By bringing art outside the traditional context of museums and galleries, Public Art Indianapolis benefits the community and its visitors by increasing access to art, extending our cultural institutions' reach beyond their campuses, and providing artists with opportunities to expand their artistic practice and market. The program has a commitment to work with both emerging and established artists, galleries, and museums to produce high quality, innovative, and creative art projects and exhibitions in public spaces in Indianapolis.

In 2004 the Arts Council of Indianapolis, with the support of the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission and Mayor Bart Peterson's office, launched the Public Art Indianapolis program. The program organized and produced Tom Otterness in Indianapolis, a six month public exhibition of 25 bronze sculptures by Tom Otterness as well as the Great Ideas Competition for artists working in the state of Indiana. September 2006 marked the opening of Julian Opie: Signs, the British artist's largest public project to date that brought 11 art installations to the city: six pre-existing projects and five new commissions. In addition, the program produces projects by artists living in Indiana though the Picture Windows: Urban Interpretations program that turns over vacant street-level window spaces to artist, as well as a partnership to bring written and spoken word projects to users of public transportation. In late 2006, the Arts Council was contracted to manage a $2 million budget and provide public art curatorial and project management on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, a dedicated bike and pedestrian pathway being built in downtown Indianapolis from 2007 through 2010.

Public Art in Indianapolis is something YOU need to get into!