Groundbreaking addition for Batesville Memorial Public Library

$8M project funded by grants, bonds, and donations

(Batesville, Ind.) – The Batesville Memorial Public Library broke ground on their new Arts & Innovation Hub on Thursday.

Since its establishment in 1938, the Batesville Memorial Public Library has evolved to serve the future of the community. According to the BMPL Director, Kim Porter, the Arts & Innovation Hub is “the next right step” to meet Batesville’s needs.

Planning for this project began in 2021 and continued through 2024.The start of construction marks the beginning of the bright future this building will bring the community.

The space is aimed to empower local entrepreneurs. It will support workforce development and the arts, as well as foster innovation and progress.

The 8,300 square foot building will consist of a 200 person meeting room, makerspace, audiovisual and recording area, and many other collaborative areas and workspaces. The BMPL hopes to facilitate opportunities for partnerships and collaboration throughout the region.

In addition to the many workspaces, there will also be an event lawn and gathering plaza outside and the space will be home for the Batesville Area Arts Council.

Director Porter said, “I am the most excited about all of the collaboration and partnerships that are going to happen in the community because of this.”

This over $8M project is funded by grants, bonds, and donations all of which are greatly appreciated. The BMPL is especially thankful for the $2M grant they received from READI 2.0. The Arts & Innovation Hub is expected to be completed in the summer of 2026.

As construction begins, there is still a lot of work to be done. If you are interested helping the community thrive by funding this project, you can donate online at https://ebatesville.com/ 

This story was written by The 812's Valerie Weston.