You’ve probably already seen the news.
HI-FI was recently awarded a $1 million READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The funds will be used to support the transformation of our live music spaces on the first floor of the Murphy Arts Center into a connected three-venue entertainment destination.
I’m incredibly grateful.
To the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Jim Rawlinson. The Lilly Endowment. The State of Indiana. SEND. Craig and Todd Von Deylen. Our staff. Our partners. NIVA. Our neighborhood leaders. And everyone who’s believed in this project long before there was anything to celebrate.
We’ll have plenty of time to talk about construction, renderings, new venues and what’s coming next.
This isn’t that.
This is just the story behind it.
Because the truth is…
This almost didn’t happen.
More than once.
Like a lot of independent venues, COVID changed everything for us.
HI-FI Annex wasn’t part of some big master plan. It was something we built because we were trying to survive. We needed a place to do shows when the world had turned upside down, and somehow that temporary venue became one of the most special places we’ve ever created.
Then we found out we were going to lose it.
Not because we wanted to.
Because we had to.
That’s really where this expansion started.
We weren’t ready to lose what the Annex had become, so we set out to build it a new home.
Of course, dreaming up a project and actually pulling it off are two very different things.
There were plenty of moments where it felt impossible.
And then there was the grant.
Ironically, this was the first grant application I’ve ever written.
I started around four in the morning on the day it was due.
I don’t recommend this strategy.
Over the next fifteen hours, I stared at my computer, crunched numbers, dug through data, researched, walked around the block more times than I can count, talked myself into finishing it, and talked myself right back out of it.
There were a couple of points where I was ready to throw in the towel. I found myself on the phone with Polina at Pattern more than once during the process. She was a great sounding board and helped keep my head in the game when I needed it most.
Somewhere in the middle of all that, I realized we needed a fiscal sponsor. Thankfully, Kelli Mirgeaux and the team at SEND stepped in on incredibly short notice and made it possible for us to submit the application.
I hit “Submit” at 4:55 p.m. for a 5:00 p.m. deadline.
Five minutes.
Looking back, I think a few of those phone calls probably ended with people politely saying, “Yeah… good luck,” while privately wondering if there was any chance I’d actually pull it off.
I can’t say I blame them.
It was a big swing.
But I’ve learned over the years that I tend to do my best work when the odds aren’t exactly in my favor.
I’m really glad I didn’t give up.
The last few years have been hard.
There have been more difficult conversations than exciting ones. More uncertainty than answers. More nights lying awake thinking about payroll, bills and how we keep this thing moving forward.
I know our team has felt that too.
That’s why this announcement means so much to all of us.
Not because we think the work is finished.
Because it finally feels like we’re moving forward again.
We’re still entering the final stretch of financing for what will be nearly a $5 million project, and there’s still a lot of work ahead. But for the first time in a long time, it feels like the finish line is actually within reach.
Before I wrap this up, I just want to say thank you.
To everyone who’s bought a ticket, came to a show, performed on our stages, shared one of our posts, volunteered, partnered with us, invested in us or simply believed that independent music venues matter.
You’ve helped build this just as much as we have.
One last thing…
If you’ve been meaning to catch a show at the HI-FI Annex, now’s the time.
This October, we’ll say goodbye to our old pal.
The good news is we’re not saying goodbye to what it represents.
We’re building it a new home.
I’d love to see you out there a few more times before the lights go out for the last time. I have a feeling these final months are going to be pretty special.
Josh Baker
Co-founder / CEO / Promoter / People Wrangler / Janitor