A look back: SPARK on the Circle in 2024

2024 was a monumental year for SPARK on the Circle!

SPARK is a placemaking project at Monument Circle in Downtown Indianapolis made possible through a collaboration between Indy arts nonprofit Big Car Collaborative, Downtown Indy, the City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission — and funded by the Capital Improvement Board in 2024. Designed by Indianapolis-based Merritt Chase, SPARK is created be a restorative public place where people of all walks of life can relax, play, socialize, and engage with art and artists in the heart of our city.

In 2024, SPARK ran from June 1 until Nov. 4 (and through Dec. 22 for the holiday version) from 11 a.m. to sunset on the northwest quadrant of Monument Circle in Downtown Indianapolis. This marked the fourth year of project, with 2023, 2022, and 2015 version preceding it.

Here are some highlights from our 2024 data collection at SPARK:

Hosted more than 71,969 visitors
Offered 270 program opportunities
Had 420 average daily visitors
8,259 postcards were mailed for free all around the world from SPARK
99% of visitors felt welcomed at the Circle
62% of visitors had a conversation with someone new at SPARK
89% of visitors felt better mentally after visiting
SPARK paid 162 artists a total of $333,800 for their work on the Circle

Check out the full SPARK 2024 report here.

In addition, SPARK won two awards in 2024: The People’s Choice Award from the Indy Chamber’s Monumental Awards and Accelerate Indiana Municipalities’s Aim Placemaking Award. Watch the videos for the Monumental Award here and the Aim Placemaking award here.

In 2024, SPARK extended its stay on the Circle through Holidays on the Circle every Saturday and Sunday from Nov. 30 through December 22. Over 6,300 visitors enjoyed meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus, live musical performances, sending letters to the North Pole, and hot chocolate from the container café.

Taylor Swift weekend — in coordination with the star’s November Indianapolis performances — yielded SPARK’s biggest turnout for the season with more than 10,000 visitors. Patrons made friendship bracelets, created specially-themed postcards, helped fiber artist Mary Jo Bayliss create a collaborative pom-pom artwork, enjoyed live music, got Taylor-themed face paint, and played fun games.

In addition, SPARK hosted a month of late nights during Tuesdays in October. Open until 10 p.m., visitors experienced additional fun experiences like a printmaking worksop, bubble activities, live music, a screening of a live audiovisual poem, Boot Scoot line dancing, and more.

Several local artists offered free workshops to SPARK visitors. These artists include:

Every Wednesday, SPARK hosted “Lunch Break Live” — supported by Lake City Bank — performances from noon to 1 p.m. These performances supported local musicians including: