Trackside Arts + Cultural District: Request for Proposals
Oct
3
to Apr 30

Trackside Arts + Cultural District: Request for Proposals

CHESTERTON DESIGNATES NEW CHESTERTON TRACKSIDE ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT AND RELEASES ARTIST REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Chesterton Branding Leadership Corporation (CBLC) is pleased to announce the designation of the new Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District.

Chesterton Town Council unanimously passed a resolution on Monday September 22, 2025 to designate and name the new arts and cultural district that encompasses the creative and artistic businesses, fine dining, retail, and parks in Chesterton’s thriving historic downtown. The Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District also overlaps an existing federally recognized historic district.

After a lengthy five-month community engagement process whereby Chesterton citizens and enthusiasts named approximately 140 cultural, historic, artistic, and meaningful assets throughout the community, a specific boundaried district was proposed that includes 57% of those named assets. The Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District extends from Grant Street to Indiana Avenue running north and south, and from Calumet Avenue to 5th Street running east and west incorporating both sides of the boundary streets.

“The district designation champions Chesterton’s already thriving arts and cultural scene and historic charm and recognizes the unique density our many artistic and creative businesses that make our community so unique and welcoming, “ says Rebecca Riley-Vargas, owner of Three Moons Fiberworks and CBLC President. “We are grateful for the opportunity to develop our own district with grant funding via Creative Convergence.”

The Creative Convergence initiative was created by the Indiana Arts Commission, in partnership with the Indiana Communities Institute at Ball State University’s Miller College of Business, specifically to energize the intersection of the cultural and the municipal. Chesterton’s team is comprised of Chesterton Art Center Executive Director Hannah Hammond-Hagman; Jayde McAloon, owner of Pieces of Jayde; Rebecca Riley-Vargas, owner of Three Moons Fiberworks; and, representing the Town of Chesterton, Public Affairs Liaison Kevin Nevers.

All four serve on the Board of Directors of the Chesterton Branding Leadership Corporation, an independent 501c3 organization whose mission is to create and support a vibrant and thriving historic Downtown Chesterton community.

“We are grateful for the support of the community and the Town of Chesterton in the establishment of the Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District,” says Hannah Hammond-Hagman, Chesterton Art Center Executive Director. “This district will ignite our sense of place and community spirit and may inspire further investment in our growing community, and we are excited to work with an artist to build visibility for the project in the coming months.”

The next steps for the district include a Request for Proposals for an artist to design and fabricate special markers or sculptures to be installed throughout the district space to visually designate and beautify the district space for an artist fee of $7,000. Those pieces will be installed in Spring 2026 followed by a community-wide celebration.

For more information and to view the Request for Proposals, visit www.visitchesterton.org.

Caption for second image:

The Chesterton Town Council with the CLBC Creative Convergence Team after the vote to formalize the Chesterton Trackside Arts & Cultural District, from left to right: Town Council Member Jim Ton, R-1st, and Vice-President Erin Collins, D-2nd; Creative Convergence Team members Rebecca Riley-Vargas, Hannah Hammond-Hagman, Kevin Nevers, and Jayde McAloon; and Town Council Member Jennifer Fisher, R-5th, President Sharon Darnell, D-4th, and Member Dane Lafata, D-3rd

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From A Bailly Point of View
Mar
12
to Apr 26

From A Bailly Point of View

  • Porter County Museum (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

From a Bailly Point of View

Though Joseph Bailly looms large in the memory of Porter County as its first nonnative settler, the lives and work of three generations of Bailly women—Marie, Rose, and Frances—truly shaped the Bailly homestead and public perception of the family legacy.

The PoCo Muse believes objects tell stories, and our new featured exhibit, From a Bailly Point of View (expanded from a 2018 exhibit of the same name), looks closely at artifacts from our Bailly Family Collection to shed new light on their legacy in Porter County.

DID YOU KNOW? The first priest to say Mass at the Bailly Homestead, Fr. Stephen Badin, was also the first priest ordained in the United States.

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Hillstrom Organ Works
Mar
12
to Apr 26

Hillstrom Organ Works

  • Porter County Museum (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Hillstrom Organ Works

Open through April 26, 2026

From 1880 to 1896, Swedish immigrant Charles Oscar Hillstrom ran one of Porter County’s most successful businesses: Hillstrom Organ Works. The company’s Chesterton factory produced an estimated 40,000 reed organs over its years of operation. During peak production, half of the workers crafting those organs were Swedish immigrants, drawn to the area by employment at the factory. Hillstrom Organ Works quickly established itself as the economic pride of Chesterton as it shipped its instruments across the United States and around the world.

