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    Indy Art Center

    4.4 (53 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    April L.

    We visited the art center on a rainy day and really enjoyed our visit. It's a smaller space, but filled with interesting work by talented artists. There was a big range of work to explore inside and outside. We did wish there was a map for the outdoor installations.

    Artwork
    Richard Walton C.

    Since I was just a couple of miles north of here for a doctors appointment, I decided to visit the art center and have a look around. I have been reading other Yelpers reviews and wanted to see for myself. I never would have known about this place existing if not for Yelp. They are many pieces of artwork on display around the grounds and various pathways. I only took photos of some of them. There is plenty to see here and I imagine a pleasant walk when all of the foliage is in during the warmer months. I did not walk up ramp to the river view as it was too cold and windy. I did not go inside as I was short on time but I had to come here to see the infamous Twisted House which intrigued me ever since I saw Niki B review it. The pathways are well maintained and easy to walk and basically flat for the most part. Parking here is easy in the large underutilized lot.

    Laura M.

    I had been receiving all the invites for their holiday events so checked it out. There were lots of local artists selling a variety of items. Everything from paintings, pottery, clothing, candles etc. If you want something different or a more personal type gift these events are a nice option. The center itself is also a gallery that you can wander as well as classrooms where you can take a class and learn a new hobby or improve one you already have. The classes would be fun to get thru another cold winter. The grounds are very walkable and have a nice view by the river. Just off the monon trail too.

    Indianapolis Art Center entrance.
    Richard P.

    After my latest visit to the Indianapolis Art Center, I decided it was time for me to finally review this hidden gem of Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Arts Center started in 1934 as a Works Progress Administration program. It now offers hundreds of instructional programs, over 50 exhibits across six galleries, and outreach to underserved communities. Of course, it also serves up the OneAmerica Broad Ripple Art Fair. It's a non-profit organization - meaning that it's largely donation driven. Indianapolis Art Center moved into its current Broad Ripple location on the banks of White River in 1976. In 2005, Indianapolis architect Michael Graves designed ARTSPARK, the Indianapolis Art Center's 9.5 acre art meets nature "exhibit" that is interactive and extraordinary. Indianapolis Art Center is one of those places where you don't quite realize all it offers until you actually go there. As your browsing the grounds, you can't help but be a bit in awe of everything it has to offer. I visited yesterday to check out their new coffee shop, The Library, that serves up coffees/teas and pastries and allows you to linger in the Ruth Lilly Library. While much of what's going on with the Art Center these days is virtual due to the pandemic, there are still activities and still exhibits. Masks are required, social distancing is expected, and floors have been clearly marked. In essence, there's a "route" through exhibits to reduce any possibility of congestion. While I was there, I checked out the exhibits and loved checking out works by adults and children. The Art Center offers a wide variety of classes including clay, drawing, fibers, glass, jewelry/metals, painting, photo/digital, print/book arts, sculpture, wood, and has an open studio (though the open studio is currently significantly limited due to the pandemic). They rent lockers to students to make things more convenient. Most of the classes are quite affordable and Indianapolis Art Center also offers tuition assistance programs. You can also rent multiple areas of the Art Center and prices are surprisingly affordable. This includes galleries, the auditorium, the riverfront, the parking lots, and more! I've seen special events here, weddings, and even film festivals. They auditorium, as I recall, seats 247 people. I've heard they can be a little fussy around scheduling and the auditorium, but most people I know who've done it say it has been a good experience. I've attended multiple events here. There's plenty of parking. There's ramps at all entrances, though during the pandemic they seem to be limiting entry to the main entrance. There's typically 1-2 people at the main desk (I don't know if these are volunteers or employees, though they are always friendly). There's accessible parking. The main entry also has automatic doors by push-button, a great option for wheelchair users. While the distance from the parking lot is a bit further than I'd like, it's workable. Memberships are available ranging from $55-125. The Indianapolis Art Center is easily a walking distance from most places in Broad Ripple. You can also easily access it off the Monon Trail. There were people actively in the library yesterday - tables were well spaced. It tends to be a more quiet space. People were also actively visiting the galleries yesterday. Some of the art work is for sale (and clearly marked). If you check out the Indianapolis Art Center website, you'll also see the Art Center Marketplace and be able to explore buying local, regional, or national art for your home. The 83rd Annual Student Show is currently on display and a great way to get out of the house without much risk of encountering other humans!

