Broad Ripple Art Fair

This is a fun annual event that is also a fund raiser for the art center. In other words, your admission helps fund the amazing outreach programs provided by the art center. If the $15 price is still too high though, just sign up to volunteer. You get in for free for the rest of the day, and also get a t-shirt. There are always a large number or artists selling work in a great range of media. I like that they aren't grouped by medium. It's fun to browse and see paintings, ceramics, glass, jewelry, textiles, etc. throughout the grounds. The entertainment is fun, and the food selection is excellent with a lot of Broad Ripple favorites represented. You can also see students doing demonstrations inside the art center to get a sense of what classes are like. I've been taking glassblowing classes here for a bit and so a classmate and I bravely signed up for a demo slot. We managed to make a few decent pieces even with a larger audience than we were expecting (gulp! no pressure!) so...yes, the people doing a lot of the demos are real adult students who have day jobs, so you get to see what you too could do with some classes under your belt. We are not professionals, but we have fun! The shuttle to and from the Glendale lot worked well in my opinion. Just do be sure to get on the one to Glendale not Park Tudor.

Always one of my favorite artist events. Two days of wandering around and discovering someone new. Too bad they had to cancel the second day because of potential weather conditions. Food trucks were good. We didn't stay too long to enjoy entertainment but got to walk through the arts center and discovered new pop up events. Tip: go early. It's usually a hot day. Carpool to shuttle or take Uber. Broad ripple restaurants/nightlife is within walking distance.

I absolutly love the Broadripple art Fair. I have been coming to this art fair since I was a teen. The art fair is a juried fair that happens once a year at the Indianapolis Art Center which is a not for profit art school. The art fair features three different areas of artists tents, a food court, live music, and have activities and demonstrations through out the school during the two days. There is also an emerging artist area where up and coming artists and students sell there work. La Chinta Poblana a fabulous little fusion taco spot in Boraodripple. Ash & Elm Cider Company yummy Cider!Broadripple Brew Pub my favorite Brew Pub, veggie friendly spot. Fist Class Catering new toe.but made the most fabulous warm pita with pulled pork, mac and cheese and toppings! BRICS icecream!!!!!There are the typical fair foods as well!This is a great family friendly activity! The only problems I run in to are that being in Broadripple the parking is always a challenge! There is a free shuttle service that runs between Glendale and the fair which with any bus can be an adventure in itself! I am always excited to see what the artists bring to the fair. I really admire that they are taking their talents out in to the world and making a living at it. There are always items that I am inspired by and make me want to learn to create more! This is a great way to great wait to find a handmade piece by talented artisan that I will keep forever.

The amount of low Yelp ratings really puzzles me. From looking at them, you would think that the Broad Ripple Art Fair has done nothing right. Positives:-Your ticket is good for both days, making it $7.50 a day. You can't beat that price for live music both days along with demonstrations of various art forms. It also is a form of weather insurance since it seems that at least one day is partially or fully rained out. -Large amount of artists with differing mediums. Some of these are the same artisans that I've seen at another large art fair in September. Prices were very reasonable, which isn't the case at some of the other art fairs. Neutrals:-Food could be a little more local/Broad Ripple centric and less fair/carnival based, although I will say that thanks to the Fair, I finally had BRICs!-Parking was free if using the shuttle buses, which is great, but like another Yelper stated, there was no way to distinguish where the buses were going. It was even more confusing when the bus driver kept referring to Park Tutor as "Tutor Park" and it took several of us to figure this out.-Definitely more sponsor booths than I was used to seeing at an art fair, but since it is a fundraiser for the Indianapolis Art Center, I can understand it.Give it a go and if its raining or has been raining, wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy!

All the makings of a great art festival are there, but everything ends up missing the mark. I won't complain about the food, they do try and include a lot of local places, but they really should not boast on their website about top local chefs. Most of it is fair still food, and that is alright for this kinda event, so no complains, but nothing worthy of raving about.I will also give them a pass on the weather, although it seems to be an issue every year I have come to it.My biggest complaint is the quality of art present at this show. It is more of an arts and crafts fair at this point. I could count on one hand the amount of artist that I will have considered actually buying a piece from. This may be the first art fair that I have left glad to have not made a purchase.The transportation should work out easy, but they have even managed to mess that up. They have busses from to locations and not if there are marked to indicate weather they are going to Glendale or Park Tudor. You end of leaving with a bitter taste in your mouth because of the confusion.One last note, I found it very disturbing that the Whitetown Police were bring used so much. They are the worst police department in the state and should not be rewarded with the honor of working in Indianapolis.

Waste of money. 15.00 to get into event and things were soooo overpriced! No wonder so many were walking around empty handed. Food artists? Really???? More like fair food. Save your money....Go to Nashville In or the Talbot street art fair. Free...and basically the same items at more affordable prices.

So much fabulousness in one place makes me weak at the knees. A family friendly festival with mucho eye candy, fun activities, free swag, and awesome gigs. The stepdaughters kept asking me when we can go back. I said next year, and I get sad faces. As soon as we walked in, the girls wanted to play on the playground. Of course. The area was fenced with plastic fencing with one entrance. Genius. We finally got around to the booths. We found a booth letting kids paint for free, so we made some art. The Fifth Third Bank had a free photo booth, complete with costume accessories. Free family photo! The henna table had some decent prices, so we got temp tatted up. What a fun afternoon! We didn't buy any art or jewelry, but it was a great family activity. The girls really enjoyed the experience.

I agree with Tammy C.'s assessment of the Broad Ripple Art Fair. Very low energy amongst the attendees! No one looked happy and they're didn't appear to be a lot of purchasing. The Talbot Art Fair is free to get in and is much better!