5×5 Idea Competitions provide a dynamic public platform for creative entrepreneurship in Indianapolis, initiated by a coalition of funders in 2013. Big Car is one of several non-profits to organize and host a 5×5 event each year. It works like this: people respond to a call for ideas to make Indianapolis a better place using the arts. Five selected presenters then have five minutes to pitch their idea, using five projected slides. A judge votes and the audience vote counts as well. One winner is awarded $10,000 that night to make his or her idea a reality. Hundreds of people come out to eat, drink, witness the pitches and support their favorite ideas. Seventy ideas have been submitted to the two 5×5’s organized by Big Car. The winners:
On February 8, 2013, Craig Mince won $10,000 to support equipment for pop-up cinema events (event images here).
On May 8, 2014, Dan Fifer won for his floating gardens concept (event images here).
On November 12, 2015, Bob Sander and Alysah Rice of Arts for Learning won for their Neighborhood story gathering project. (event images here).
5×5 is made possible with support from the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, the Efroymson Family Fund and Lilly Endowment Inc.