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Become an Indiana Artisan
Mar
16
to Jun 2

Become an Indiana Artisan

The menu of benefits and programs for Indiana Artisan members expands every year. Each artisan can choose from an a la carte menu to get the help most applicable to build their business. This is your chance to leverage the impact of becoming an Indiana Artisan and market your handcrafted items as among the best in the state.

Business-Building Opportunities

  • Indiana Artisan Marketplace

  • Two brick-and-mortar stores

  • Listing of artisan online sales page

  • Invitations to highly respected trade shows statewide and in neighboring states

  • Complimentary professional photograph of your work

  • Personalized events listing on the Indiana Artisan website

  • Friends of Indiana Artisan visits to studios, kitchens, wineries and galleries


Professional Achievement

  • Designation as Indiana Artisan means your work is the best in the state

  • Use of the Indiana Artisan logo builds branding for Indiana Artisan-designated work

  • Professionally written profile published on IndianaArtisan.org can be used as artist chooses


Exposure of Your Work

  • Each member’s work and website showcased in the annual Viewbook

  • Gallery of images on the Indiana Artisan website

  • Posts on social media

  • Opportunities for coverage in broadcast and print media

  • Invitations to exhibit in galleries and museums


Entrepreneurial Development Opportunities

  • Networking with peers

  • Access to entrepreneurial support and technical assistance

  • Business practices and professional development workshops

  • Informal group conversations with artists and business experts

  • Staff services


Communications

  • Member newsletter

  • Members-only Facebook group for exchanging ideas and seeking advice from peers

  • Annual membership meeting

Apply
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52nd Annual Tri-County Junior/Senior High School Art Exhibition
Apr
10
to May 10

52nd Annual Tri-County Junior/Senior High School Art Exhibition

South Shore Arts is proud to announce its 52nd Annual Tri-County Jr/Sr High School Exhibition!

April 10–May 10, 2026

Awards Reception: Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 1-3pm
Bachman Gallery
1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN

The Tri-County Junior/Senior High School Art Exhibition, a perennial favorite, is a time for students, family members, friends, and teachers to crowd into the gallery in celebration of students’ artistry and achievement. This year South Shore Arts presents the show’s 52nd edition, showcasing students in grades, six through twelve, from schools in Lake, Porter, LaPorte counties in Indiana and south suburban Cook County in Illinois, April 10–May 10, 2026 with an awards ceremony held on Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 1-3pm. Twenty-three high schools and seven middle schools are participating in this year’s exhibit which fills the gallery with over 900 individual pieces of artwork. 

Over $15,000 in prizes and scholarships are to be awarded, including the $2,000 Berwanger Scholarship, two $1,000 scholarships provided by and to attend Indiana University Northwest School of the Fine Arts, the $1,000 Leslie Denmark Memorial Award donated by Tracy & Marc Schwimmer, and several first-time $500 awards. South Shore Arts thanks the many donors who have sponsored the awards for years, as well as those who gave this year for the very first time.


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ART IN FOCUS: How Artists Depict Divinity...and Fai
Apr
27
10:00 AM10:00

ART IN FOCUS: How Artists Depict Divinity...and Fai

April 27, 2026—How Artists Depict Divinity...and Fail
LECTURE & DISCUSSION

1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN

In a culture that insists on giving the ineffable a face, the history of art is littered with bold attempts to picture the unpicturable, with some degree of success and many more failures. This Art In Focus lecture traces a winding path through biblical texts, painted altarpieces, carved idols, and even the modern cathedral of the cinema, asking what happens when human imagination reaches for the divine and comes up short. Across centuries and cultures, artists have fashioned gods in their own image, revealing less about heaven than about earthly longing, limitation, and the persistent desire to see what cannot, perhaps should not, be seen. What does it mean to depict divinity?

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ART IN FOCUS: China's van Goghs
May
4
10:00 AM10:00

ART IN FOCUS: China's van Goghs

May 11, 2026—China's van Goghs

1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN
DOCUMENTARY & DISCUSSION


Join us for featured presentation of award nominated documentary, “China’s van Goghs.” An intimate portrait of peasant-turned oil painter transitioning from simply making copies of iconic Western paintings to creating their own authentic works of art, emblematic of the journey that China is going through, from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China.”

 

Total run time: 1hr 25min

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Anthony Bianco Live Urban/Industrial Painting Event
Apr
23
1:00 PM13:00

Anthony Bianco Live Urban/Industrial Painting Event

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of live art with Anthony Bianco!

Watch creativity come to life on April 23 at 1pm in the Bachman Gallery at South Shore Arts. Don’t miss this chance to experience the magic of painting in real time!

