Help Shape the Future of Public Art in Broad Ripple
Broad Ripple has long been one of Indianapolis’s most creative neighborhoods — a place where art, music, and culture are part of everyday life. Now, we’re inviting the community to help shape what comes next!
The Broad Ripple Village Association, in partnership with the Indy Arts Council, is nearing the end of a year-long community process… a year-long community process to create a Public Art Master Plan for the Village. This plan will guide new public art in Broad Ripple over the next three to five years, helping ensure that future projects reflect the creativity, character, and energy that make this neighborhood unique.
Sign up for updates here to be the first to hear about upcoming opportunities to participate:
Review the Draft Plan and Provide Public Comment
The draft Public Art Master Plan is open October 1st through 25th for community review and public comment. Read through the plan, consider these questions, and share your thoughts:
- Does this plan agree with how you want to see Broad Ripple grow in arts and culture?
- Does the Plan align with what you love about Broad Ripple and how you want to be engaged in new public artwork?
- Are the recommendations clear, useful, accessible, and actionable?
This video explains how to access and review the plan, along with how to create an account to add your public comments to the document.
Representatives will also be at Farmers Markets, the BRVA Monthly Meetup, and Third Thursday in October to connect in-person and answer questions.
You can RSVP to attend Office Hours at the Indianapolis Art Center on Sunday, October 18 or Thursday, October 22 if you need assistance with the virtual public comment platform or would like to discuss the draft Plan further. RSVP here or email mbyers@indyarts.org to sign up.
Street Scan Results
As part of the planning process, volunteers mapped existing works of public art in Broad Ripple and assessed their current condition. You can review the results of their work here.
Did we miss something? Send any additional artwork (with location of piece and a clear description) that you think should be added to the map to publicartplan@brva.org.
What Is a Public Art Master Plan?
A public art master plan is a community-informed roadmap that helps guide:
- Where public art is located
- What kinds of art are created
- How the community is engaged around new public art
- How artists are selected
- How projects are funded and maintained over time
This plan will help Broad Ripple take a thoughtful, collaborative approach to public art, building on what already exists while looking ahead to new possibilities.
How to Get Involved
The planning process is unfolding in three phases, designed to be community driven with multiple ways to contribute throughout 2026. Opportunities to share input have included two community conversations, interactive engagement at neighborhood events, and an online questionnaire. There will be additional opportunities to provide feedback during a public comment period on the draft Master Plan.
Spring-Early Summer: Listening & Learning
We’ve gathered community input through meetings, events, an online questionnaire, and conversations with stakeholders, while also documenting existing public art across the Village.
- First public community meeting: May 5
- Second public community meeting: July 7
- Questionnaire Responses: 313
- Stakeholder Interviews: 30
- Broad Ripple & SoBro Farmer’s Market Conversations: 502
- Special Event Conversations: 246
Summer: Developing the Plan
The Indy Arts Council has analyzed feedback, explored best practices, and put together recommendations for future public art in the draft Master Plan. Follow the instructions at the top of this page to review the plan and leave your comments.
Fall: Draft & Final Plan
The draft Plan is publicly available for community review October 1 – 25. After the public comment period closes, feedback will be reviewed and integrated into the final version of the plan for release at the end of November. Sign up for the email list to be updated when the final plan is issued.
What We’re Hearing
Through our community meetings, participation in neighborhood events, and early analysis of questionnaire responses, several key themes have emerged:
- Stories & Spaces That Bring People Together: Artwork that serves a function like a gathering space, seating element, or playground is consistently the most popular for respondents at events. Community meeting participants and survey respondents emphasize the importance of sharing, co-creating, and preserving Broad Ripple’s unique history through new art. Respondents also rank Neighborhood Beautification and Supporting Local Artists and Businesses as important roles of public art.
- Ongoing Engagement: Participants are less worried about how art decisions get carried out overall, and are more concerned about process transparency and having a say in the design at the beginning of each project.
- Taking Care of What We Have: Artists are concerned about keeping existing artworks in the neighborhood. Neighbors and artists alike want existing artworks that have become ‘eyesores’ or lost their functionality to be updated or restored.
- More Art!: Participants recommend building on Broad Ripple’s reputation as a Cultural District to curate more art—art that is engaging, visible, and makes a statement or tells a local story. Some residents and visitors can’t think of an example of existing public artwork in the neighborhood. We can create more, but there is also a need to promote it more too.
- Neighborhood Identity: Popular suggested locations for new public artworks are at Gateways to the Neighborhood and along various Trails that connect and move through the Village. Highlighted aspects of neighborhood identity include Walkability, Histories of the White River & Canal, Local Businesses & Artists, Broad Ripple’s Music Scene, Neighborhood History (Broad Ripple Park, iconic residents), and Native Plants/Landscaping.
What We’re Exploring Together
Through this process, we’re asking questions like:
- What kinds of public art reflect Broad Ripple’s identity?
- Where should future artworks be located?
- What themes, styles, or stories should be represented?
- How can public art be supported and sustained over time?
Your input will directly shape the recommendations in the final plan.
What Happens Next?
This plan is just the beginning. Following its completion, the first new public artwork guided by the plan will be commissioned, with installation anticipated in 2027.
Our Commitment to a Thoughtful Process
We are committed to a planning process that is transparent, inclusive, and guided by community input. As this work moves forward, new public art projects in Broad Ripple will be aligned with this process to ensure that future investments reflect shared community priorities and a cohesive vision for the neighborhood.
Stay Connected
Sign up to receive updates about the Public Art Master Plan, including future opportunities to participate. Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/brva/2026-broad-ripple-public-art-process.
Project Partners
This initiative is led by the Broad Ripple Village Association in partnership with the Indy Arts Council, with support from community stakeholders and local partners. The Penrod Society is also providing volunteer and overall support of this initiative.
Why This Matters
Public art helps tell the story of a place. By centering community voices in this process, we’re working together to shape a shared vision for Broad Ripple — one that reflects the creativity, character, and energy people already love about the Village.
Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email PublicArtPlan@brva.org.
**Mural at Kilroy’s featured at top of page by Abigail Staffelbach (shown) and Kwazar Martin, used with artist permission.
Master Plan Team
