Madison is creative.
- IAC
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- Cultural Districts
- Current: Madison
Sitting prominently on the Ohio River between the hubs of Cincinnati and Louisville, the Madison Arts and Cultural District presents an outstanding collection of early American architecture - representing the cultural history of the river, the founding of the state of Indiana, and the nation's expansion westward. Beautifully preserved, historic in nature, but, interestingly progressive and contemporary, it has the fresh vibe of residents who are choosing to live 'off the grid' in a rural yet, urban setting. The natural and built environment invites the visitor and inspires the artist to tell the story with their art, their words, and images that are unique to this lovely little city. Madison's history is deeply rooted in arts, crafts, and architecture. Every corner lies a history designed by traditional craftsmen, architects, and master builders from the East Coast and the South. It is not unusual to find options for live music, artist receptions, figure drawing events, drum circles, painting classes, a play, yoga or massage, culinary event, poetry reading, a farmer's market, and a book review all in one day!
Impact Points
310
Creative jobs in the zip codes surrounding the Madison Arts and Cultural District in 2022. (Source)
$5.6M
Creative industry earnings in the zip codes surrounding the Madison Arts and Cultural District in 2022. (Source)
$800.1K
Cultural nonprofit revenues in the zip codes surrounding the Madison Arts and Cultural District in 2022. (Source)
Impact Stories
In 2024, Kindred Folk Society, a nonprofit organization, provided live music, education, and cultural opportunities in and around Madison. This small group developed three new community events and programs that quickly became favorites, highlighting the local creative community while blending outside talent with the private sector.
The Jam Shops was a process-driven songwriting series that brought budding songwriters and musicians together for a deep dive into the art of song crafting. This eight-week course, held in a funky, art-filled coffee shop, was free of charge to the first 16 artists who signed up. The series offered step-by-step creative instruction in songwriting, taught by a Madison resident who was also a Grammy Award-winning musician and songwriter. This spirited collection of artists and instructor sparked a new era of music-making in Madison.
The organization also orchestrated Madison's first Play Music on the Porch Day, where 10 porches and front stoops in Madison's Cultural District were lined with admirers and musicians alike. The event brought together budding local artists alongside seasoned musicians for Madison's rendition of this internationally recognized celebration.
Additionally, Kindred Folk Society strengthened Madison’s folk music scene with the Still Folkin' Series, a concert series that featured songwriters and bands committed to keeping the folk and roots tradition alive. By acknowledging folk music's historical ties to the Ohio Valley and blending old and new influences, the series helped bring that era into a new light.
Madison continues to experience a significant upswing in investment from a broad range of individuals over the past few years. A large influx of newcomers, along with returning Madisonians, has fostered new and reconnected relationships within the community.
Among the many stories in tourism, one notable development is the Jefferson County Tourism Alliance, created in 2019 to establish a partnership between several key organizations within Madison and Jefferson County’s tourism ecosystem. The Alliance comprises organizations representing the arts, the music movement, tourism marketing, downtown revitalization, historic preservation, history and genealogy, the City of Madison, and the Jefferson County Board of Tourism.
Since its formation, the Alliance has elevated each organization's significance. Nearly five years later, the arts, music, heritage tourism, and downtown—each an economic generator and vital to the community’s livability and tourism industry—have become essential to telling the Madison and Jefferson County story. The Cultural District has embraced this partnership, recognizing that the Alliance positions arts and culture at the aspirational level long envisioned.
As a result of the Alliance, both the community and governmental leaders have begun to view the arts through a new lens. The Jefferson County Board of Tourism has furthered this partnership by establishing a grant program to assist with funding for Alliance organizations. Additionally, Visit Madison, Inc., the marketing arm of the Board of Tourism, has played a key role in promoting and marketing arts-centric activities in the District. The Kindness Mural has frequently been featured on the cover of the annual tourism brochure, which is distributed nationally to 70,000 Madison tourism enthusiasts and residents.
Madison has experienced a significant upswing in investment from a broad range of individuals in the post-pandemic years. Matt Chandler, a member of Chandler Group Investments, embarked on the renovation of a 19th-century warehouse in Madison’s National Landmark District. The adaptive reuse of the industrial space preserved the simplicity of warehouse architecture while integrating modern amenities to create a stunning boutique hotel. Since its completion, the hotel has become a popular destination.
Chandler’s investment in Madison did not stop there. In the past year, the Chandler Group purchased another building just one block from the hotel and steps away from the Kindness Mural Plaza. This project is set to open as Vintage Lanes, Madison’s newest wine bar and duckpin bowling center. Housed in a mid-19th century building, the structure has been carefully renovated to blend its historic character with contemporary amenities.
This is just one example of a generous investor contributing to the community—there are countless stories of individuals helping shape Madison’s future. The city takes immense pride in its Cultural District designation, where a strong emphasis on quality of life, enhanced by the arts, continues to attract investment and growth.
A Kentucky-born artist, Dallas Gambill, is a Madison artist who loves the Madison Cultural District. Often seen on the street with his dog, Lilly, and his parakeet, Corky, Dallas is a colorful character on Madison's Main Street. He occupies a small storefront on W. Main Street, which also serves as his studio and living space.
In January, the Madison Area Arts Alliance hosted an event to celebrate his beautiful artwork and to honor his many contributions to the creative community. He had a wonderful creative career, having studied and lived in Mexico, where he juried into noted art shows in San Miguel de Allende. A significant part of his career was spent in California, where he began working as a decorative artist and designer in the Solana Beach design district. His studio and gallery in the Cedros Trading Company became known for his tranquil big-sky landscapes and murals.
His travels eventually led him back home to the Ohio Valley, where his art has been exhibited in prestigious Louisville-area art shows. He was a guest artist for the Kindness Mural Plaza on Mulberry Street in Madison in 2021 and deeply appreciates the work of the Madison Area Arts Alliance in its support of area artists.
