A tour of the new Community Arts Center with founder Sarah Mitchell discussing the vision for the space.
The heart of downtown Zionsville is about to get a creative boost. After months of careful renovation and community planning, the new Zionsville Community Arts Center officially opened its doors last Saturday, transforming a historic building on Main Street into a vibrant hub for local artists, makers, and cultural enthusiasts.
The 5,000-square-foot space, formerly home to a vintage furniture store, now features
dedicated studios for painting, pottery, and mixed media, along with a gallery space that
will rotate exhibitions from local and regional artists every six weeks. The center also
includes a small performance area for readings, acoustic concerts, and community
gatherings.
A Vision Years in the Making
“This has been a dream of ours for nearly five years,” says Sarah Mitchell, founder and executive director of the Arts Center. “Zionsville has always had a strong creative community, but we lacked a dedicated space where artists could come together, learn from
each other, and share their work with the public.”
Mitchell, a longtime Zionsville resident and professional ceramicist, began organizing
informal artist meetups in 2019. What started as a small group of painters and sculptors
gathering in coffee shops quickly grew into a movement that caught the attention of local
business leaders and town officials.
“Zionsville has always had a strong creative community, but we lacked a dedicated space where artists could come together, learn from each other, and share their work with the public.”
Community Support Makes It Possible
The renovation was made possible through a combination of private donations, grants from
the Indiana Arts Commission, and support from the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce. Local
contractors donated labor and materials, and dozens of volunteers helped with everything
from painting walls to installing lighting fixtures.
“The outpouring of support has been incredible,” Mitchell reflects. “It really shows how
much this community values the arts and wants to see creative spaces thrive here.”
The pottery studio features six wheels and a kiln, with beginner and advanced classes starting next month.
What's Next
The Arts Center will offer a full schedule of classes and workshops starting in June, including
beginner pottery, watercolor painting, printmaking, and creative writing. Monthly open studio nights will give community members a chance to explore different mediums in a relaxed, social environment.
The inaugural gallery exhibition, “Rooted: Perspectives on Place,” features work from 15 local artists exploring themes of home, community, and belonging. The show runs through July 15, with an artist reception scheduled for June 8.
For Mitchell and the team of volunteers who made the Arts Center a reality, the opening represents more than just a new building—it’s a statement about what Zionsville values and the kind of community it wants to be.
“Art brings people together,” Mitchell says. “It sparks conversations, challenges perspectives, and helps us see our town—and each other—in new ways. That’s what we’re building here.”
