When Fishers was planning a new City hall, from the beginning surveys showed a demand for art classes and activities. The Fishers Art Center, on the first floor of new City Hall, has plenty of plans and in the coming weeks will get started in earnest.
Coming June 17 at 11am, the city will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the City Hall Fishers Art Center.
I was fortunate to have a tour of the art facility. I am no artist myself, but it is clear Fishers has a first-class art facility.
Below is a news release from the Fishers Art Center.
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The Fishers Art Center, a partnership between the City of Fishers and Indy Art Center, features 1,200 square feet for art exhibitions, two art studios, a clay studio and a flexible theater with multiple configuration options to accommodate performances, meetings, art classes and events. This summer it is open to the public Monday through Friday and during evening and weekend class times. Eventually it will be open seven days a week. While class and camp costs vary, exhibitions are always free to view.
“Fishers Art Center is one of the most unique aspects of a municipal building in the country today,” said Mayor Scott Fadness. “We are proud to bring this highly desired amenity to our community.”
Mark Williams, president of Indy Arts Center, said, “This partnership allows us to bring what’s working at the Indy Art Center to Fishers and customize it for the community here, and continue to innovate, much like the community around us. We look forward to many collaborations with Fishers-based groups and artists.”
Opening events
June 10 Summer camps start (register at fishersartcenter.org/classes/)
June 15, 8 a.m.-noon Sneak peek and community art activities during Fishers Farmers Market
June 15, varying times First “Make It Take It” art classes take place (register at fishersartcenter.org/adult-classes/)
June 17, 11 a.m. Ribbon cutting for the Fishers Art Center in the Fishers Municipal Center with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Fishers City Councilors and Indy Art Center President Mark Williams
June 17 Building open to the public for the Balderdash: Artworks by Kurt Vonnegut exhibition (free exhibition)
June 29 Building open and activated with programming during Spark!Fishers
July 12, 5-8 p.m. Inaugural community reception for Balderdash: Artworks by Kurt Vonnegut
Summer Art Camps
Spots are still available for the Fishers Art Center inaugural camp program. Camps are half-day, so campers who enroll in a morning and an afternoon camp can make it a full-day of art-making, along with outdoor breaks and lunch. Camps include clay, digital art, drawing and painting, cartoons and characters, and more. Instructors are trained teaching artists, and classes are small, with an instructor and assistant in every camp. Students will have fun, make new friends, and enjoy a rewarding art-making experience in the new state-of-the-art studios at the Fishers Art Center. Options at fishersartcenter.org/classes/.
Make It Take It Art Classes
Make It Take It (MITI) classes are two-hour sessions designed to serve as art class “samplers.” From a “Basic Brushstrokes” painting class to clay cups, and from felted flowers to an iPad pet portraits class, there’s something from everyone. See more MITI options at fishersartcenter.org/adult-classes/. Regular session-long classes will start in the fall.
Art Exhibitions
The inaugural exhibition, Balderdash: Artworks by Kurt Vonnegut, is a collaboration with the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library and features prints on loan from the museum as well as prints from the Indianapolis Art Center’s permanent collection. Various interactive elements will encourage visitors to engage with themes and styles while learning about the history and methodology used by the famed Hoosier writer and artist. The free exhibition runs June 18-Aug. 18, with an opening reception July 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Through the summer, Fishers Art Center hours are the same as the Fishers Municipal Center, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as during evening and weekend Make It Take It class times.