When the lights come up on a championship court, most eyes are fixed on the game. The buzzer. The movement. The moment.

But behind every major sporting event — behind the spectacle that draws thousands into arenas and millions to their screens, there is another story unfolding. One that doesn’t always get the same visibility, but carries just as much cultural weight. It is the story of the artists.

In cities like Indianapolis, where sports are woven into the community’s identity, art often works quietly in the background — shaping how those moments are experienced, remembered, and understood. Murals, performances, visual storytelling, and cultural programming all help define what a moment means, not just what it looks like.

And for Black artists, that work carries an additional responsibility. Because too often, the cultural contributions of Black communities are present in the experience but absent from the narrative.

Black artists don’t just capture moments. We contextualize them. We connect them to history, to struggle, to joy, to resilience. We tell the fuller story, one that reflects the communities that have long shaped the culture surrounding the game itself. And the impact of that work is not just cultural — it is economic.

The arts and cultural sector contributes more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports millions of jobs. Cities that invest in their creative ecosystems are not simply supporting the arts; they are strengthening a major driver of growth, talent attraction, and community vitality. Research also shows that diverse creative environments lead to stronger innovation and more meaningful engagement, reinforcing what many communities already experience firsthand.

When Black artists are included, the work does not just become more representative; it becomes more relevant, more connected, and more complete.

Indianapolis has a deep and often underrecognized legacy of Black artistic expression. From visual arts to performance, from community-centered storytelling to intergenerational creative practice, Black artists in this city have consistently created work that reflects both who we are and where we are going. But visibility has not always kept pace with contribution.

Across the country, studies have shown that artists of color remain significantly underrepresented in major cultural institutions and platforms. That gap is not a reflection of talent—it is a reflection of access, investment, and whose stories have historically been prioritized.

Major events bring energy, investment, and attention to a city. They also create a rare opportunity: a chance to be intentional about whose stories are elevated alongside the main stage.

When Black artists are included — not as an afterthought, but as a central part of the cultural experience — the impact is different. The city feels more complete. The story becomes more honest. The moment becomes more connected to the people who live here every day. This is not just about representation. It is about accuracy.

Because culture is not created in isolation. It is built through community. And when we fail to include the voices of those who have helped shape that culture, we present an incomplete picture — not just to visitors, but to ourselves.

At the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, our work is grounded in that belief. We exist to create space for artists to explore identity, history, and creativity in ways that build confidence, deepen understanding, and strengthen community connection. Through arts-centered programming, we are not only developing artists; we are cultivating storytellers, leaders, and individuals who see themselves as active participants in shaping the world around them.

That work matters in moments like these.

Because when the spotlight turns to Indianapolis during championship season, the question is not just what the world will see, but what story we choose to tell.

Will it be surface-level, focused only on the game? Or will it reflect the depth, diversity, and creativity of the communities that make this city what it is? That answer depends on who we invite into the frame.

This championship weekend, that broader story will take shape through A Touch of Glory, a production that brings together art, history, and sport to honor legacy and connection across generations. It is a reminder that the game is only part of the story, and that the cultural narratives surrounding it deserve just as much attention.

When we make space for those narratives — when we invest in artists, elevate their voices, and recognize their role in shaping how moments are experienced — we don’t just enhance events. We strengthen the cultural fabric of our city. And long after the final buzzer sounds, that is the story that lasts.

Deborah Asante is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, dedicated to advancing cultural storytelling, fostering creative expression, and empowering communities through the arts.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Staring Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will assist TSA airports across the country. A budget battle in congress is keeping TSA from getting paid, creating staffing issues.

Many travelers that spoke with News 8 say they weren’t expecting to see ICE during their Spring travel. Some say they are hopeful it could ease the long wait times. Others say it raises new concerns while traveling.

“TSA definitely needs some help right now, but what kind of security are [ICE] going to provide?” Hugo Lopez, who was traveling through the Indianapolis International Airport said. “Is it the same type of security they are doing in Minneapolis? You know, where even U.S. citizens are going to be concerned about now having the right paperwork.”

ICE is expected to support TSA teams at select airports, but they have not announced which airports ICE officers will be assigned to, other than the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

“They might be sent here to do something positive,” traveler Ade Yemi said. “They may end up doing something negative to a lot of people. I am just not one for it.”

Despite potential shorter wait times, many travelers told News 8, it’s not worth it.

“I mean regardless of the line, people have been able to navigate and get to their destination,” Yemi said. “I would like to keep it business as usual.”

“Personally, I would wait in the line because right now the problem is more economical than political,” Lopez said. “When I came out of El Paso, I thanked the TSA agent. I said ‘I appreciate what you guys are doing. You aren’t getting paid, but you are still here on the front lines.’”

Lopez says he would feel more comfortable with ICE around, under one circumstance, “If ICE personelle were to come here, probably without guns,” Lopez said. “People would feel safer around them. There is no need for them and there is already so many police forces here. We don’t need another federal entity with guns blazing.”

Federal officials have indicated that this task for ICE is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities. ICE is only meant to help with crowd control.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Record highs are in jeopardy with high temperatures in the low 80s for most. Scattered storms will develop later this evening after a very warm day.

TODAY: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies this afternoon. The cold front arrives sooner in north-central Indiana, where highs will get into the 70s and fall quickly. A slight (2/5) risk of severe storms is in place mainly after 7 PM south of I-70.

TONIGHT: At first, cells pop up before forming a line. Large hail is the primary threat, especially as the storm mode is cellular at the start. Once a line forms, the damaging wind threat will also be elevated. Tornado threat is very low, but not zero. Storms move south of south-central Indiana around 11 PM EDT. Low temperatures in the mid-30s.

TOMORROW: Partly cloudy, cooler. High temperatures in the low 50s.

7-DAY FORECAST: A gradual warm-up is anticipated this week. Scattered showers and storms move back in for Thursday. Otherwise, most of this forecasting period will be dry.