Jared Thompson

Grants Management and Commissions

- MAPFUND(30k): Create a groundbreaking project that interrogates presumptive cultural norms, challenges entrenched ideologies and reminds us of our shared humanity while championing cultural equity and formal innovation in performance practices

-Update community partners on budgets, schedules, and deadlines to execute the project within the 1-year timeframe of the grant requirements

- "Space Jams," and interactive live planetarium concert (held at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis) with continuous digital animation, was the capstone project that effectively related goals of the grant through artist, community, and arts organizations' collaboration

-Prioritized where budget was most needed between venue acquisition, artist compensation, marketing and distribution

(Budget Allocation: Determined that 1/3 of budget for venue rental and amenities at said venue ($3394)

Another 1/3 of budget to supporting visual artists for capstone ($3500)

40% to musicians for capstone and recording/mixing/mastering ($22,500)

Remaining for marketing of capstone and distribution of record)

-Project continues to encourage The Children's Museum of Indianapolis to re-think and re-imagine how to activate exhibits and spaces in new ways to better engage audiences and include more local artists in their 5-year strategic planning

Artist at Work (Herbert Simon Family Foundation) (~50k)

-Select local non-profit (Inspire Music Collective) to partner with for a year using artistically driven ideas to enhance, sustain, and or create programming that benefits the community and allows for equitable time and salary for the grantee

-Create and/or enhance programming with Inspire and The MLK Center to identify blind spots of accessibility and resource utilization within the organization as well as the artistic community and understand how to better align the arts with community organizations that result in tangible progress in meeting and exceeding the goals/vison of the organization and the artist alike

-Create budget to equitably compensate artists involved in The MLK Center's summer camp for 6 week program that focuses on food, culture, music, and community building from an international perspective

(Budget Allocation: $4800 over 6 weeks summer camp at MLK Center (12 summer camp facilitators at rate of 400)

Remaining funds used as personal salary for facilitating programming)

-Success of Inspire and The MLK Center's networking and collaboration resulted in Inspire's resources being sought after to enhance the summer camp and The MLK Center's relationship with the Best Buy Teen Tech Center beyond the 1-year tenure of the grant

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Commission (20k)

-Create an innovative and engaging production of music to present to a wide audience in lieu of a live performance due to pandemic restrictions while managing interview, rehearsal, and editing schedules for a span of 5 months

-Negotiate realistic timelines and financial infrastructure to complete the project according to the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation’s needs

-(Budget Allocation: 8 musicians hired at $1000 each

$8000 for filmographer and producer

$2000 for album production and distribution

$2000 for director and rehearsal management)

-Capstone documentary "38th & Postmodernism" garnered international recognition for being selected for the Heartland International Film Festival and gave a significant voice to the Indianapolis arts community and precipitated the creation of more multi-genre, interactive projects and programming from the arts community thanks to the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation's creative solution for Indy Jazz Fest during a pandemic

Classical Music Indy Commission (25k)

-Compose and arrange a song in 3 months that conjures a memory or reflects the spirit of a local landmark or location while creating and adhering to rehearsal and recording schedules per the needs of the community partner (CMI)

(Budget Allocation: 4 musicians ($400/per)

Composer/conductor/project manager ($900))

-Capstone recording of "A Break in the Clouds" at Tomlinson Taproom at the City Market helped expand visual and aural reach of Classical Music Indy and resulted in the organization's ability to create additional commissions for myself and other musicians in the Indianapolis area

-Conner Prairie Commissions (~3k)

-Discuss with Conner Prairie and other contractors to develop a soundscape that will be used for multiple new exhibits that highlight the stories of POC that have been overlooked or downplayed in the past by the organization

(Budget Allocation: 5 musicians at the rate of $250 for recording

-Composed and recorded original music within 2 years that reflected the needs of the exhibits' intended message and meet any and all deadlines including re-writes and edits

-Efficacy of collaboration with the organization has resulted in 4 new exhibits opening in the spring of 2026

New Works Commission (25k)

-Create a new composition that reflects the core values of The Center for the Performing Arts and manage participants by setting deadlines for rehearsals and compositional edits

-Capstone project "Classical Scratch" provides brief yet thorough aural history of the evolution of Black music over the past 400 yrs

(Budget Allocation: 3 artists at the rate of $500 for performance

$1000 for composer and director)

-Success of commission increased application submissions two-fold by next commission cycle

-Organizers of commission have use me as an adjudicator for the past 2 commission cycles

Community Engagement and Consultations

-The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

-Scope of Consult/Engagement

Consultations began the winter of 2022-present

Meet with CEO, VP, and COO at least once every quarter

Review organization's 5-year strategic plan and advise/suggest areas for expansion or development of programming, exhibits, and special events

Compose, perform, and curate music for specific exhibits (The Official Nelson Mandela Exhibit, Ruth Carter Afro-Futurism Exhibit, Disney’s The Princess and the Frog Exhibit)

WISH TV

-Scope of Consult

Consultations began 2022-2024

Worked with executive producer of WISH TV morning show to suggest and book guests heavily involved in the arts and culture scene of Indianapolis

Content contributions to the station led to co-hosting mid-morning program LifeStyle Live (formerly known as Indy Style) where I could directly interview those in the community that exemplify excellence in the arts and community involvement/culture

-Indianapolis Opera Company

Scope of Consult

Consultation for the first performance of the 2024 opera season

Produce and participate in three public discussion panels to engage and educate the community on the historical significance of Charlie Parker and his contribution to the jazz genre

Develop report with leading jazz venue and Opera Company and produce concert that attracts both opera and jazz fans to promote premiere of "Yardbird" opera

Use concert as an interactive promotion for the Opera Company’s first debut performance of the 2024 season

Use community and venue partnerships to broaden the demographic of opera company’s patronage