The historic Martindale-Brightwood community in Indianapolis will gather on Aug. 27 for PreEnact Polk Stables—a day-long celebration of art, history, and visioning for the future.
PreEnactment Theater has already proven its power in this neighborhood, where residents once acted out their hopes for the 16th and Monon area.
From those performances came real change: the founding of Chop Chop Barbershop, the Center for Black Literature, and even the saving of the historic Polk Stables itself.
Now, neighbors and partners are doubling down, imagining Polk Stables as a thriving hub that supports the neighborhood’s Quality of Life plan.
The day begins with a festive parade down the Monon, leading to the Polk Stables balcony, where a 3 p.m. press conference will certify the neighborhood’s plan and honor Tysha Hardy Sellers with a new award for community impact.
Throughout the afternoon, visitors can explore the Polklore Micro-Museum, record stories, and experience augmented reality history tours with local storyteller Sampson Levingston.
Inside the revitalized stables, COhatch coworking spaces will buzz with entrepreneurs, artists, and nonprofits—all committed to investing their skills in the community.
Outside, art will transform the grounds: Linda Belton’s “yarn graffiti,” Shamira Wilson’s mural, and Greatriarch portraits brought to life with augmented reality.
Music will spill from unexpected places—Pascal Glock’s Terra Firma atop a pickup truck of dirt, melodies rising from an irrigation trench, and Men in the Fire closing the evening with balcony harmonies.
Guests can also enjoy plein air painting, a time capsule ceremony, and a communal feast at long outdoor tables.
With partners across Martindale-Brightwood, PreEnact Polk Stables is more than an event—it is a rehearsal for the future.
By blending history, art, and imagination, neighbors are charting a path for Polk Stables to become not just a building, but a partner in community transformation.
