Indiana has much to choose from when it comes to arts and entertainment. A plethora of museums, galleries, and performing arts venues are located throughout the state. And while the capital city of Indianapolis is home to many of the state's cultural attractions, sites of interest can be found in other cities and towns in Indiana.
Crafts
There are a number of places in Indiana focused on crafts: Nappanee, Bloomington, and Indianapolis to name a few. As well, Indiana has a rather nice emphasis on quilting.
Visitors interested in Indiana crafts won't want to miss out on Amish Acres. Located in quiet north-central Nappanee, Amish Acres is an 80-acre historic farm full of cultural experiences. With a season running from April to November, Amish Acres boasts musical theater, craft demonstrations, and guided tours, and is open seven days a week.
Also of interest is the Indiana Traditional Arts Center, located in tiny Monrovia. It offers classes dedicated to preserving the heritage of traditional craftsmanship, and has a gallery exhibiting folk crafts.
Dance
Though Indiana doesn't have a well-known cultural dance tradition, there are still options when it comes to the art of dance in the Hoosier State.
If you're in the mood for something traditional, you can attend performances by the Indiana Ballet in Indianapolis, the Lafayette Ballet Company, the Indiana Ballet Theatre NW, or the Fort Wayne Ballet. All of these organizations allow visitors to experience the enchanting beauty of ballet in the Hoosier State.
As well, a First Nations Pow Wow is held annually on the campus of Indiana University, Bloomington. Here one may find authentic Native American dancing and culture.
Film
Indiana has clear and direct ties with the movie industry, producing a number of famous actors and actresses.
Perhaps the most famous Indiana actor is Marion native James Dean. Dean only starred in three Hollywood films before his untimely death at the age of 24, but is considered a cultural icon, as he seemed to tap into the latent angst of American youth in the early to mid-1950s. His three major films were East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant.
Of course, Dean is not the only "cool" actor to hail from the Hoosier state. Steve McQueen was born in Beech Grove, a suburb of Indianapolis. While he made a number of films, his most famous included The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, Papillon, and The Getaway (in which he starred with Ali McGraw, who he later married). He died of cancer at the young age of 50 in 1980.
Comedian and talk-show host David Letterman was born in Indianapolis, and attended Ball State University in Muncie where he earned a degree in telecommunications. Known for his Late Show with David Letterman, he has been in television for almost 30 years.
Literature
Perhaps the most well-known Indiana author was Indianapolis-born Kurt Vonnegut, who died in 2007. Vonnegut was best known for his quasi-memoir Slaughterhouse-Five, based on the firebombing of Dresden, Germany, during World War II.
Booth Tarkington has the distinction of being a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, for his novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams. Tarkington also published a total of 20 novels during his life, including Penrod, The Turmoil, and The Midlander.
Cartoonist Jim Davis, best-known for his Garfield comic strip, was born in Fairmount, near Marion, and attended Ball State University in Muncie. Garfield has been in circulation since 1978.
Music
Interestingly, a number of musicians of all stripes have called Indiana home. W. Axl Rose, controversial lead singer of the famous metal band Guns'N' Roses, was originally from Lafayette. While in driver's education class in high school he met guitarist Izzy Stradlin, who would later help to found the band with Rose. As well, Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars was born in Terre Haute. Motley Crue became one of the most popular metal bands of the late 80s and early 90s.
One of the most popular and long-lasting Indiana musicians has to be Seymour-born John Mellencamp. Formerly known as John Cougar, Mellencamp has been recording for over 30 years, and still resides in the Bloomington area.
One of the most popular musical venues in the state is the Verizon Music Center, located in Noblesville, just north of Indianapolis. The venue routinely hosts hundreds of major recording artists every year.
Theater
There are several notable theater companies in Indiana. The Indiana Repertory Theatre resides in Indianapolis, and has been in existence since 1972. It is one of the premier regional theater companies in the country, and has received numerous prestigious grants and awards. There are always shows in production for the interested visitor.
The Bloomington Playwrights Project was founded in 1980 by two Indiana University MFA students. The purpose of the company was to provide an environment that was conducive to local playwrights getting their work on stage. It is one of the very companies in the country to both producing and staging local theatre.
Visual Arts
Indiana boasts a number of galleries and museums dedicated to promoting visual arts. While, certainly, many of these attractions are located in Indianapolis, there are a number of places to visit in cities other than the capital.
While Indiana is sometimes overlooked in terms of vacation destinations, it should not be ignored. There are a number of exciting and educational places to visit and things to do. The Hoosier State prides itself on being an integral part of the Heartland, and the number and quality of attractions Indiana boasts should not be missed.
