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Indy Arts Council

Fall Art Adventures

October means fall in full swing, including seasonal celebrations and brand-new offerings in galleries and on stage. Enjoy spooky storytellers, family-friendly fests, plays by local playwrights, and high-energy musical performances that'll rattle your skeleton bones.

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Deal With It: A Solo Show by Taylor Bamgbose

Lost Dog Gallery

5 to 9 p.m. September 30

1040 E. New York St.

Deal With It: A Solo Show by Taylor Bamgbose

With the goal of creating space for reflection, Taylor Bamgbose will debut a new collection, Deal With It, in a solo exhibition at Lost Dog Gallery. These new works explore the habitual strategies we use to regulate the big, difficult emotions we encounter in life. FREE.

Ghosts on Vacation

Lapis Lily Market

6 to 8:30 p.m. October 1

Re:Public, 2301 E. 10th St.

Ghosts on Vacation

It’s peak EEK! season, so pack your scary-on bag and make sure you bring plenty of sun-scream. You’re in for a ghastly getaway at this night of ghost-themed art. FREE.

“The Wiz” and 40 West Digital Short Films

6 to 10:30 p.m. October 1

Tarkington Park, 45 W. 40th St.

“The Wiz” and 40 West Digital Short Films

Enjoy an outdoor screening of “The Wiz” as well as pumpkin painting, giant yard games, and food trucks and beverages by Teas Me cafe. Young filmmakers from 40 West Digital, a project of MLK Center Indy, will premier their short films before the feature, at 7:45 p.m. FREE.

Opening Night Gala

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

6:30 p.m. October 1

Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Cir.

Opening Night Gala

Join ISO and guests Dance Kaleidoscope who will perform renditions of Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Johann Strauss’ “On the Beautiful Blue Danube.” Also on the bill, dynamic orchestral works programmed by ISO Artistic Advisor Jun Märkl. $25 and up.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Footlite Musicals

Thursdays to Sundays through October 2

Hedback Theatre, 1847 N. Alabama St.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This deliciously wicked Sondheim musical won eight Tony Awards for its Broadway premiere. The talented cast puts their all into both the story and the songs to bring this production to life—and maybe death. $15 to $25.

Indy Jazz Fest

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation

2 to 10 p.m. October 1 and 2

MacAllister Amphitheater, Garfield Park, 2425 Conservatory Dr.

Indy Jazz Fest

This two-day jazz celebration welcomes world-renowned superstars, including Tank and the Bangas and Robert Glasper (pictured), as well as local jazz heroes. One day, $50 and up. Two days, $90 and up.

Full Circle Nine Gallery

6 to 9 p.m. October 7

Full Circle Nine Gallery, Circle City Industrial Complex, 1125 E. Brookside Ave.

Going With the Flow: Paintings by Donna Jo Monroe

Explore Donna Jo Monroe’s collection of “flow” or “fluid” paintings on various surfaces. Monroe was 64 when she completed the first of her flow paintings, demonstrating that creative adventures can begin at any age and take on many forms. FREE.

“Spooky!”: First Friday at Harrison Center

Harrison Center

6 to 9 p.m. October 7

Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.

“Spooky!”: First Friday at Harrison Center

In Emma Overman’s acrylic paintings, gentle spirits and seasonal friends celebrate the wonders of autumn. Plus “Limbo” by Courtland Blade, “Lauren and Friends” by Two-Thirds Studio, “Shadow Hands” by Beth Guipe Hall, and more. FREE.

Stein Show

Fountain Square Clay Center

6 to 9 p.m. October 7

Fountain Square Clay Center, 950 Hosbrook St.

Stein Show

“Prost!” See the steins created and interpreted by the studio potters and celebrate Oktoberfest in First Friday style. Just be mindful of all the artful crockery. FREE.

Color Theory 111

Gallery 924 at Indy Arts Council

October 7 - November 10

924 N Pennsylvania St

Color Theory 111

Art meets numerology at Color Theory 111, an "intuition exhibition" featuring artworks by 16 artists with vibrant, distinctive styles, including curator Gary Gee. Meet the artists during First Friday receptions from 6-9 p.m. October 7 and November 4. FREE.

Aurora PhotoCenter

8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 2, 7, and 8

Monument Circle, 1 N. Meridian St.

“Night Calls” by Rebecca Norris Webb

Experience a public photo projection of Rebecca Norris Webb’s photo series “Night Calls”—an homage to the house calls Webb’s father made on his rounds as a doctor in Indiana’s Rush County. Poetry voices by Webb accompanies the display. FREE.

