INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — GANGGANG has generated millions of dollars for the city’s creative economy in the last five years, and its impact is set to grow even more this year.

From art fairs to major events, GANGGANG is a driving force behind creative equity in Indianapolis and is expanding with new initiatives to support Hoosier artists and also attract national attention.

The creative advocacy agency was founded in 2020 and aims to produce, promote and preserve culture in cities by hiring artists of color.

“Over $9 million generated and over $13 million overall impact on the creative economy primarily here in central Indiana,” said Mali Bacon, co-founder and creative director of GANGGANG.

Bacon says GANGGANG’s impact goes beyond the numbers. Its impact gives people hope, expands the narrative of Black culture, and expands talent retention and attraction.

The organization has drawn in thousands of tourists during events like the Butter Fine Art Fair and the NBA All-Star Week in 2024. “There’s a cultural renaissance happening in Indianapolis, and our roots are in that and Indiana Avenue, so we are reminding the city of who she is,” Bacon said.

Bacon thinks the organization is finally out of startup mode, and becoming an anchor institution in Indianapolis. “We’re doing a lot of curating this year. There will be a lot of significant public art projects that will be kicking off. For I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll, we will be launching quite a large campaign about the truth of the genre, you know, about the authors of the genre. Blackjoy (a festival) will return this year.”

GANGGANG is working on a project with the Westfield city government to teach the public more about the city’s racial history, and will also have public art displayed on a parking garage in Plainfield. Bacon says those projects allow the organization to fulfill its mission. “In both places, they are wanting to tell the story of their city. They are wanting to highlight their culture, so that’s where GANGGANG gets energized. We get to discover a place and help it tells it’s story both in physical artworks but also in film, case studies, engagement with the neighborhood and engagement with local business owners.”

As Bacon sees it, GANGGANG’s model is something that could grow in other cities around the country. “There are trajectories that changed because of this programming and because of this mission, so there are other markets that I think will model what Indianapolis has done, how we have become more equitable, cultural and and beautiful.”

GANGGANG is also the creative director for the Professional Volleyball Federation’s first all star-match at Fishers Event Center on Saturday.