Today for Friday Art Lessons, I wanted to share our 5 favorite local museums around Indianapolis where you’ll find an emphasis on art or some form of creativity. All museums have art ties, but some have more than others. AND I’m always amazed when I take my kids to {specifically} art museums, how much they truly love it. Maybe it’s because I try my darnedest to emphasize how important art and creativity are, but maybe it’s just because it’s something different.
Over the summer, the babysitter took the girls to Newfields a few times. I love that we have always been able to have someone who encourages visiting these types of places in our girls’ lives. I do my best to find people to surround the girls who encourage creativity and I love when they love checking out different places just as much as we all do.
So onto our favorite museums around the city that are art-centered or feature spectacular collections.
LOCAL MUSEUMS
Newfields
Listen… This is a 45 minute to 1 hour drive for us so we try to make it an entire day’s worth of exploring which is not hard to do at this beautiful museum. Newfields is a place for nature and the arts and it does not disappoint. As home to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Lilly House and Gardens, and Fairbanks Park, there’s something for everyone and there are ways to fill every hour they are open.
KIDS AREAS ON ALL LEVELS
The best and my most favorite part of this museum is that it’s 100% kid-friendly. As your child walks among Indiana artists, they may find an interactive immersion area where they walk right into the art and its history. I’ve never experienced that before and not only love it, but appreciate that because it allows for you to learn, play, and admire all the works around you right alongside your family.
You can learn more about memberships here, but daily admission for adults is$18, kids 6-17 are $10 and 5yrs and under are free.
Family memberships start at $100 which is amazing!
Indianapolis Art Center
I have only ever been through the art center when visiting the Broadripple Art Fair about 10 years ago. So it’s been a while… but they offer so much and are a bit closer than Newfields keeping it at the top of our list. The Art Center inhabits a beautiful Michael Graves-designed building that sits on a 9.5 acre stretch along the banks of the White River in the Broad Ripple area. They offer classes, galleries, exhibits, and the art fair!
BROADRIPPLE
They are also home to ArtsPark — This natural creative playground showcases open-air studios developed for people of all ages and abilities to touch, play, create and grow. Here you can enjoy the changing landscapes and artwork where creative energy meets the forces of nature. More than 27 sculptures created by Indiana and internationally-known master artists adorn the landscape. And best of all, it’s open dawn to dusk – no gates, no fences, no general admission charge.
You can learn more about Art Center memberships here, but classes and event admission vary.
The Children’s Museum
It’s no secret that I love The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, but I’m always fascinated when I walk around how much ART there is here. Outside of the beautiful sculptures and displays in the exhibits, they have few areas that are specifically art-centered. The third floor of the Dinosphere not only has the best view, but also creative stations. Learn to draw a dinosaur or add slime to a mold and create different textures with stamps.
My kids love this area because it’s a little bit quieter and if we have time, they can really let their creativity flow. Or pop into the PlayScape which is for kids 5 and under where there’s an art corner. Enjoy the space without instruction, or create a masterpiece with paint and other materials during one of their structured sessions. You’ll also find the National Art Museum of Sport here in the new Riley Sports Legends Experience where you will find nearly 1000 works of art. You can also create your own works of art by illustrating motion, shaping athletes with putty, and creating your own sportscards!
DOWNTOWN
You can learn more about Children’s Museum memberships here, but Family memberships start at $215 and include so much!
And while daily admission prices vary based on day, you can save by buying ahead.
Eiteljorg Museum
Accoding to their website, “The Eiteljorg Museum has something for everyone. From our child-friendly R.B. Annis Western Family Experience to our captivating collection of art to our ever-changing exhibits and events, we know you will fall in love with what the Eiteljorg has to offer.” We have been here 3x now and it’s quickly topped our list. The girls love the creative play in the basement where they can pretend to ride horses, run a grocery store, and build walls of a cabin, but we also take time to walk through the galleries where the most gorgeous pieces are featured AND the volunteers willingly share their knowledge about many of them with you. There’s also a rather large studio space on the bottom level where different activities are set up for kids to let their creativity run wild.
NATIVE AMERICAN ART
You can learn more about Eiteljorg memberships here, but family memberships start at $85.
Daily admission is $15 for adults, $8 for kids 5-17, and 4 and under are free.
Nickel Plate Arts
We may be partial to this local art gallery and studio because they occasionally feature young artists and Ella may have been one of those young artists last spring, but it’s a great local feature. Located just off the square in downtown Noblesville, it not only features different art showcases, but it houses local artist studios around the building too. And whenever they have events, you can usually walk through the studio spaces to see how real artists work! They also host different events around town which are very fun and encourage not only creativity but imagination!
NOBLESVILLE
You can learn more about Nickel Plate memberhips here, and they have many upcoming events where prices vary.
We are truly lucky to have so many museums right at our fingertips here in Indy. These are all worth a visit even if you aren’t looking for art specifically, but if you are looking for beautiful galleries and sculptures and more, you’ll want these to top your list!
HAPPY EXPLORING
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