For many people, the Indianapolis Art Center is best known as the annual Broad Ripple Art Fair host site. You may not know that this non-profit organization stays busy all year, offering free-to-tour exhibitions, fun outdoor features to discover, and an ongoing schedule of arts-related classes and camps.
On the south bank of the White River, as it flows through Broad Ripple, the Monon Trail-adjacent Indianapolis Art Center makes its comfortable home within a building designed by renowned Indianapolis native architect Michael Graves. All told the spacious facility holds classrooms, a library and six galleries populated with an evolving series of exhibits on display.
“JoeWill: BetterTogether” opens April 3 and runs through May 28, tracing never-before-seen works by the late Joe and Will Lawrance, identical twins and North Central High School alumni, delving into the relationship between creativity and mental illness.
The 12-acre property also showcases the interactive ARTSPARK sculpture garden, scenic walking trails and lots of vibrant landscaping. And as the city’s new White River activation initiative comes online, the art center plans to capitalize on this natural feature to grow its reach even more.
"Our new campus master plan includes increasing access to the White River, so we have not just beauty access, but access for activity," said Mark Williams, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Art Center.
A thriving 50+-year-old Indy tradition, the OneAmerica Broad Ripple Art Fair (this year, May 20 and 21) is an ideal opportunity to check out the overall space, support the local arts scene, and browse works for sale from more than 150 artists and makers. Live music presented by Indy Jazz Fest and a tasty lineup of food and drink vendors round out the overall experience.
Feeling inspired to explore your own creative side? Check out the Indianapolis Art Center's schedule of expert-led classes in media ranging from pencil, ink, clay and paint to print, fiber, metal and glass.
To learn more, visit IndyArtCenter.org.
