New Leadership to Continue the Work of 10 East Arts 

After more than four years, Indianapolis arts administrator and curator Joanna Nixon has transitioned leadership responsibilities of 10 East Arts to local artist and community curator Greg Rose. 

Under Joanna’s leadership, three new art venues were created on East 10th Street: the 10 East Arts HUB, Re:Public (an artist pop-up space), and Intermissions Plaza. Storefront spaces were also established for creative institutions Cat Head Press, 1000 Words Gallery, Hoy Polloy and Streetly.
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Since 2019, Joanna curated and facilitated more than 425 arts and cultural events and programs along East 10th Street, making East 10th Street a destination place for hundreds of creatives, artists of color, and emerging and established artists from Indianapolis and beyond.  

Greg officially took over leadership responsibilities of 10 East Arts in June 2023, and is a 30-year-old conceptual artist and curator.  As a queer black non-binary visual artist, Greg has a passion for sharing experiences of a diverse world including retelling narratives of the African American experience and creating equitable opportunities for artists of color. Greg has a programming background, has served as curator for 1000 Words Gallery and GANGGANG, and is an Arts and Public Life Resident at Big Car Collaborative. 

For more than 20 years, Joanna has been immersed in the Indianapolis arts and culture scene as an arts administrator. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. She was the Executive Artistic Producer of Indianapolis’ first Light Festival in addition to leading the arts-based community work on East 10th Street as the 10 East Art Director. Joanna continues to serve in a volunteer leadership capacity for numerous arts and culture and civic organizations. 

In December 2018, John Boner Neighborhood Centers received support from Lilly Endowment Inc. to further the neighborhood’s vision to once again make East 10th Street a thriving Main Street in the heart of the Near Eastside in Indianapolis. Grant support was a part of Lilly Endowment’s Strengthening Indianapolis Through Arts and Cultural Innovation, an initiative that helped charitable organizations across the city develop programs that use arts and cultural experiences to strengthen neighborhoods and the city at large.