Carmel is creative.
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- Current: Carmel
The Carmel Arts & Design District has attracted well over 100 businesses including art galleries, antique dealers, furniture and interior design showrooms, restaurants, boutiques, creative service providers, and an eclectic variety of specialty retail stores. And the list of merchants continues to grow.
Residents and visitors enjoy a vibrant oasis of fun and inspiration. Townhouses and condominiums share the stimulating, artistic atmosphere with retail storefronts and professional office suites. With immediate access to the Monon Trail, bricked sidewalks, public sculptures, and proximity to nearby cultural amenities, the Arts & Design District provides a truly unique experience. Please visit the other pages of this site to learn more about what’s happening and what’s to come!
Impact Points
4,151
Creative jobs in the zip codes surrounding the Carmel Arts and Design District in 2022. (Source)
$252.5M
Creative industry earnings in the zip codes surrounding the Carmel Arts and Design District in 2022. (Source)
$14.1M
Cultural nonprofit revenues in the zip codes surrounding the Carmel Arts and Design District in 2022.(Source)
Impact Stories
The Carmel International Arts Festival brings more than 40,000 avid art enthusiasts. 130+ juried artists bring their art that includes materials such as wood, fiber and oil. Jewelry, ceramics, sculptures, pottery pieces along with 2D and 3D are also present at the festival. The Carmel International Arts Festival is unique because the artists are encouraged to use their background and cultural influences within the art being displayed.
Xiangyang, Hubei, China became Carmel’s sister city in 2012. The relationship has promoted various cultural and economic exchange opportunities. With the help of IU Health North and the Carmel-Xiangyang Sister City Committee, the city of Carmel hosted its first Chinese Moon Cake Festival in the Arts and Design District in 2012. This festival showcases Chinese performing arts, cultural dishes and a Dragon Parade. Visitors are encouraged to make their own Mooncakes and get their name written in Chinese!
The Carmel Arts & Design District serves as a vibrant hub of activity for residents, workers, and visitors of the Cultural District. Throughout various events hosted within its footprint, many families and couples have shared their experiences of living near the historic Main Street.
Among the many stories told, one couple has made it a tradition to visit the Monon Trail traffic counter on New Year's Eve, ensuring they are the first pedestrians logged each year. Another couple, originally from Russia, purchased a townhome nearby and now walks daily along Main Street for exercise, enjoying the vibrancy of the community and its commitment to art and intelligent infrastructure.
One particularly inspiring family moved to Carmel specifically to embrace a car-free lifestyle. They bike and walk everywhere, appreciating how Main Street provides everything they need within easy reach. Across all these accounts, residents express their deep appreciation for the beauty, accessibility, and dynamic energy that the Carmel Arts & Design District adds to their lives. This enhancement of quality of life is what makes living in Carmel truly exceptional.
