Indianapolis is kicking off eleven straight days of free, community-created programming Thursday evening as the 31st annual Spirit & Place Festival opens with a public conversation at Indiana Landmarks Center. The festival runs through Nov. 15 and threads more than 30 events across Central Indiana around this year's theme: Connections.
The opening event, titled Connections in a Divided Time, is set for 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Indiana Landmarks Center, with doors opening at 6 p.m. for walk-in guests, according to Spirit & Place. As reported by WISH-TV, presenters at the kickoff will explore how social sciences, other people and history can be used to combat disconnection. Nationally recognized voices Eddie S. Glaude Jr. and Eric Liu will take up the discussion, examining what it takes to rebuild connections in individuals, communities and democracy, per the Indianapolis Recorder.
Sandy Schmidt, program director of Spirit & Place, told WISH-TV that the presenters will dig into practical ways to combat disconnection and that the festival's events examine how people can better communicate and stay connected. She described the lineup as community-created, calling the creativity behind it awe-inspiring, the station's report notes.
A Jazz Pianist Sets the Mood for Opening Night
Local jazz pianist Christopher Pitts is scheduled to perform at the kickoff event, according to the same WISH-TV account. The Indianapolis Recorder reports that the evening will also include opening remarks from Indiana University Distinguished Professor of Sociology Bernice Pescosolido, with IU Indianapolis religious studies scholar Joseph Tucker Edmonds moderating the conversation.
Beyond the opening night, the festival's roughly 30-plus events span singing performances, workshops, panel discussions, tours and walking events, per WISH-TV. Registration is open for all festival events, and organizers have posted a digital event guide and online calendar so attendees can track specific dates and locations, according to Spirit & Place.
Why the Theme Changes Every Year
Spirit & Place determines its yearly theme by speaking directly with the community about what matters to residents, the station's report states. That process produced a sharp pivot from last year: the 30th annual festival in 2025 centered on the theme Nature, inviting Central Indiana to celebrate three decades of community collaboration through performances, exhibits, interactive workshops, outdoor explorations and conversations, according to the Indy Arts Council.
That 2025 festival ran Nov. 6 to 16 and opened with a public conversation titled Sacred Synergies: Nature, Faith and Science featuring climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, according to the Indianapolis Recorder. Its events ranged from concerts and workshops to outdoor explorations and community conversations, the outlet reported in an opinion piece marking the festival's 30-year run.
Arts, Humanities and Religion as Civic Tools
Spirit & Place describes itself as working at the intersection of arts, humanities and religion, three tools organizers say help people engage more fully with their communities. The organization, housed on the campus of IU Indianapolis, says it wants people to bring their whole selves to its events and to the broader community, per Spirit & Place's own description of its mission.
The group frames its signature offering as an annual multi-day festival held every November, built around a new theme each year, alongside year-round programming and community collaborations that it says help connect Central Indiana residents. This year's closing event is set for Nov. 15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Heartland Film, with a screening of the documentary Join or Die, according to the Indianapolis Recorder.
The article was authored by Hanna Mordoh.
