Madison named to Indiana Cultural Districts program

MADISON, Ind. (AP) – The southern Indiana city of Madison has become the latest Indiana community to join a state program designed to emphasize the arts and culture.

The Indiana Arts Commission announced Monday that Madison would join Bloomington, Carmel, Columbus, Lafayette and Nashville in the Indiana Statewide Cultural Districts Program. The designation does not bring funding but gives communities a statewide platform to share the role that arts and culture play in economic development, tourism and quality of life.

Cultural districts are defined as areas with mixed use anchored by high concentrations of cultural assets.

Executive director Kim Nyberg of the Madison Arts Alliance says she hopes the designation brings attention to the Ohio River community’s historic architecture, natural beauty and existing arts.