Use this application prep sheet before logging into the online application.

Click here for a Word doc if you’d like to create working draft or use the button below to download a PDF.

Questions about how to navigate the online application? Check out these FAQs.

From catchy titles to how to best think about the arts, humanities, and religion, we have tips for you!

What makes a well-written Spirit & Place Festival application? Download examples from past applicants who knocked it out of the park!

NATURE
November 6 – 16, 2025

The phenomena we call “nature” includes plants, insects, animals, and everything living thing in between. Sometimes we call it Mother Nature, the environment, or wilderness.

But Nature (with a capital “N”) is the whole system of existence, arrangement, forces, and events not controlled by humankind. Let’s call that the Universe or Creation.

Fascinatingly, nature also refers to something – or someone’s – basic and inherent features. Their character, essence, or substance.

Whether exploring the literal aspects of nature such as earth, wind, fire, and water, or deeply philosophical or religious ideas about “human nature,” the theme of NATURE welcomes you to delve into the elements of life.

Explore topics tied to the natural world and its flora, fauna, and ecosystems. Or, engage with the world’s philosophies and religions to take a deep look at what makes us human. Examine or create art with or about nature; make music in harmony with the landscape; or tell stories out in the woods! Have fun with NATURE and consider it from a variety of perspectives.

Using the arts, humanities, and religion, Spirit & Place encourages you to explore the theme with a broad lens and to create moments of reflection, delight, and wonder for our Central Indiana community.

Applicant Meetings
March & April 2025
Learn more about Spirit & Place, the festival application process, and meet others interested creating festival events. Although encouraged, attendance is optional and not required to apply to the festival. One-on-one meetings are available too.

Visit our Events Calendar to register today! Four options are available:

Monday, March 10 from 10:30 – 11:30AM at the Michigan Rd. Branch Library
Monday, March 10 from 3:30 – 4:30PM at the Michigan Rd. Branch Library
Wednesday, April 9 from 12 – 1PM via Zoom
Thursday, April 24 from 10 – 11AM via Zoom
*The same information is presented at each session and includes Q&A time.

Application Portal Opens
April 1, 2025
Applications must be submitted online.

Application Deadline
May 23, 2025 by 11:59PM

Selection Notifications
Late June/early July

Festival Meetings & Event Essentials
July through September
If selected for the festival, event partners will need to attend a required meeting on July 9, 2025 at 10AM or 2PM via Zoom and then meet a series of summer deadlines related to event promotions.

Please review the application guidelines (pg. 1) for more details on key dates and meetings.

All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Spirit & Place Festival event partners agree to the following. Please download the entire agreement and let us know if you have any questions.

• Attend the required partner meeting on July 9, 2025 or ensure a collaborating partner attend.
• Engage in event promotions, including:
  • Mentioning the event is part of the Spirit & Place Festival in all press releases, web descriptions, social media posts, and interviews.
    o Using the Spirit & Place theme logo, when possible.
    o Distributing Spirit & Place Event Guides. (Delivered to all venues and partners in September/October.)
    o Providing Bohlsen Group the name and contact information of a media contact.
• Submit an event image and secure its use permission by August 1, 2025.
• Create and manage an event registration system that secures permission to share emails with Spirit & Place.
• Not repeat the event between August 1 – December 31, 2025 (some exceptions apply).
• Use provided talking points and/or PowerPoint when introducing your festival event. (Includes asking attendees to fill out an event evaluation.)
• Set out a table and chairs near the entrance of your event for Spirit & Place volunteers.
• Submit a Partner Survey and supply a list of registrant emails by December 1, 2025. Failure to supply this information will make you ineligible for next year’s festival.

These are just some of the ways Spirit & Place supports its festival event partners.

• $200 event stipend
• Event coaching services
• Website features
• Enews features (~7,000 subscribers)
• Social media features (5,000+ followers on Facebook and Instagram)
• Paid digital ads. (Digital/social media strategy is subject to change.)
• Printed promotional materials (flier templates, event guides and yard signs)
• Public and media relations in partnership with Bohlsen Group.
• Event evaluations summaries
• Trainings & workshops

Limitation and restrictions include:

• Accessibility. All events must be hosted in ADA compliant facilities. Some exceptions apply to historic structures and outdoor events. Please contact Spirit & Place if you have concerns or questions.
• No personal development workshops. The Spirit & Place Festival is a space for community-focused events.
• No research studies. The festival is not a site to conduct research unless it is community-engaged. Please download the entire “Limitations & Restrictions” sheet to learn more.
• No fundraising & limited fee-based events. Fundraisers are not allowed, and free events are preferred. Some exceptions apply (e.g., ticket sales to cover performance fees or meal costs).
• Conflicting dates. Event creators select their own dates, but must be asked if change a date if the festival calendar is too crowded on one night or events with the same intended audience are scheduled at the same time.
• Date restrictions. Events must be scheduled beginning any time on Friday, Nov. 7 and must conclude no later than 4pm on Sunday, Nov. 16. 2025. (The only exception is for exhibits with longer run dates, but some kind of festival event connected to the exhibit must occur between Nov. 7-16.)

A team of community reviewers—not Spirit & Place staff— representing various disciplines, faiths, races, genders, and backgrounds evaluate festival applications based on the following criteria. This makes the Spirit & Place Festival not only community-created, but community-curated!

Selection Criteria are focused on:

• Strength theme connection
• Intentional use of Spirit & Place’s civic tools (arts, humanities, and/or religion)
• Collaboration
• Clarity
• Inventiveness
• Audience care
• Commitment beyond self (i.e., reflection of Spirit & Place’s mission & values)

Special preference is shown to events that have a never-before-seen quality, are interactive, diverse & inclusive, inspire community engagement, and/or are strongly collaborative. 

Interfaith events are always welcome, especially those involving non-Abrahamic faith traditions.

Let’s be honest. Creating an event for the Spirit & Place Festival takes a lot of time, energy, and, in some cases, money. We strive to make the festival accessible to all applicants and, since 2015, have been moving away from a “pay to play” process to one in which we now support festival events with a $200 stipend.

We know this isn’t much and encourage applicants to find sponsors and donors for their projects. (Please note that sponsors and donors do not count as “collaborating partners” in terms of the selection process.)

Grant opportunities you might wish to explore include:

• Indiana Humanities Action Grants
• Indiana Arts Commission Grants
• International Center’s Festival Fund
• IndyArts Council Grants
• Center for Congregation Grants

“Red Flags” the Selection Committee will give lower scores on include:

• Wish Lists. Do not list collaborating partners, speakers, or other talent with whom you have not spoken!
• Outside Your Lane. Look for partners who round out deficits in your proposed event and/or bring in a unique point of view, especially if you are tackling a topic outside your mission area.
• Transactional Collaborations. The strongest collaborations are co-creative. This means involving partners early in the design stage and/or providing content expertise. To be blunt: Adding a bunch of partner names to your application for the sake of naming lots of folks is not going to win points.

Download the PDF to read more.