Carmel Arts & Design District
Arts district
About
This is the Old Town part of Carmel, around Main Street and Range Line Road, with the Monon Greenway running through it. The district counts more than 200 art and design businesses, including galleries, interior designers, showrooms, antique stores, specialty shops and the Indiana Design Center, along with restaurants and homes.
Its gallery and studio list includes Art on Main, CCA Gallery, Circle Contemporary Art Gallery, Indiana Artisan, Kuaba Gallery, Magdalena Gallery of Art and Soori Gallery. The Carmel Arts Council Children's Art Gallery is at 40 West Main Street.
Kids may enjoy the outdoor art. The city bought life-size bronze figures by J. Seward Johnson Jr. for the district and City Center, such as a police officer greeting passersby, a father watching his daughter's first bike ride, and a street violinist. You'll also find the Eternal Spring sculpture at West Main Street and 3rd Avenue NW.
History
The district says the city and its redevelopment commission set out to revive a run-down Old Town, spending more than $10 million on sewers, streets, sidewalks and lighting before bringing in galleries, shops and restaurants. The Indiana Arts Commission certified it as a cultural district in 2010.
When to go
The district is outdoors, so any dry day works for a walk. Each gallery and shop keeps its own hours, and the district doesn't post them, so check before making a trip for one place.
Holiday events in 2026 include the Holiday Trolley, November 21 to December 19; Shop Small Shop Carmel, November 28; and Santa Saturdays on December 5, 12 and 19. The district's site says 2027 dates for Carmel PorchFest and the Carmel International Arts Festival are coming soon. Other 2027 dates aren't posted yet.
Good to know
The street address here is the district office at Suite 220. The website has a district map and a public parking map. The city bought Johnson sculptures for both Old Town and City Center, and the district's page doesn't give a location for each one, so plan to look around as you walk.
Price
It costs nothing to walk the district. Galleries, shops and events set their own prices.
Prices checked November 2026 on the website of Carmel Arts & Design District. They can change, so check before you go.
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