizational assessments, and related services. The bulk of her portfolio is with arts and culture nonprofits, local government, and – on her best days – where the two meet. It is a varied practice, but one that is always dedicated to helping clients do their jobs better.
Sara brings significant technical experience bringing complex data and diverse viewpoints into focus through 25+ years of experience across sectors. She has worked with Cultural Districts, developed strategic plans for arts organization across Indiana and for statewide arts agencies, built public arts guidelines, and so much more. She is as comfortable working with volunteers to start an organization as she is with seasoned professionals turning around an organization in crisis. She understands and adapts to the needs of the group in front of her, whether it is a City Council in chambers or nonprofit arts.
Consultant + hopeless romantic for the power of NPOs, government & the arts to save the world. Sara is committed to your success without judgment, unlocking a better future - together.
Our Team
READI 2.0: Redevelopment & Arts Initiative
In 2021, Governor Eric J. Holcomb launched READI 1.0, allocating $500M to all of Indiana’s 92 counties. 2023 brought READI 2.0 with a focus on Quality of Life, Quality of Place, and Quality of Opportunity. It encouraged regions to include arts and culture initiatives in their plans, to help that sector know how to work proactively with economic development, and to prepare Indiana’s creative economy to be better poised to access future funding.
In January 2024, the Lilly Endowment (LEI) put money behind that piece of the puzzle — a $250M grant with $65M to support arts and culture initiatives that enhance quality of life and build vibrant communities in every region:
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Public art (mural, sculpture, installation, programmable lighting on key asset, artistic community improvement)
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Culturally significant attractions/facilities (museum, performing arts venue, art center/studio complex)
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Art and cultural competitions or festivals with long-term funding commitments to sustain them
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Attraction of nationally and internationally recognized arts and cultural performances to Indiana
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Development of of a region’s creatives and creative economy
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Development of visual architectural design elements that are unique to local communities
This came on the heels of LEI’s $210M GIFT VIII announcement to support community foundations 1) grow their financial resources, long-term viability and sustainability; 2) strengthen their leadership; and 3) enable initiatives that enhance their communities’ quality of life.
Finally, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced $1.5M support for strategic planning focused on arts and culture and led by subject-matter experts identified by the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC). We are honored to be part of that work for three regions.
NEA: Our Town
Our Town is the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)’s creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, the program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term.
Our Town projects engage a wide range of local stakeholders in efforts to advance local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes in communities. Competitive projects are responsive to unique local conditions, develop meaningful and substantive engagement in communities, center equity, advance artful lives, and lay the groundwork for long-term systems change.
We provide Our Town projects with cultural asset mapping, community planning, and technical assistance.