    J J.

    This was a great experience. I did not know how many different amenities. The art center had. Almost any class I could think of involving art they had it! From glass blowing, ceramics, painting, woodworking and photography just to name a few. The staff all were super friendly and eager to help and answer any questions you had. Very informative and knowledgeable employees. I was more than pleased with the community youth involvement they have. Going above and beyond to offer classes and camps to everyone. This place is for sure a must support. They cater to all age groups 4yrs- I will definitely be signing up for some classes.

    Bradley J.

    We are moving to Broad Ripple soon and walking around we found the art center here and it's so pretty! So many cool pieces you can see as you walk around outside the building and there's also the river area you can chill at and enjoy nature. Really lovely spot.

    The dramatic pose and drastic contrast between dark and light in this one caught my eye.
    Aaron B.

    The reviews seem to either be 1-star or 5. I kind of landed in the middle with my experience. I went over for the Hoosier Heyday event. There were roughly half a dozen attendees for the event that I saw while I was there. So not a big thing despite some pushed advertising. Bit of a shame as the galleries and art were really interesting and I think the institution is worth supporting. I staid for a quick "This is your life" of Kurt Vonnegut presented by the Vonnegut museum. The talk was well presented and full of interesting info. The presenter asked who had been to the museum and of the like 5 of us in the audience, I was the only one who hadn't been. After the lecture he asked what I thought of Vonnegut since I was new to him, which I thought was an interesting erroneous conflagration. Despite not having been to the Vonnegut museum, I'm fairly familiar with his work and passingly familiar with his life. It might behoove the Center to put on more events like this and to advertise them as heavily. Despite being a longtime resident of the area, I'd never been before. They seem to have a lot to offer!

    Garden flower
    Lori T.

    This place is amazing! The grounds, the teachers, the classes, the buildings, the equipment, everything is awesome. The classes are professional, organized, & full of education & fun. I've taken 2 stained glass classes. One was with a visiting teacher which included 5 days of 6.5 hr classes. Then I took a normal semester class which was one day a week for 3 hrs. They have classes every day of the week at different time frames. They also one day or evening or weekend make & take classes if you don't want to commit to anything bigger. My next class is a digital art class. I also want to take a fiber class, a weaving class & a welding class. So many great offerings!

    Pop up ceramic class
    Brittany S.

    I need to spend more time here. I want to throw parties in this space. Daydream with me: cocktail in one glass blowing in the other (realistic, right?), behind-the-scenes with the kiln and art-inspired custom cakes? Yeah, admit it, this is a party you wouldn't want to miss. Sometimes I worry that the Art Center is one of Indy's best kept secrets that shouldn't be a secret. A few reasons you need to check this place out and tell your friends: 1.) pop up art classes (low commitment, one time class (2 hours typically), $40 and plenty of variety to dabble (welding, ceramics, glass blowing, painting, textiles and so on). I've tried the glass blowing and ceramics classes and purchased a welding class for my mom for Christmas last year. 2.) Fun space for exploring - all classrooms have big glass windows that allow visitors to easily see the artists at work 3.) home to the Broad Ripple Art Fair 4.) gorgeous gardens filled with unique art installations (I'm especially a fan of the iconic wooden (dollhouse?) that reminds me of the book "There was an Old Lady who Lived in a Shoe"

    Sitting in the library facing the window. So much natural light.
    Gracen P.

    This is my new favorite study spot! The library is quiet with plenty of space to spread out and get homework done. I haven't gotten a chance to try food from the cafe yet, but the menu looks extensive for a small cafe. The outdoor space also has so many different tables with outlets nearby - a must for a college student who loves studying outside. The walking paths are great and the art is so cool to take a look at. I could spend hours exploring this place and it's now my favorite place in Indianapolis.