Leading Men of Broadway

Indiana Men’s Chorus and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 7, and 8 p.m, Oct. 8

Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Cir.

Leading Men of Broadway

Highlighting talented leading men of the stage, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leads well-known singers from the theater world and the Indiana Men’s Chorus in showcasing Broadway classics such as “Les Misérables,” “Hamilton,” ‘Ragtime,” and other hits. $19 and up.

Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Through October 9

Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St.

Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”

In this stage adaptation by Jessica Swale, three sisters and their widowed mother lose their family home and create new lives in a seaside cottage. What will lead to lasting happiness and true love: practical good sense or following the sensibilities of their hearts? $25 and up.

10-Minute Play Festival

IndyFringe, Indiana Playwrights Circle, and Indiana Writers Center

7:30 p.m. Oct. 6-8 & 2 p.m. Oct. 8-9

IndyFringe Basile Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair St.

10-Minute Play Festival

Enjoy seven short, un-produced plays in one all-too-brief evening, each by an Indiana playwright. These plays have been blindly selected to receive a fully staged performance led by one of seven unique theater organizations in Indianapolis. $20.

Phoenix Rising Dance Company

7:30 p.m. October 7-8, 2 p.m. October 9

Phoenix Theatre, 705 N. Illinois St.

Culturescape

Are your thoughts an indication of what you want or of what you’re afraid of? A daring exploration in breaking free from limiting rules imposed by childhood indoctrination, authority figures, social proof, a need to belong, and internal insecurities. $32.

Locally Made: Indy’s Fall Fest

Indianapolis Art Center

12 to 5 p.m. October 15

Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th St.

Locally Made: Indy’s Fall Fest

It's fall in full swing at this family-friendly outdoor afternoon in the center’s ARTSPARK. Enjoy artwork, wares, and artisanal goods from 25 local and regional artists, plus art activities, food, beverages, and Broad Ripple's autumnal beauty at its peak. FREE.

Epic Playlist with Kenny Broberg

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

7:30 p.m. October 15

Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 W. 46th St.

Epic Playlist with Kenny Broberg

The ICO kicks off their 39th season with a piece by a living female composer of color, Jessie Montgomery. The featured work, “Banner,” deconstructs the National Anthem. Also, Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony and American Pianists Awards winner Kenny Broberg. $35 and up.

Ghost Stories at Washington Park East Cemetery

Storytelling Arts of Indiana

7:30 to 10 p.m. October 15

Washington Park East Cemetery, 10612 E. Washington St.

Ghost Stories at Washington Park East Cemetery

Seven Hoosier storytellers spin spine-tingling tales as you sit under the tent or the stars. A night of urban legends, folk tales, and stories from literature for the whole family. Adults $20, kids 6 and up $10, kids 5 and under free, prices increase on day of event.

Freetown Village

October 14 through 16

Phoenix Theatre, 705 N. Illinois St.

“Sign of the Times”

In 1920, school teacher Gwendolyn Harris voted for the first time, the third generation of women in her family to fight for women’s suffrage. This one-woman show shines a light on the battle for women to gain their rights at the ballot box. $25 and up.

Heartland International Film Festival

October 6 through 16

Various locations in Central Indiana

Heartland International Film Festival

Heartland’s 31st annual festival features more than 115 films over 11 days, including 11 world premieres, three U.S. premieres, 17 special presentations from major distributors, and 11 films spotlighting Indiana. It will close with “The Whale,” starring Indianapolis native Brendan Fraser. Individual tickets $8 to $14.

Lysistrata

Fridays through Sundays, Oct. 7-16

The Cat Theatre, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel

Lysistrata

The men are always at war; the women have had enough. Will the fighting stop if the women deny them sex? This adaptation of Aristophanes’ satire “Lysistrata” takes place millennia after the original, but the story, which includes adult situations, is much the same. $15 to $20.

The Queen’s Cartoonists

Center for the Performing Arts

5 p.m. October 16

The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, 1 Center Green, Carmel

The Queen’s Cartoonists

From the New York City subway to Manhattan’s legendary Blue Note and New York Philharmonic, The Queen’s Cartoonists provide live accompaniment to video projections from the Golden Age of animation, cult cartoon classics, modern video pieces, comedy, and elements of a musical circus. $35 and up.

The Rise and Deconstruction of Reconstruction: A One-Act Play

Herron Galleries and The Africana Repertory Theater

6 to 8 p.m. October 19

Basile Auditorium, Eskenazi Hall, IUPUI, 735 W. New York St.

