Economic development. A quality education. A thriving arts scene. A healthy environment. The ability to rebound from a disaster. These are all things that go into making a community strong—and issues we tackle through community partnerships. We serve as a coordinated entry point for employers, community organizations, and civic leaders seeking to work with IU Indianapolis.
Indianapolis is home to a vibrant and diverse community. Campus cultural events celebrate a wide range of identities, experiences, and traditions while creating opportunities to learn, connect, and build meaningful relationships.
The IU Indianapolis International Festival, hosted by the Office of International Affairs, is an annual event for students, staff, faculty, and the community to celebrate the diversity of cultures on campus and connect to international opportunities and resources.
The festival is free and open to the public.
This organization strives to be a catalyst for civic engagement through creative collaborations among the arts, humanities, and religion.
Although its flagship event is the Spirit and Place Festival, it offers programming throughout the year.
Learn more about Spirit and PlaceThe IU Indianapolis Arts and Humanities Institute (IAHI) supports interdisciplinary research projects and creative activities in the arts and humanities.
It seeks to foster relationships with community partners that bring the university and city together, whether that’s by engaging in arts programming or working together on a research project.
IU Indianapolis connects researchers, faculty, students, and community partners to collaborate on community-engaged research projects that address local priorities and create meaningful impact.
By sharing your research or partnering with campus experts, you help build solutions grounded in both community knowledge and scholarly insight.
Strong communities are economically sound communities. To ensure our neighbors have access to opportunity, we partner with community organizations and research institutes to advance sustainable economic growth across our region.
IU Indianapolis is home to dozens of centers and institutes that partner with the community and conduct research to improve quality of life across the city, state, and beyond.
Some highlights include:
The Polis Center (1989) – Uses geospatial technologies to help communities make better use of their data and improve outcomes.
Public Policy Institute(1992) – Provides unbiased research to help communities make informed policy decisions.
Basile Center for Art, Design and Public Life (2005) – Collaborates with community partners to develop creative solutions to real-world challenges.
Collaborate with IU Indianapolis to address community priorities and build solutions that strengthen our city and state.
