Arts groups' stance varied on Indiana gay marriage ban

UPDATE (5:49 p.m., Jan. 22)

One day after the head of the Arts Council of Indianapolis committed a consortium of arts leaders to a stand on a hot-button issue, the consortium took a different stance.

Arts Council president and CEO Dave Lawrence had told The Star on Tuesday that the Indianapolis Consortium of Arts Administrators intended to discuss a formal statement on the proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Indiana, and that, "Clearly we're going to oppose HJR-3."

But on Wednesday, Don Steffy, president of ICCA, Arts Administrators, issued this statement: "The Indianapolis Consortium of Arts Administrators believes that art transcends politics. We value diversity and acceptance. The ICAA leaves it up to each organization to take its individual stance on political issues."

Lawrence responded with a statement of his own: "The Arts Council of Indianapolis joins the Indy Chamber, the Indiana Coalition for the Arts, universities, and major employers throughout the state in opposition of House Joint Resolution 3 (HJR-3).... We encourage all Hoosiers to oppose HJR-3 and send the message that Indiana is a state that thrives on creativity, diversity, compassion, and freedom."

On Jan. 20, the Indianapolis Museum of Art announced its opposition to HJR-3, a bill that would amend the state constitution to include a definition of marriages as being between a man and woman.

The Indianapolis Consortium of Arts Administrators, a group comprised of 52 arts organizations in the city, is expected to discuss a document on the matter drafted by David Lawrence, Arts Council of Indianapolis president and CEO, during its monthly meeting Jan. 22. "Clearly we're going to oppose HJR-3," said Lawrence, who declined to discuss specific details of the document.

The consortium includes a wide range of performing arts, educational, and historic preservation organizations large and small.

In the IMA's statement, Director and CEO Charles Venable said that the museum is dedicated to the acceptance of all people and that his organization believes HJR-3 "runs counter to a culture of equality and compassion." IMA board members wanted to make sure that "the powers that be" knew that the museum really did stand for equality, civil rights, and for treating people equally no matter their background.

"Clearly there's some legislation that doesn't really affect what we do," Venable said. "There are other things that do affect institutions, as well as individuals, and this would be one of those things."

Dance Kaleidoscope, the contemporary dance company led by David Hochoy, has said that it "objects wholeheartedly to HJR-3."

The Central Indiana Community Foundation is a major funder of the arts in central Indiana. Brian Payne, president and CEO, said, "There's no way we're going to be supporting it."

HJR-3 is the latest proposed legislation in a debate that has been going on for years. Why did arts organizations decide to speak out now? Lawrence said the arts consortium has been working in conjunction with the bipartisan coalition, Freedom Indiana, and wanted to ensure that the timing of their message would be impactful. For Venable, the reason was more practical.

"Most of us have four board meetings a year," Venable said. "We happened to have one in December and this issue was moving forward quickly, so that was good timing for our board to say, 'If we want to address this and we want to make our voice heard, then we should do it at the December board meeting.' "

Call Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelAdams317.

The Indianapolis Consortium of Art Administrators represents 52 organizations, listed below. The consortium will meet Jan. 22 to approve its official statement regarding HJR-3.

American Pianists Association

Art With a Heart

Arts Council of Indianapolis

Arts for Learning

Asante Children's Theatre

Athenaeum Foundation

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Big Car

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre

Cabaret at the Columbia Club

Carmel Symphony Orchestra

Center For The Performing Arts

Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University

Conner Prairie Museum

Dance Kaleidoscope

Drum Corps International

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Fine Arts Society

Freetown Village

Harrison Center for the Arts

Heartland Truly Moving Pictures

Herron School of Art and Design/IUPUI

Indiana Arts Commission

Indiana Historical Society

Indiana Humanities Council

Indiana Landmarks

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Indiana State Museum

Indianapolis Art Center

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

Indianapolis Children's Choir

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art

Indianapolis Opera

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival / IndyFringe

Indianapolis Zoological Society

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis

Jewish Community Center (JCC)

Madame Walker Theatre Center

Music for All

New World Youth Orchestras, Inc.

Percussive Arts Society

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis

Phoenix Theatre

Pike Performing Arts Center

Storytelling Arts of Indiana

Theatre on the Square

VSA Indiana

WFYI Public Broadcasting