Every good rally has a chant, right? There’s the infamous “Hell no, we won’t go!” Or how about, “Say it aint’ so, Joe.”

Although the Indy Culture Matters Rally in downtown Indianapolis Monday didn’t have a memorable chant, it had music, influential speakers and a crowd of about 2,000 with a whole lot of heart. I only wish IMA Director Max Anderson would’ve emailed us his post-rally thoughts earlier to use as a pre-rally chant – “Culture counts and we need to be counted!”

How this Movement got off the Ground
Here are the basics: A movement started with conversations among leaders of cultural organizations throughout Central Indiana. Not long after, the movement started popping up on the Web via Twitter, Facebook, eblasts and on the newly created Web site indyculturematters.org. A logo was designed and t-shirts were ordered (IMA members got one free). The rally on Monument Circle was an opportunity for Central Indiana’s cultural institutions, and anyone who believes that Indy culture matters, to make some noise! We demonstrated that Indy Culture matters in our lives, our economy and to the future of Indianapolis.

Speakers at the rally included:

• Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools Dr. Eugene White
• Community member Pam Davidson
• CEO of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Mark Miles
• President and CEO of WellPoint, Inc. Angela Braly
• CEO of Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association Don Welsh
• Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard
• Arts Patron Frank Basile

How do we keep the momentum of this movement?
Here’s what you can you do to demonstrate that Indy Culture Matters:

1. Visit our cultural destinations
2. Introduce new audiences to Indy Culture
3. Tell your elected representatives that Indy Culture Matters
4. Join the Facebook group and upload your own images from the rally!
5. Check indyculturematters.org for updated information and stats

Being part of a rally was a first in my lifetime, and to speak on behalf of all the IMA staff, we’re proud to be part of Indy culture with so many other amazing cultural organizations. Everywhere I looked, I knew the friendly, talented and richly-spirited faces in the crowd. The only disappointment of the day was that most of us didn’t bike there because of pre-rally rain and cold. Regardless…

“Hell no, Indy culture won’t go unnoticed!”

[Submit your best Indy culture rally chant or tell us why Indy culture matters to you below.]