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Anna Agnew

Anna Agnew

Anna Agnew was a writer who achieved recognition for her account of spending seven years as a patient at Indianapolis’s , undergoing treatment for severe symptoms from what is now known as bipolar disorder. Agnew’s autobiography, From Under the Cloud, provides a unique and detailed account of the details and experiences of daily life for patients living in the asylum. Agnew (née Keyt) was born in 1836 to Nathan and Martha Keyt of Moscow, Ohio. While she experienced episodic symptoms of bipolar disorder beginning in childhood, later recalling that “even… Read More »Anna Agnew

Labyris 

Labyris 

Former social-service administrator Mary Byrne operated the feminist bar Labyris from March 1979 until 1984 in the district. The bar provided a safe space for both straight and lesbian women to form a community and relationships, whether platonic or romantic.   The name of the bar derives from the labrys, a double-bladed axe featured in Ancient Greek mythology, which became a common symbol adopted by 1970s lesbian communities to symbolize strength and self-sufficiency.  Labyris maintained an active event calendar that showcased creative and political events. Bar patrons shared music and poetry… Read More »Labyris 

Mexican Film Festival

Mexican Film Festival

The Mexican Film Festival was established by the in Indianapolis to bring contemporary Latin American and Latino cinema to the city. During the festival’s inaugural year of 2003, the consulate partnered with the and to bring eleven films to the city. This was the first Indianapolis cultural event sponsored by the city’s Mexican Consulate outside of the traditional fall-time Hispanic Heritage Month. For the next two decades, the festival served as a platform for diverse voices and stories, with a goal of building cultural pride and promoting intercultural understanding. The… Read More »Mexican Film Festival

Percussive Arts Society

Percussive Arts Society

The Percussive Arts Society (PAS), headquartered in Indianapolis, is an international organization for percussionists and percussion educators, which maintains a significant presence in the local arts community. Established in 1961, the group moved to Indianapolis in 2007. PAS educates and supports percussionists in the areas of performance, pedagogy, and research. The organization hosts its annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) each November in Indianapolis, bringing percussionists and drummers throughout the world to the city. The organization’s origins came from discussions at the 1960 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in… Read More »Percussive Arts Society

Special Olympics Indiana

Special Olympics Indiana

Special Olympics Indiana (SOIN) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Indianapolis. It provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1969, the organization emerged shortly after the creation of the global Special Olympics movement. With its launch, Indiana became one of the first states to establish a statewide program of this type. The origins of SOIN came when educators at Indiana State University in Terre Haute helped to organize the state’s first Olympic-style games. Held on June 6, 1969, the event took place less… Read More »Special Olympics Indiana

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