Learn more about Anthony Bianco
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Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot
Mar
28
10:00 AM10:00

Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot

We are thrilled to partner with Hebron Parks & Recreation to offer regular public hours at the Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot on Saturdays between 10a-2p.

The Stagecoach Inn was constructed in 1849 by James McCune for use as a way station along the stagecoach route between Detroit and St. Louis.

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Works in Progress: South Shore Art’s Student & Faculty Showcase 
Mar
27
to Apr 4

Works in Progress: South Shore Art’s Student & Faculty Showcase 

Works in Progress: South Shore Art’s Student & Faculty Showcase 

March 27 - April 4, 2026 
Closing Reception April 4, 1-3pm
Bachman Gallery
1041 Ridge Road
Munster, IN

Visit our Works in Progress, South Shore Arts' annual students and faculty showcase pop-up exhibition that highlights the creativity and remarkable artistic advancements of our South Shore Arts community. 

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Gary International Black Film Festival
Mar
25
3:30 PM15:30

Gary International Black Film Festival

Citywide Storytelling Event

Date: March 25

Time: 3:30 - 7:00 PM
Location: Gary Public Library and Cultural Center 

220 W 5th Avenue, Gary

Do you remember the first time you saw The Jacksons perform? Their historic performance at Roosevelt High School is widely acknowledged as a breakthrough moment for The Jacksons. Michael was only 8 years old. 

Gary, come and share your personal memories, photographs, and reflections connected to the Jackson family and growing up in Gary during the early years of their rise to fame. And post fame - What were the moments that made you proud to be from Gary? Was it the first time you saw Michael moonwalk? Was it their legendary appearance on Ed Sullivan, or was it their first time on Soul Train?

Local experiences remain part of the broader narrative surrounding Michael Jackson’s story. Gary is a part of that story.

This event, sponsored by Capital B news will feature clips of early Jackson performances, news events, music, food and YOU. 

This event is all ages and free and open to the public

Learn more
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Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot
Mar
21
10:00 AM10:00

Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot

We are thrilled to partner with Hebron Parks & Recreation to offer regular public hours at the Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot on Saturdays between 10a-2p.

The Stagecoach Inn was constructed in 1849 by James McCune for use as a way station along the stagecoach route between Detroit and St. Louis.

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Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot
Mar
14
10:00 AM10:00

Saturday Hours at Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot

We are thrilled to partner with Hebron Parks & Recreation to offer regular public hours at the Stagecoach Inn and Panhandle Depot on Saturdays between 10a-2p.

The Stagecoach Inn was constructed in 1849 by James McCune for use as a way station along the stagecoach route between Detroit and St. Louis.

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Guided Museum Tour with Quinn Albert
Mar
14
10:00 AM10:00

Guided Museum Tour with Quinn Albert

Learn more about From a Bailly Point of View and Selections from the Permanent Collection during this free guided tour. No two tours are ever the same and there's a good chance you will hear additional stories that don’t appear on the exhibit labels.

From a Bailly Point of View

Through April 25, 2026

Though Joseph Bailly looms large in the memory of Porter County as its first nonnative settler, the lives and work of three generations of Bailly women—Marie, Rose, and Frances—truly shaped the Bailly homestead and public perception of the family legacy.

The PoCo Muse believes objects tell stories, and our new featured exhibit, From a Bailly Point of View (expanded from a 2018 exhibit of the same name), looks closely at artifacts from our Bailly Family Collection to shed new light on their legacy in Porter County.

We don't require an RSVP for this tour series, although we ask that you arrive a few minutes before the start time as a courtesy to other attendees.

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Art in Focus: March 9, 2026—Water Lilies—Monet’s Later Years–FREE EVENT
Mar
9
10:00 AM10:00

Art in Focus: March 9, 2026—Water Lilies—Monet’s Later Years–FREE EVENT

March 9, 2026—Water Lilies—Monet’s Later Years

LECTURE & DISCUSSION
Join us for a presentation on the later years of Claude Monet’s life. Claude Monet is often criticized for being overexposed, too easy, too obvious, or worse, a chocolate box artist. His last works, the enormous water lily canvasses are among the most popular art works in the world. Yet there is nothing tame, traditionalist, or cozy about these last paintings. These are his most radical works of all. They turn the world upside down with their strange, disorientating and immersive vision. Monet’s water lilies have come to be viewed as simply an aesthetic interpretation of the garden that obsessed him. But they are so 
much more.

