Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians locked out - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

It isn't something you see every day on Monument Circle. On Monday, musicians with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra were playing outside the Hilbert Circle Theatre after being locked out amid a contract dispute.

While they played, the violinists stood next to signs explaining to passersby that they were locked out. The union's contract expired Sept. 2.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is in the red and wants to cut the number of musicians and concerts. Last week it canceled its first two weekends of performances after contract talks with the musicians union stalled.

"To be a world-class city, you need to promote arts as well as sports," said Courtney Dock.

"I've never been to one, but with my daughter coming up, she sings herself, so I've been getting more into that. I think it adds value to the city," said Ali Shepherd.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Musicians said in statement that it's "stunned and saddened" the symphony rejected its latest proposal for a short-term contract. That proposal would have allowed the musicians to "play and talk" while earning $1250 a week, or about 17 percent less than their current weekly rate.

The dispute is happening this week while Indianapolis hosts 250 travel writers from across the country.

David Lytle is attending the Society of American Travel Writers' conference and says a symphony is integral to the city's culture.

"It's absolutely important. Part of a city's life is in its culture. In Indianapolis sports is very important, but the arts are very important too," said Lytle. "It's not just the symphony. You have a jazz scene here. You have local talent here. It's a way for people to sometimes get outside themselves. It's not just the workaday. It's a way to escape, to see the world in a different place."

So far no new talks are scheduled. The last time musicians were locked out was the 1970s. A spokesman for the musicians union says they'll play like this until some resolution is reached.