City of Columbus receives $330K READI grant for bus shelters

COLUMBUS, Ind. - With the help of a READI 2.0 Art and Culture Grant, the City of Columbus and ColumBUS Transit are collaborating with Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program within the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, and Indianapolis-based fabricator Ignition Arts.

Gov. Mike Braun announced $369.6 million in READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Grants statewide. The City of Columbus and ColumBUS Transit received $329,940 in READI 2.0 funds to construct three artistic bus shelters.

The shelters will follow the design approach established with the bus shelter on Herman Darlage Drive at NexusPark. The shelter was designed and developed in 2024 by students in the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program, under the guidance of Professor Lucas Brown, and features Paul Rand’s iconic “Dancing Cs” design. It was installed in 2025.

A write-up about the project on a list of projects awarded grants states, "The ongoing partnership integrates architectural innovation, public art, and transit infrastructure, aiming to enhance the quality of place and reinforce Columbus’s legacy of architectural and design excellence."

Each shelter will serve as both functional infrastructure and public artwork, making design-forward experiences accessible to residents and visitors across a wide socio-economic range.

You can see the full list of projects awarded READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Grants here.