    Lots of art books to pull off the shelves and peruse
    Nicole S.

    When I visited, no one was there and the galleries were empty. It was just me and art. That's always the perfect way to experience anything, in my introverted opinion, at least when you're experiencing something quiet and contemplative like an art gallery. This isn't a huge gallery, but there's lots of art by students and local artists, which I love. One of the pieces that I liked took up a whole room and looked like rainbow-colored strings running from the floor to the ceiling. I'm not one of those people who reads into the meanings behind art, so I have no idea what this particular piece is supposed to be saying, but it's pretty and my basic-ass self liked looking at it. There is a big library here with many books about many art subjects, and you're free to just take them off the shelves and look at them. There are also classes here that you can enroll in, like ceramics, woodworking, metalworking and others.

    Glassblowing demo - a stripey stripey turtle
    Ann L.

    This is my "thank you" update! I've now been taking glassblowing classes here for 4-1/2 years, and have also been involved in some of the youth programs as a mentor. The art center is truly an amazing asset to our community and like so many other businesses are being hit hard by covid. They are doing some virtual classes as well as some in person classes now and registration for spring opens this coming Monday, November 23. I opted for in person glassblowing as my ONE out of the house activity and have been pleased with the safety precautions. Masks are required, class size has been reduced and everything is sanitized frequently. My experience has been that all staff and students are taking this seriously; we all want to keep ourselves and classmates safe and healthy. It is a community art center so we all help clean. Art has been a surprising addition to my life over the past years; having glassblowing as a creative outlet has been a tremendous stress reliever and I've made some amazing new friends. I cannot emphasize enough that no previous experience in art or "talent" is needed to take classes here. The galleries and grounds are wonderful too. If you've never been to the art center please stop by; you'll probably even be able to see some of us blowing glass as there's almost always a glass, open studio or rental going on.

    Totem by Robert Zeidman
    Ken N.

    This review is strictly for the exterior garden and art. I have not taken classes here. On a beautiful afternoon in August, I had the time to wander about the gardens of IAC. There are numerous terraces & gardens, a mural, and many large installations of outdoor art placed around the paths as I wandered. In addition to all the art and nature trails, there is a scenic overlook of the White River that comes equipped with a ramp so that anyone can enjoy the view. Overall, the tranquil setting allows for individual contemplation on what was the artist of each piece trying to convey. So glad I was able to find time to return to this pocket paradise along the Monon in Broad Ripple. Review #110 FYI: For a more complete list of Public Art in Indianapolis go to the following website: http://www.indyartsguide.org/public-art/

    This mixed media sculpture on display at the art center cracked me up.  It really does embody all that is Christmas.

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    Ask the Community - Indy Art Center

    Review Highlights - Indy Art Center

    I'm not an artist but still truly appreciate what the Indianapolis Art Center has to offer for the City.

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    Kicasso Sneaker Art Bar - My shoes!!!

    Kicasso Sneaker Art Bar

    5.0(40 reviews)
    0.3 miBroad Ripple

    My friend and I had the best time designing our own custom sneakers. The vibe was relaxed,…read moreinspiring, and perfect for getting creative without feeling rushed. There were tons of paint colors and supplies to choose from, and the staff was super encouraging and helpful if you needed ideas or guidance. I went with a cartoon-style design on mine, with a sketch outline, bold details, and a hand-drawn look. I LOVE how they turned out. They look like wearable art! My friend went in a totally different direction, which made it even more fun seeing how unique each pair became. It's such a cool concept for a girls' night, date night, birthday, or just something different to do. You walk out with something you actually get to wear and show off. Highly recommend if you're looking for a creative experience that's both fun and memorable!

    This was a top favorite birthday gift/experience! While I ran out of time and will have to finish…read morepainting my shoes at home, I learned a lot and was able to get the largest part of the process finished. We all really enjoyed the experience and were so pleased with the help and advice we received from their instructors. I was really appreciative of the way they really stepped in to help my 2 children as they needed, allowing me to keep on working away in my own art project. They have some examples to help give you ideas and believe them when they tell you that they can help you draw items onto your shoes for you to paint. It felt like they are dedicated to helping people carry out the vision they have for their project.

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    Kicasso Sneaker Art Bar - Started off with a blank canvas and left with these one of a kind masterpieces :D

    Started off with a blank canvas and left with these one of a kind masterpieces :D

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    Bishop Chatard High School - Loved the uniforms!

    Bishop Chatard High School

    5.0(3 reviews)
    1.4 miBroad Ripple, SoBro

    Well I figured I should give my alma mater some love. I attended BCHC from 1996-2000, My experience…read morethere was very unique. My freshman year I was immediately drawn to the internally produced TV show. I got in and was mentored by a junior at the time who was a part of the original tv crew (it had just started a year or two before me). I soon took over co-producing the show and after my mentor left I was the producer and editor of the show. I also ran all of the AV for the liturgies, pep rallies and DJ'd most of the dances with my two best friends. Why am I telling you this? By the time I was a Junior I had a job working for Markey's AV. I started my career in Technology when I was 15 because the opportunities at Chatard. My story is unique for sure but the staff at Chatard supported me and helped me grow as a young man. On other notes not related to my career. I was and am not Catholic. Even though it is required to take a religion class every year I was not pressured in any way to take on their beliefs. I treated it as a history class. What was so amazing was that the Senior religion class was world religions. I always thought this was such an amazing things for them to do. And if you were a student there from the late 70's to the mid 2000's you had Mr. Powell as your teacher. I bet there are 1,000's of adults that when asked who is the one teacher that left a mark on you would say Mr. Powell. He was definitely mine. * The main reason my parents chose Chatard was their English program for kids with learning disabilities. I was diagnosed with ADD at a young age in the 80's. This program and the absolutely amazing teachers supported learning techniques for students with these issues. We were in our own small 6 student classroom for 2 periods of the day instead of being in the general English class. After 2 years of this program I was able to return back to the regular class. I will never forget how much that helped me in my learning through my entire life. Over the years I came back and volunteered time teaching students in the TV show program, photography in art class. I have donated art for the auctions and more. Why because I love this school. I could go on and on for ever about my experiences here. I will always be a Trojan!! And if any staff read this, I am always willing and able to volunteer. I have spent the past 22 years in the advanced technologies and engineering, photography and videography.

    Awesome school would recommend to others. Made lots of…read morefriends such as Ethan R. School lunch fye!

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    Bishop Chatard High School - Person

    Person

    Bishop Chatard High School - Loving my time here

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    Homeroom - Upholstered furniture

    Homeroom

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.9 miSoBro

    You might have noticed the door with the mural of scissors on it, right next to Gallery Pastry in…read morethe little pocket of shops off of the Monon and 54th Street. The owner is super passionate about being crafty, creative and fun. Homeroom is essentially a big room with every fun crafting tool you've ever dreamed of. The owner does upholstery classes, both virtually and in person. She can also host private and custom workshops, parties or do studio rentals. The space has big tables to work at, sewing machines, fabric galore, wood burner tools, big spools that you can turn into footstools, and more. Check their website for the virtual and in-person class schedules or email the owner to set up a time to stop in. This is definitely a hidden gem!

    If you've walked around the pockets of shops off the Monon at 54th Street in South Broad Ripple,…read moreyou may have noticed a door with an eye-catching yet simple mural of scissors. It's beyond that door where creative and convivial owner offers a creative DIY modern maker space. HomeRoom empowers guests to move beyond their fears by teaching them how to design, repair, and/or create useful and meaningful objects for themselves, friends, family, and the community. Don't expect the run-of-the-mill 'paper, gluesticks, and glitter' crafts. Think drivers/drills, hammers, sandpaper, handsaws, screwdrivers, pliers--and even sewing machines. Leer is an experienced leader and expert, as an educator and contributor for Real Simple, Bob Vila online, Country Living, Apartmenttherapy.com, and the Indianapolis Star. She's also taught sewing classes The Indianapolis Art Center as well as at a local shelter for abused women and kids. Leer offers private and custom workshops, summer camps, parties, and in-studio rentals. The recent classes include Beginning Sewing & Textile Arts, Maker Birthday Parties, and Upholstery for adults. Over the summer, Homeroom offers camps such as Crafty Entrepreneur Camp-where along the way, they learn financial literacy, design their goods, marketing, and sales skills. Kid classes have been fondly called meditative and calming "junk drawer" parties. Parents enjoy the classes, as each experience integrates both STEM and STEAM curricula. Kids are so busy having fun and feeling a high sense of accomplishment that they don't even know they were learning valuable and practical skills. Creativity flows, as kids use creatively use items such as grommet rings, earrings, fabric swatches, necklaces, charms, bells, broaches, keychains, buttons, keys, wood, vintage hardware, scrap metal conduit, laminates, wood, thread, beads, and metal tubing--even chop-sawed parquet floor tiles. Check their website for the virtual and in-person class schedules or set up a time to stop in.

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    Homeroom - Creative tools

    Creative tools

    Homeroom - Assorted projects (all gorgeous) - you can do group classes!

    Assorted projects (all gorgeous) - you can do group classes!

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    Deckademics - Indy Xterns 2017 photo 1

    Deckademics

    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.8 miBroad Ripple
    $$

    My daughter graduates from Deckademics tonight. This has been so good for her, both fun and…read moremotivating. She has loved learning from the guys and growing in her skills as a DJ. I don't think she could've learned from anyone better. They were easy to work with even when we had conflicts with our schedule. She played 2 gigs with them, which was great experience. 2019 has been a year full of music and I'm so glad we trusted the team here to teach her the ropes. Now to book a gig.

    DJ Cinnamon. DJ Knowledge. DJ Sweets. Ok, so after one DJ class at Deckademics I'm not quite ready…read moreto conquer the world of DJing, but for one day I had a blast trying! Deckademics is truly a gem. It is the first and only DJ school in Indy. It was started by Indy's cultural ambassador Douglas Morris also know as Sir Doug and, in my humble opinion, one of Indy's BEST DJ's Nick Saligoe other wise know as DJ MetroGnome. My friend wanted to try a Deckademics class for her birthday, so I gladly joined in the celebration. We signed up for the Weekend Warrior course which is basically a 4 hour long crash course in the fundamentals of DJing. No experience is necessary. Trust me, we had ZERO experience. It was easy to sign up for the class on-line. The class cost $75 ( and well worth it I might add). The day finally arrived for our class. I excitedly drove the school. There is free street parking available. The place is easy to miss, so drive slowly and look for the sign. We were warmly greeted by Nick and Doug then given an overview of the day. We were off on our adventure in DJing! We learned soooo much within the 4 hours. I seriously have a new found respect for DJ's. Yes, it is insanely fun, but it can be challenging. Nick and Doug were personable and did a great job co-leading our class. I especially appreciate Nick for finding some Bruno Mars tracks for me to work with. Man, I "heart" Bruno Mars. At the end of the course, we were able to use all of the skills we were taught to create a mini mix. This was one of the best parts! I was really DJing!! I felt like a kid riding their bike for the first time without training wheels. It was exhilarating!! The 4 hours went by quickly. We learned a lot, and had a BLAST in the process. These classes are perfect teens and up. My 15 year old nephew completed the novice and amateur courses in DJing and has moved up to the intermediate level. He absolutely loves it! Do yourself a favor, GO check this place and and TRY one of the classes. This is something fun and definitely unique to try. You won't regret it. I hope to return soon for one of their Date Night classes!

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    Deckademics - Indy Xterns photo 2

    Indy Xterns photo 2

    Deckademics
    Deckademics

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    Indy Art Center - artschools - Updated May 2026

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