Indianapolis Art Center Inc

Programs: Education program and art classes: the art center promotes life-long learning through hands-on art classes, workshops and art activities. Programs are designed to serve a wide variety of audiences and skill levels, ranging from beginning to advanced students, ages two and up. Each year, the art center offers more than 900 studio art classes and programs in a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, ceramics, metalsmithing, glass blowing, woodworking, print making, digital arts, photography, sculpture, textiles, and mixed media as well as visiting artist lectures, demos and workshops. To meet the diverse needs of our community, the art center offers a wide variety of hands-on art experiences including two-hour sample classes ("pop-ups"), one and two-day workshops and classes ranging from four to fifteen weeks. Annually, these programs serve approximately 4,000 people. Classes are fee-based; however, tuition assistance is available to low to middle income families, people with disabilities and veterans. Classes are selected by the art center's education department and 100- member faculty based on current trends in arts education and feedback from students. Additionally, the art center offers education credits at local universities and provides programming at schools and community organizations.

exhibitions: the art center's exhibition program presents six major annual exhibition series in five galleries. These 6-8 week long exhibitions include two annual exhibitions, student and faculty shows as well as curated and juried exhibitions focusing on contemporary art made by living artists. The art center has developed a reputation as a strong contemporary gallery and strives to bring compelling work to the indianapolis community that engages and challenges the mind and spirit. In addition to the major exhibitions, the art center manages auxiliary student, outreach and community galleries as well as a 9. 5 acre sculpture garden ("artspark"). Seeking to engage more of the community, the art center actively pursues collaborations with other local organizations to increase reach and scope.

community celebrations - the broad ripple art fair (braf): established in 1971, braf is the art center's largest 2-day program and kickoff to indianapolis' summer festival season. Indiana's top nationally-ranked fair, braf attracts over 16,000 visitors, showcasing 225 professional artists and 30 emerging artists from across the country. Braf features free children's activities, an open house at the art center, three stages of musical entertainment, including a children's and cultural stage, food courts and craft brewed beer and wine. Braf takes place the third weekend in may on the grounds of the art center and the adjacent opti- park. All proceeds from braf directly support the art center's core programs.

outreach: the art center offers outreach programs that provide high quality art education opportunities to youth and adults from underserved areas of indianapolis, reaching thousands of individuals annually. These programs, which are offered to participants free of charge, provide opportunities for participants to develop artistic aptitudes and build relationships with peers and mentors. Outreach exhibitions - the art center creates special exhibitions to showcase the work created by youth participating in the art center's outreach programs. The exhibitions showcase the youth's art to the public and provide an opportunity for the participants' family members to view their art, which is hung professionally in the art center galleries.