The Rise and Deconstruction of Reconstruction: A One-Act Play

It’s 1878, and less than 20 years after “Jubilee,” some of the most progressive Black minds of the day have convened a fictional gathering to assess slavery’s aftermath, specifically the rise and fall of Reconstruction. FREE.

One Dark Night: A Rock Symphony of the Macabre

The Center for the Performing Arts

8 p.m. October 22

The Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts, 1 Center Green, Carmel

One Dark Night: A Rock Symphony of the Macabre

A Halloween-themed extravaganza with electrified arrangements of spooky classical masterworks by composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Prokofiev. Guitarist Neil Zaza leads a six-piece band accompanied by vocalists, actors, narration, and multimedia. $25 and up.

Clay Workshop: Hand Building

Arts for Lawrence

7 to 9 p.m. October 25

Visual Arts Center, 8970 Otis Ave.

Clay Workshop: Hand Building

Learn basic slab and coil building techniques and be guided through the process of creating a piece from start to finish. Brand new to clay or looking to try something different from wheel throwing? This class is for you. Includes tools, clay, glaze, and firing. $35.

Identidad, Dreams y Marchas

Arte Mexicano en Indiana

September 9-October 28

Indianapolis Artsgarden, 110 W. Washington St.

Identidad, Dreams y Marchas

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, emerging and established Mexican and Mexican-American artists exhibit works inspired by cultural Identity, the immigrant dream, and marches. Meet the artists during a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 9.

SALI National Abstract Art Exhibition XVIII

Garfield Park Arts Center and Southside Art League

Opens 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 7, Closes Oct. 28

Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Dr.

SALI National Abstract Art Exhibition XVIII

Lose yourself in this juried exhibition of two-dimensional abstract paintings from around the United States. Explore a wide variety of media and techniques. Winners will be presented during the opening reception on First Friday. FREE.

Twilight Tales

Indiana State Museum

7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Oct. 19, 21, 26, and 28

Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.

Twilight Tales

Creep through the museum on a flashlight-led tour to some of the spookiest artifacts in the collection, as staff share connections to supernatural rumors and Indiana folklore. Flashlights provided. Ages 15+; minors must be accompanied by an adult. $20.

Día de Muertos

Eiteljorg Museum, Arte Mexicano in Indiana, and Nopal Cultural

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 29

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 W. Washington St.

Día de Muertos

It’s a day of celebration and a time to gather and remember and celebrate friends and relatives who have passed on. Enjoy performances, art-making, Mercado vendors, and a community-curated art and altar display, plus free admission to the museum. FREE.

Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

September 17 through October 30

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St.

Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See

In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered while visiting his uncle in Mississippi. This exhibit, created by the Children’s Museum in collaboration with Till’s family, tells his story and explores its impact on history and the nation. Museum admission: $19.50 to $38. First Thursdays, $6.

Harvest Nights

7:30 to 10 p.m. Sept. 30-Oct. 30

Newfields, 4000 Michigan Rd.

Harvest Nights

Wander through fog-filled forests of glowing jack-o-lanterns galore in the Pumpkin Path of Peril, feel the Ghost Train rumble beneath your feet and witness The Three Graces come to life in the party of the century at Mischief Manor. It’s spooky, not scary family fun. $25 and up.

Boo-la-la: An Indianapolis Spooktacular

Fonseca Theatre Company

Fridays through Sundays, Oct. 14-30

Fonseca Theatre, 2508 W. Michigan St.

Boo-la-la: An Indianapolis Spooktacular

Get in the mood to trick-or-treat with this multicultural celebration of ghostly stories, chilling thrillers, and creepy histories. Enjoy a variety of stories and songs, maybe even a dancing skeleton or two, and let the spooky spirit move you. $25.

African Drumming Meditation Circle

Kin Woman Collective

7 to 8 p.m. Mondays through November 7

Kuaba Gallery, 404 W. Main St., Carmel

African Drumming Meditation Circle

Feel the sound of your soul within this guided drum circle, surrounded by the artworks at Kuaba Gallery. The vibrations and sensations of indigenous African instruments such as the kora, mbira, and marimba, as well as clapping hands, connect participants to one another and to themselves. $25.

“October in 3D”: 3D Works by Will Woodrow

Gallery Forty-Two

October 4 through November 8

Gallery Forty-Two, 42 E. Washington St.

“October in 3D”: 3D Works by Will Woodrow

Recreating three-dimensional characters, products, and popular culture from the past, Indy-based painter and sculptor Will Woodrow’s recent work involves digital design modeling, 3D printing, and techniques from auto-body finishing to cast figures from the nostalgic past in new light. FREE.

