For Artists

Thank you for your inquiry about opportunities for artists at the Indianapolis Art Center and Marilyn K. Glick School of Art. Click on the links below for exhibition entry information and guidelines.

Gallery / ARTSPARK Exhibitions

The Indianapolis Art Center Exhibitions Department is extending the deadline for accepting digital proposals for the 2011—12 exhibition season and for outdoor work for ARTSPARK.

Proposals will be accepted until February 28, 2010. Any artist may submit a proposal to be considered for a solo or group exhibition by sending a complete artist's packet to Exhibits Dept. 820 E. 67th St. Indianapolis, IN 46220.

Please send a CD and include:

  • an artist statement
  • a resume or biography
  • 12-15 images of individual works (details may be included)
  • a list with title, media, size, and year completed for each image
  • support documents such as reviews of prior exhibitions
  • a detailed diagram of the proposed layout if it is an installation
  • videotapes of performance work may also be included as part of the packet.

In addition, please answer the two following questions:

  1. The Indianapolis Art Center’s outreach department provides programming to underserved audiences through a variety of programs, educating and engaging the community in all aspects of the creative process. Would you volunteer any time to lead a workshop, provide a tour of your work to youth at the Art Center, or speak to youth at a community center about your career and artwork?
  2. The Indianapolis Art Center has an extensive education program. Would you be interested in lecturing, leading a tour, or offering a workshop to coincide with your exhibition?

Priority will be given to artists living or working within 250 miles of Indianapolis, however, all proposals will be given equal consideration. All proposals collected during the year will be reviewed during March 2010 for the 2011-12 season, and you will be notified about your status before the end of June 2010. Your work may be paired with that of other artists in a group exhibition. Proposal materials will not be returned unless the artist provides a SASE.  

All works are insured while on site, and a small stipend may be available in curated exhibitions. For further information about the gallery sizes and contract terms, please contact Patrick Flaherty, Exhibitions, at PFlaherty@IndplsArtCenter.org or 317.255.2464, ext. 238.

Community Artists Exhibitions

Any Central Indiana artist or group may apply for SPOTLIGHT ON, a series of exhibitions designed to provide short-term public exposure to community arts groups and individual artists as approved by the Exhibitions Department. These exhibitions often relate to the Art Center's programming, gallery exhibits or events. Any artist or group may apply for one of these spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Patrick Flaherty, Exhibitions Associate at pflaherty@IndplsArtCenter.org or 317.255.2464, ext. 238 for more information.

Open Exhibitions

Open exhibitions are offered sporadically throughout the year at the Art Center. All students, staff, faculty and members are invited to submit one work for these themed exhibitions. There is no fee for submissions. Please contact Patrick Flaherty, Exhibitions Associate at pflaherty@IndplsArtCenter.org or 317.255.2464, ext. 238 for more information.

Teaching / Workshop Opportunities

Working artists teach the classes at the Indianapolis Art Center. If you wish to propose a class or workshop, please contact Anne Beck, Associate Director of Education, at abeck@IndplsArtCenter.org or 317.255.2464, ext. 222.

Basile Studio Shop

The Frank M. Basile Studio Shop, located adjacent to the front lobby of the Indianapolis Art Center, carries a wide variety of items created by local and regional artists. Artists represented in the Studio Shop also have opportunities to display their work in the Studio Shop Gallery. Contact Melanie Reckas, Studio Shop Manager, at mreckas@IndplsArtCenter.org or 317.255.2464, ext. 242 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Broad Ripple Art Fair

Each May, the Indianapolis Art Center puts on the Broad Ripple Art Fair, a national juried fair and competition. The fair attracts 25,000 visitors over a two-day period. The prospectus is available in mid-October of each year, with the entry deadline in early January each year. For more information, visit www.zapplication.org. For questions contact Patrick Flaherty, Artists Committee Co-Chair at pflaherty@IndplsArtCenter.org or 317.255.2464, ext. 238. The dates for 2010 Broad Ripple Art Fair are May 15 and 16.

The jurying will take place at the Indianapolis Art Center on February 10, 2010.

Downloads (PDF):

Indianapolis Art Center is an institutional member of NAIA, National Association of Independent Artists. View NAIA Member Certificate.

Artist Level Membership Benefits

The Indianapolis Art Center offers an Artist Level membership. Artist members of the Indianapolis Art Center receive the following benefits in addition to regular membership benefits:

  • Discounted programs specifically for working artists.
  • Discounted fees for open studio time.
  • Opportunity to display cardholder's art business link on the Artists Members page of the Art Center's Web site.
  • One free annual consultation with the Director of Exhibitions and Artist Services on the business of art, promotions, marketing, etc.
  • Subscription to Sketchbook, our artist member newsletter (three times a year) listing exhibition opportunities at the Art Center and elsewhere.

For more information about the Artist Level membership, please contact Jennifer Collins at jcollins@IndplsArtCenter.org or 317.255.2464, ext. 247.

Other Opportunities

The Indianapolis Art Center’s outreach department is looking for 3 Indianapolis artists to work within a new summer public art program for children that we will be piloting this summer. View guidelines and program description.

Please visit us and take a class, view our exhibitions and ARTSPARK, and browse our Ruth Lilly Art Library. Look for advertisements that are occasionally placed in Art Calendar, Sculpture and other national magazines soliciting proposals for exhibitions with a particular topic or theme. Keep watching the classified sections of these periodicals for more information.