Howdy dear reader!

Over the past year, this newsletter has been evolving alongside our work.

You’ll notice we’re spending less time telling you where to shop or what to see, and more time focusing on how the creative economy actually functions. Jobs. Grants. Pitch competitions. Policy. Zoning. Capital. Real estate. The conditions that allow creative professionals and creative businesses to survive, grow, and scale.

That shift is intentional.

This year, Pattern, Inc is doubling down on educating stakeholders about the economic impact of the creative economy and what it takes to make it real in cities and towns across Indiana. We’re paying close attention to what other regions are doing to support creatives in commercial sectors, how regulations are changing to accommodate creative entrepreneurs on Main Street, and where Indiana can move faster and more boldly.

That’s why I was grateful to participate in Urban Land Institute (ULI) Indiana’s 2026 Emerging Trends in Real Estate convening, alongside leaders from real estate, government, and business. These rooms matter. Decisions about buildings, capital, and timing shape who gets to participate in a city’s future.

I shared remarks on why creative businesses need to be considered earlier in development conversations—not as an afterthought, but as part of the initial economic strategy.

This is one of the ways we advocate for Indiana’s creative economy. We show up where decisions are made, and we bring practical, real-world examples with us.

If you’re working on a project, policy, development, or initiative, and wondering how creative businesses might fit in more thoughtfully, I’d love to hear from you. The same goes if you’re seeing opportunities, challenges, or stories that deserve a wider audience. That kind of exchange is how this work gets better, and how the creative economy actually moves forward.

— Polina Osherov

When people experience a place for the first time, they experience its built environment. The availability, affordability, and intentional design of space determine whether creative talent can stay, grow, and contribute to long-term economic vitality.

At ULI’s 2026 Emerging Trends event, Pattern, Inc Executive Director Polina Osherov explored what happens when communities treat creativity as essential infrastructure. From adaptive reuse to the timing of development decisions that unintentionally shut creatives out, the conversation focused on how real estate can either accelerate or constrain local economies.

Across the country, cities are using storefront activation programs to close the gap between what creative entrepreneurs can afford and what commercial real estate demands. The model is proven. When that gap is subsidized, even temporarily, neighborhoods benefit.

Indianapolis was ahead of the curve.

Since 2018, St’artup317 has connected dozens of creative entrepreneurs with vacant and underutilized storefronts and buildings, including high-profile locations like Monument Circle, Virginia Avenue, Mass Ave and The Stutz. The program has helped small businesses test ideas, generate revenue, and bring vibrancy to underused corridors.

What we haven’t done yet is fund it at the level the moment requires.

Minneapolis recently expanded a similar program, increasing funding from $200,000 to $750,000 after strong early results. The outcomes are clear: reduced vacancies, stronger small businesses, and increased local spending.

The demand exists here, too. We see it everywhere. What’s missing is a more courageous, sustained investment that matches the scale of the opportunity. Empty storefronts are not a lack-of-interest problem. They’re a financing problem.

This isn’t a new idea. It’s a proven one. The question is whether we’re ready to commit.

If you’re trying to figure out how to fund a retail incubator or empty storefront program in your city, this is worth a look.

A recent report takes a 30,000-foot view of how cities are using tools like targeted subsidies and community land trusts to close the gap between what creatives can afford and what real estate markets demand. It’s not a step-by-step guide, but it does lay out proven funding mechanisms, real case studies, and the economic logic behind why these approaches work.

Creative careers are rarely linear.

That’s why Createway exists. Funded for the 2025–2026 school year by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation through its Creative Collaboration Fund, Createway connects students directly with working creative professionals and entrepreneurs who can speak honestly about how creative careers actually unfold.

Just this past Friday, we hosted a panel with students at Christel House focused on fashion careers. The room was full. The questions were thoughtful. The hunger for real guidance was unmistakable.

Schools want to support students interested in creative careers, but many don’t have the lived experience or industry access to do so effectively. Createway bridges that gap by connecting students with professionals working across fashion, design, media, marketing, architecture, digital content, and creative entrepreneurship.

Hearing how others navigated the path from interest to income helps students move forward with clarity and confidence.

If you work with high school, technical, or college students interested in creative careers, we’d love to connect.

Reach out to [email protected] to start the conversation. Be sure to lock in your speaker before the end of this school year!

As Pattern’s work increasingly focuses on policy, data, infrastructure, and statewide coordination, strong governance matters more than ever. We’re excited to welcome three new members to our board whose expertise directly supports where the organization is headed.

Each brings experience in finance, public policy, and intellectual property, critical areas as we work to strengthen the economic conditions for creative professionals and creative businesses across Indiana.

Please join us in welcoming:

We’re grateful for their willingness to serve and excited for what’s ahead.

Yes, Volume 28 is late. And yes, it’s coming. 😬

The Speed City issue launches in March, and we’re excited to share it. While we’re no longer a fashion magazine, the publication remains a key part of Pattern’s work, not just as a storytelling tool, but as a talent development pipeline. Few opportunities in Central Indiana give emerging creatives hands-on experience in writing, editing, design, and photography at this level.

If you’re not yet a subscriber, we’d love for you to join us. It’s a beautiful book, a low cost, and a meaningful way to support the next generation of creative talent.

P.S. Thank you to our fellow champions of the creative economy!