2022–23 Exhibit Columbus Community Kickoff
Thank you for attending the Community Kickoff!
Learn more about the event below.
Part One: Downtown Reconsidered
14 June 2022
9 am – Noon
James Lima Planning + Development presented a study completed in 2021 that explores ways to better activate downtown Columbus that leverages many of the cities’ existing assets (from arts and culture to the riverfront), provides diversified attractions on and around 4th Street, encourages people to explore more places, and produces a more vibrant environment and resilient economy.
Municipal leaders from around the state participated in the event to discuss how this study connects to their downtowns. The conversation was moderated by Scarlett Andrews, Director of Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Indianapolis and featured Mayor Steve Barnett (City of Franklin), Deputy Mayor Don Griffin (City of Bloomington), and Mayor Jim Lienhoop (City of Columbus).
Part Two: Meet the Curatorial Partners
15 June 2022
9 am – Noon
To advance Exhibit Columbus, six Curatorial Partners form the core of the team that will shape this cycle. They have extraordinary backgrounds and represent a tremendous depth of experience in architecture, art, and design, and have each worked with diverse sets of communities to bring meaningful work to life.
The Curatorial Partners will work closely with the directors of four key downtown Columbus organizations as a way to focus on social infrastructure in the heart of the community. The leaders of these organizations will serve as the Community Curators for the J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize and help the Curatorial Partners shape the outcomes of the Miller Prize recipients.
Municipal Leaders Who Participated in the Kickoff Event
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Scarlett Andrews
Director, City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development
Scarlett Andrews has been the Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Indianapolis since 2020. Andrews has previously worked in Community and Economic Development for Indianapolis and for South Indy Quality of Life. Part of her work involves leading negotiations and financing of real estate economic development transactions, including the sixth expansion of the Indiana Convention Center at Pan Am Plaza, as well as of affordable housing, mixed use office and commercial developments, and brownfield redevelopment projects. She is a graduate of Tulane University and the University of Mississippi.
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Mayor Steve Barnett
Steve Barnett has been Mayor of Franklin since 2017. Previously, Barnett was the President of the City Council and was a member of the city’s Board of Public Works. Barnett managed his family business for 15 years which was eventually sold to Miller pipeline. He was also an avid automobile racer. His focus as mayor has been on improving Franklin’s infrastructure, which he believes will grow Franklin as a community and attract outside interest.
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Deputy Mayor Don Griffin
Don Griffin has been Deputy Mayor of Bloomington since 2021. He is a Bloomington native with decades of community service and leadership. As Deputy Mayor, Griffin coordinates and oversees 16 City departments and 850 employees working to implement Mayor John Hamilton administration's policies and goals, including job creation, affordable housing, quality of life improvements, and efficient and transparent basic governmental services. He currently serves as president of the City’s Redevelopment Commission and president and co-founder of the Monroe County Black Democratic Caucus, and is past vice president of the Monroe County Branch of the NAACP. He is a graduate of Hampton University.
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Mayor Jim Lienhoop
Jim Lienhoop has been the Mayor of Columbus since 2016. He has served City government since 2006, beginning as an interim member of City Council to replace a council member who was called into active duty overseas. He was elected to his own term as Columbus City Councilman, at-large representative in 2012. Previously, he was the Director of Blue & Co CPA’s. As Mayor, Lienhoop focuses on education, increased economic opportunities for Columbus, and promoting Columbus’ legacy of innovation and design. He is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington.