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Northwest Indiana Youth Arts Awards
Mar
3
to Mar 30

Northwest Indiana Youth Arts Awards

DO YOU KNOW A TEEN WHO IS PASSIONATE IN THE ARTS?

Nominations are open for the Northwest Indiana Youth Arts
Award. This award honors the achievements and talents of high school-age students who represent artistic excellence in their school and community.

The closing date for nominations is March 30, 2026. Performance/portfolio reviews will take place on April 25th. Nominees must be able to attend the performance/portfolio review, if they are shortlisted. There is no alternative date.

NOMINATE
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Voices in the Grass: A Solo Exhibition by Laura Catherwood–FREE event
Feb
27
to Apr 4

Voices in the Grass: A Solo Exhibition by Laura Catherwood–FREE event

Voices in the Grass: A Solo Exhibition by Laura Catherwood 

Laura Catherwood is a fine artist and illustrator working primarily in graphite and oil paint. Coaxing these materials into soft textures and delicate gestures, she creates sensitive images of plants, animals, and odd creatures.

 Her compositions place familiar nature imagery in unexpected situations, resulting in quiet scenes that explore the inner emotional landscape while simultaneously soothing the viewer. The creatures offer the audience company in handling their ambivalent feelings, challenging experiences, unanswered questions, and grief.

After earning a degree from UIUC studying molecular biology, Catherwood changed course to pursue a life in art, honing her craft at the School of Representational Art and Atelier Eftimov. She began exhibiting in group shows in and around her native Chicago in 2016, making her solo debut two years later at Chicago’s Palette and Chisel Art Academy. She has since exhibited her work nationwide and internationally, presenting an number of solo exhibitions (Vertical Gallery in Chicago, IL; Rotofugi in Chicago, IL; Antler Gallery in Portland, OR; and upcoming at Arch Enemy Arts in Philadelphia, PA) and bodies of work at international art fairs (SCOPE and AQUA Art Miami). Outside of galleries, you can find her work in murals scattered throughout Chicago.

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ART IN FOCUS: Ways of Seeing: Part One of John Berger–FREE EVENT
Feb
23
10:00 AM10:00

ART IN FOCUS: Ways of Seeing: Part One of John Berger–FREE EVENT

February 23, 2026—Ways of Seeing: Part One by John Berger 
DOCUMENTARY & DISCUSSION


Join Art in Focus for a presentation of John Berger’s highly influential BBC documentary series, “Ways of Seeing – Part one.” The first part "questions the assumptions usually made about the tradition of European paintings" The first episode in the series draws on Walter Benjamin's The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, and the idea that the reproduction of art such as paintings separates the piece's modern context from the context of which the piece was created.

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Project Empty Bowl
Feb
6
4:00 PM16:00

Project Empty Bowl

Project Empty BowlFriday February 6th, 4–7pm

The Center for Visual and Performing Arts

1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN

$35 Adult Donation

Includes one bowl of soup and a hand-made ceramic bowl to take home.

$10 Soup Only Donation (per person)

Paper bowls provided.

Additional servings of soup $10

All donations are collected at the door.The event will feature beautifully crafted ceramic bowls made by local potters and fresh soup prepared by 1040 Catering. All proceeds support the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Enjoy live music throughout the event. A canned food donation bin will be available to support the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.

Register Here

Sponsored by

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Art In Focus—Water Lilies—Monet's Later Years
Jan
26
10:00 AM10:00

Art In Focus—Water Lilies—Monet's Later Years

FREE EVENT—January 26— Water Lilies – Monet’s Later Years

LECTURE & DISCUSSION

The Center for Visual & Performing Arts
1040 Ridge Rd
Munster, IN

Join us for a presentation on the later years of Claude Monet’s life. Claude Monet is often criticized for being overexposed, too easy, too obvious, or worse, a chocolate box artist. His last works, the enormous water lily canvasses are among the most popular art works in the world. Yet there is nothing tame, traditionalist, or cozy about these last paintings. These are his most radical works of all. They turn the world upside down with their strange, disorientating and immersive vision. Monet’s water lilies have come to be viewed as simply an aesthetic interpretation of the garden that obsessed him. But they are so much more.

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Art 101: Kicking Off Your Art Career
Jan
24
1:00 PM13:00

Art 101: Kicking Off Your Art Career

ART 101: KICKING OFF YOUR ART CAREER is a free workshop for emerging artists sponsored by South Shore Arts and the Substation 9 Artists-in-Residence. The event will feature different speakers who will participate in a panel discussion. They will address a range of topics such as writing an artist statement and artist bio, submitting to group shows, photographing your art for juried show submissions, writing exhibition proposals, and applying for grants.

Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1:00 - 3:00

At Substation 9, 435 Fayette, Hammond, IN

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Mark Makers: An Exhibition on Contemporary Drawing
Jan
10
to Mar 14

Mark Makers: An Exhibition on Contemporary Drawing

Mark Makers explores drawing as both a foundational act and a dynamic standalone practice. Rooted in the earliest forms of human expression–long before written language–drawing has served as a primal tool for communication, reflection, and imagination. The exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists who embrace drawing not merely as a preliminary step but as a vital, complete form of expression. This is drawing not as preparation but as a destination.

Featuring the artworks of:

Anthony Adcock @anthony__adcock

Steven Assael @stevenassael

Adrian Barquero

Chris Ganz @ganzchristopher

Tim Lowly @timlowly

Mary Porterfield @mary.porterfield

Madeline Winter @madelinesuewinter

Mary Borgman

Don Yang @donyangart

Curated by: Brandon Johnson @brandonjohnson_studio

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Something Deeply Hidden—A Solo Exhibition by Wes Thorn
Jan
10
to Feb 21

Something Deeply Hidden—A Solo Exhibition by Wes Thorn

  • South Shore Arts/Atrium (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

South Shore Arts is proud to present Something Deeply Hidden, a solo exhibition by Northwest Indiana Artist, Wes Thorn. Featuring over 20 recent artworks, this exhibition brings together a series of geometric abstractions that invite viewers to look beneath the surface of order, symmetry, and color. The works, composed of precise forms and layered fields, operate like visual equations—suggesting that what appears simple and direct may conceal entire worlds of meaning.

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Work in Process Exchange Labs
Dec
13
9:30 AM09:30

Work in Process Exchange Labs

Work In Progress (WIP) Exchange Labs are in-person convenings for artists of all disciplines to gather in person to discuss topics of interest pertaining to creatives such as the status of current projects, their creative practices, and careers. Primary topics of discussion include projects attending artists are currently in the process of creating, technique and skill recommendations, sharing of both virtual and physical resources, sharing of specific past and present experiences as it pertains to creative careers, and their immediate local arts ecosystem. Work In Progress Exchange Labs are free to attend and are regionally based. Artists who participate in at least one Exchange Lab meeting are eligible to apply for the Work in Progress Exchange Labs Micro-Support Grant.

The Work In Progress (WIP) Exchange Labs Micro-Support Grant Program is a competitive grant program providing funding of between $250 - $1000 to support a current project connected to Exchange Lab discussions, topics, or an artist's individual practice. Artists of any discipline who have attended a minimum of one Exchange Lab are welcome to apply.

Host Sites The Work in Progress Exchange Labs are taking place at host sites around Indiana in 2025:

Western Region - Hosted by Greencastle Arts Council Counties: Benton, Clay, Fountain, Greene, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren Central Region - Hosted by Griffy's Art Supply Counties: Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clinton, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Howard, Johnson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Tipton

Eastern Region - Hosted by Richmond Art Museum Counties: Blackford, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, Union, Wayne

Northern Region - Hosted by Chesterton Arts

Center Counties: Adams, Allen, Carroll, Cass, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Huntington, Jasper, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Miami, Newton, Noble, Porter, Pulaski, Starke, Steuben, St. Joseph, Wabash, Wells, White, Whitley Southern Region - Hosted by New Harmony Project Counties: Clark, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Dubois, Floyd, Gibson, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Washington

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South Shore Arts and Regional arts Council Winter Luncheon
Dec
10
11:30 AM11:30

South Shore Arts and Regional arts Council Winter Luncheon

South Shore Arts and the Regional Arts Council Winter Luncheon

Center for the Visual and Performing Arts,1040 Ridge Rd., Munster, IN 46321
December 10th, 11:30 am to 2 pm
$30 per person

‘Tis the Season to Collaborate!

You are invited to join members of the Regional Arts Council for luncheon and a panel discussion about collaborations. 2025 has proved a shock to the system as arts funding has been withdrawn and DEAI goals repudiated. Collaborations between organizations and with civic agencies have proved a bright spot. They allow arts organizations to leverage their value as social conveners, community assets, and placemakers. Hear Hannah Hammond-Hagman, Executive Director of the Chesterton Art Center speak about her role and the city’s goals in establishing the Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District. Artist Ish Muhammad and city of Gary Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas III will discuss Gary’s mural project, a bold and inspiring celebration of the city’s creative spirit.

Lunch will be a hearty and warming vegetarian ratatouille, catered by 10Forty Banquets & Catering.

RSVP by November 26 below:

RSVP HERE
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