Miguel Casco: “Send Nudes”

Big Car and Arte Mexicano en Indiana

October 7 through November 28

Tube Factory Artspace, 1125 Cruft St.

Miguel Casco: “Send Nudes”

Through an open call beginning in 2018, Miguel Casco has invited people to share their nudes with him. He then translates them to gouache and watercolor paintings, “to see through the eyes of the person who sends them and portray the intimacy they share.” FREE.

We. The Culture: Works by The Eighteen Art Collective

September 2022 through September 2023

Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road

We. The Culture: Works by The Eighteen Art Collective

In the summer of 2020, 18 Indianapolis-based Black artists were commissioned to paint a 30-foot-long Black Lives Matter street mural on historic Indiana Avenue. Their artworks address religion and spirituality, queer identity, joy, hip-hop culture, materiality, art history, nature, and social justice. General admission / $20.

Visit the Indy
Arts Guide →

One calendar. Hundreds of arts & culture adventures.

Indy Arts Organizations

These 71 featured organizations are supported by the City of Indianapolis Annual Grants Program administered by the Arts Council. More listings will be added as this website grows.

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

American Pianists Association

ArtMix

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

ArtMix

Arts for Lawrence

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Arts for Lawrence

Arts for Learning

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Arts for Learning

Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Big Car Collaborative

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Big Car Collaborative

Brick Street Poetry

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Brick Street Poetry

Buck Creek Players

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Buck Creek Players

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

The Cabaret

Cat Head Press Printshop and Cooperative

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Cat Head Press Printshop and Cooperative

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Classical Music Indy

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Classical Music Indy

Claude McNeal's Musical Theatre Training Program

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Claude McNeal's Musical Theatre Training Program

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Dance Kaleidoscope

The District Theatre

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

The District Theatre

Drum Corps International

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Drum Corps International

Echoing Air

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Echoing Air

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Eiteljorg Museum

Ensemble Music Society of Indianapolis

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Ensemble Music Society of Indianapolis

Fonseca Theatre Company

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Fonseca Theatre Company

Footlite Musicals

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Footlite Musicals

Freetown Village

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Freetown Village

Harrison Center

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Harrison Center

Heartland Film

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Heartland Film

Hoosier Salon

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Hoosier Salon

Iibada Dance Company

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Iibada Dance Company

Indiana Fashion Foundation

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indiana Fashion Foundation

Indiana Historical Society

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indiana Historical Society

Indiana Music Education Association & Foundation

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indiana Music Education Association & Foundation

Indiana Performing Arts Centre

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indiana Performing Arts Centre

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites

Indiana Writers Center

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indiana Writers Center

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Art Center

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Ballet

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

Indianapolis Children's Choir

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Children's Choir

Indianapolis Early Music

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Early Music

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation

Indianapolis Movement Arts Collective

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Movement Arts Collective

Indianapolis Opera

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Opera

Indianapolis Suzuki Academy

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Suzuki Academy

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Indianapolis Women's Chorus

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Women's Chorus

Indianapolis Zoo

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indianapolis Zoo

Indy Convergence

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indy Convergence

Indy Shakes

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Indy Shakes

IndyBaroque Music

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

IndyBaroque Music

IndyFringe Theatre

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

IndyFringe Theatre

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis

Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie

Kids Dance Outreach

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Kids Dance Outreach

Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library

Madam Walker Legacy Center

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Madam Walker Legacy Center

Music for All

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Music for All

Musical Family Tree

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Musical Family Tree

The New Harmony Project

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

The New Harmony Project

Newfields

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Newfields

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

NoExit Performance

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

PATTERN

Percussive Arts Society

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Percussive Arts Society

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis

Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre

React (formerly Young Actors Theatre)

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

React (formerly Young Actors Theatre)

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Sapphire Theatre Company

Storefront Theatre of Indianapolis

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Storefront Theatre of Indianapolis

Storytelling Arts of Indiana

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Storytelling Arts of Indiana

Summer Stock Stage

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Summer Stock Stage

Cultural Centers

Literary & Film

Summit Performance Indianapolis

COVID-19 Health & Safety

Indy’s arts and culture community is working together to keep audiences, employees, and artists safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Our city’s arts and culture organizations are dedicated to following the most current public health standards to ensure visitors feel safe and welcome. Please check venue health & safety policies before you head out to a show, gallery, or event.
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Thanks for helping us #KeepIndyLive and doing your part to ensure that #IndyKeepsCreating.

Visit the Indy Arts Council Website →

Thank you to our funders

The Indy arts & culture reopening campaign is supported by: