I had a great experience. I was greeted when I walked in. This was my first time doing this as an…read moreadult. I remember taking a pottery class in middle and high school. It was definitely different than 25 years ago. I decided to try a new hobby every month in 2026. I'm so glad that I tried it. I was getting stressed because I couldn't get my bowl just right but the instructor was so helpful and got me together. The studio tour was also nice. Make sure to check them out if you're in the Fountain Square area. I can't wait to see the final product. I went solo but there were couples there. I didn't feel awkward going by myself. Everyone was super friendly. The 3rd bowl was an extra $5.

Every time my mom from out of town visits, I try to find something unique and fun to do. A coworker…read morerecently told me about this place and I thought it would be perfect! We signed up for the beginners night class from 7-9PM. It was $45 a person which included 2 of 3 pieces you make. I'm not gonna lie, we were both pretty nervous. Neither of us had ever taken a pottery class and we knew we were going to be bad at it. Turns out, we were pretty good!! And all 3 pots were suitable for glazing. The first 45 minutes to an hour is a guided instruction, then the last hour we are free to throw our other 2 balls of clay with the help of the instructor whenever we needed her. I believe her name was Katie and she was great! Funny, nice, and always willing to help. This is such a fun way to spend an evening. Makes for a good date night or I could see a bachelorette party too. Highly recommend this unique experience.

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.

This is an adorable spot that I had no idea existed until a friend asked me to attend a wine and…read morecardology class here. Such a sweet space with several designated parking spaces right in front. I arrived a few minutes early to our class and was able to look around at the great selection of gift and home products at the front of the space. For our class, snacks and drinks were included in the price and we had a lovely time laughing and learning more. I look at their schedule of upcoming events and they host so many fun events! Perfect for girls night out.

Create Art Studio is an amazing place for any art enthusiasts or people that just want to explore…read moretheir creativity! I've been to 2 workshops and both have been incredible. The founders Chrissy and Alissa are so nice and welcoming every time! The instructors are also so warm and the vibe of the place is just perfect, of course I have to mention the refreshments are on point too :) 100% recommend taking a class and they have parking!

Went to a gathering for a friend's birthday. It was fun and frustrating at the same time…read more Instructions were great and easy to follow. In a few weeks we will have our finished product. Their classes fill up as soon as they are posted. I was irritated that my husband did better than I did. He isn't crafty at all and he caught on really fast.

WOW, what a cool place that's tucked away in a small neighborhood to let your pottery talents come…read morealive. I had such an amazing time last night learning how to create pottery. This was my very first time doing this, and instructor Tracee Ellis was absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!! She taught 8 of us, some first-timers, others had some experience, but she made getting messy a dream come true for me. I'm so glad my daughter in law gifted me this experience as a Christmas gift last year. The classes fill up super quick, but man, was this truly worth the wait!!!! Thank you, Yellow Door Ceramic Studio and Tracee Ellis, for an incredible way to end the work week and begin the weekend. #potteryrocks

If it's related to the arts in Lawrence, there's a pretty good chance that Arts for Lawrence has a…read morehand in it. Started as a non-profit in 2006, Arts for Lawrence is the largest non-profit arts organization in Lawrence and Indy's northeast quadrant. The organization serves as the steward for the historic Theater at the Fort and offers a remarkably diverse array of affordable arts programs at Theater at the Fort, Fort Ben Cultural Campus, and the Visual Arts Campus. VERY often, these activities are provided at no charge to the community. This was the case for this past weekend's Shakespeare at the Fort: A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by longtime Indy radio personality Matthew Socey. At one point, I was contemplating placing a memorial for children lost to violence in the Fort Ben area - It was Arts for Lawrence that responded and had some dialogue about the idea. Essentially, I've found the organization pretty amazingly responsive when it comes to exploring ideas for creatively improving the lives of Lawrence residents. The musical chairs at Fort Ben? Arts for Lawrence is behind this wonderful, family-friendly installation operating daily from 9am-10pm. (I do agree with some who've observed it would have been ideal to include at least one accessible swing). The Fort Ben Cultural Campus as launched in 2021 with the former Fort Harrison Communications Building moved to the campus and re-established as a Visual Arts Center with monthly exhibitions, a ceramics studio offering classes for all ages and abilities, and upstairs area offering additional classes. Programs include festivals, theater performances, outdoor concert series, art classes, art exhibitions, poetry readings, and more. Food trucks often appear at outdoor events. Being right by Lawrence's City Hall, this area seems to have become a central locale for many of the City's sponsored community activities. Arts for Lawrence also has a strong equity statement on their website indicating a desire to ensure that arts programming is accessible to all. The Visual Arts Center is now open from 6-9pm daily and during festivals. Additional features include the Sterrett Center, Marching Sidewalk, Lawrence's public art, the amphitheater, and an app offering AR/VR experiences. Arts for Lawrence only assumed stewardship of Theater at the Fort in 2016. They began a vigorous upgrading of the 1929 theater and while it's certainly not perfectly accessible (what 1929 building is?), it's dramatically improved and there's an attitude of access. As a city, Lawrence fairly recently established a commission on disability. It took me quite a while to realize that many of the activities I attend here in the Fort Ben area fall under the umbrella of Arts for Lawrence. I'd imagine it will only improve once the currently under construction Fort Ben branch of the Indianapolis Public Library is completed. There's so much to love here and Arts for Lawrence is behind much of it and they've become a guiding player in the growing Lawrence arts scene. With friendly people, great events, and opportunities for all, I'm definitely a fan of Arts for Lawrence.

I love coming to support local artists here! I have been a few times now for Crossroads Dance Indy…read moreperformances and I love it every time. The venue feels small, but still fits an audience of 100+. The staff are always so friendly and do a good job of guiding you where to go. The restrooms are always clean as well. The parking situation isn't super great, however. I usually park in the lot across the street, but there isn't a ton of room on show nights. You'd have to find street parking if it were a busy night. Plan extra time just in case!

As someone with a disability who is also a creative, there's no question I resonate with ArtMix's…read moremission to transform the lives of people with and without disabilities through the creation of art. ArtMix is an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization that has been in existence since I was a kid in school, though it began life as Very Special Arts. They have four core programs, a variety of special projects, and quite a few opportunities to support them ranging from visiting their art gallery to joining them for First Fridays and others. As they note on their website, in the early days of public education for those with disabilities it was uncommon for us to be integrated into regular classrooms. An organization like this was used to fill in that gap. While I was often discouraged from creativity, this was an organization that encouraged it. The fact that I'm now a published writer, film critic, producer, and occasional actor is proof positive of how positive their influence can be. It should be noted that shopping in their gallery is by appointment only. Like a lot of non-profits, they have a small staff. The core programs for ArtMix include urban artisans, entrepreneur artisans, community classes, and artists-in-residence. In terms of accessibility, despite being in a challenging building they do well with ramps at the back entrance (and free parking in the back lot). The building itself is locked - there's a call box that you'll use (again, they request appointments). First Friday events are cool, the gallery is wonderful (and does support artists with disabilities. Yay.). I'm very pleased with this organization. It's only gotten better over the years. While I'm no longer that student sitting in a classroom, ArtMix reaches out even more these days and is truly a community organization. If you've never checked them out, I definitely recommend it.

Interested in supporting local artists, giving back, and purchase beautiful art? Art mix is the…read moreperfect place for this! I went for the second year to their holiday open house to do my yearly ornament shopping for family and friends. There are beautiful, one-of-a-kind ornaments, plates, bowls, and other ceramic pieces. All of the pieces are carefully made by the artists, fired on-site, and then made available in their gallery. I have been thrilled by the items I've purchased and the recipients love them!

Appreciate that the IAC is open late. Nice to look at midwestern produced art after dinner. We…read morespent about an hour wandering through the corridors and gallery spaces. The library is quite large. Relatives have lived in Indy for decades but only recently discovered the IAC. A hidden gem in Broad Ripple.

Attended a sold out showing of the Radiance Film Festival featuring film shorts by Ball State…read moreUniversity students in the Frank Basile Theatre, with new seating. The building also has several small galleries with interesting artwork on display. Parking is scarce for an event of this size, so arrive early!

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.

We had a wonderful meeting with Amy and have been able to make decisions so easily! She had so…read moremany examples of what is available.

Working with Amy at Molly and Myrtle was honestly one of the best decisions I made when it came to…read moreplanning our wedding. Not only is Amy extremely talented at her craft, she's also one of the most genuine people I've ever met. Amy and I touched base often over the year span of planning our NYE wedding. Because I live in Boston, communication was vital - and Amy was always responsive. She was happy to respond to an email or jump on a call, and when I was in town, she would attend any meeting that I asked her to join - whether it was at a rental warehouse, her home or the venue itself. I sent Amy some photos at the beginning of the planning process for inspiration, but beyond that, I really trusted her to bring our vision to life - and she did it flawlessly! The flowers were stunning, the ceremony setup was romantic and the reception tables were perfect. I could go on for DAYS about every little (and big) detail Amy put into our day. Seriously. She was also a calming presence for me - not just during planning, but especially on the day of the wedding. I just felt good knowing that Amy was there, and that she was going to do anything to make our day perfect and special. If you're considering working with her for your wedding - do it! You will be so glad you did.