The Work In Progress (WIP) Exchange Labs is a pilot program, designed to provide network and connection for primarily emerging artists across the state. Artists met monthly across different areas of the state to share career updates, discuss challenges they were facing, and build community hubs dedicated to creatives.
The Work In Progress: Exchange Labs were gatherings designed to help artists share ideas with fellow creatives in their local area. Participants engaged in discussions to help develop new projects, move stagnant ideas forward, and advance existing works.
Artists met monthly across different areas of the state to build community hubs dedicated to creatives. Artists who participated in these small groups were also be eligible for small support grants on a rolling basis.
The feedback from the Indiana Arts Commission Artist Needs Assessment was used to inform the design and planning of proposed services and programs for Indiana artists. Read a full report of the process and findings of the Artist Needs Assessment and the planned program responses.
The WIP Exchange Labs took place at host sites around Indiana in 2025.
Northern Region
Counties: Adams, Allen, Carroll, Cass, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Huntington, Jasper, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Miami, Newton, Noble, Porter, Pulaski, Starke, Steuben, St. Joseph, Wabash, Wells, White, Whitley
Western Region
Counties: Benton, Clay, Fountain, Greene, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren
Central Region
Counties: Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clinton, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Howard, Johnson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Shelby, Tipton
Eastern Region
Counties: Blackford, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, Union, Wayne
Southern Region
Counties: Clark, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Dubois, Floyd, Gibson, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Washington
For information about the program, please contact Jordan Adams, Artist Services Program Manager, at joadams1@iac.in.gov (317) 508-6115
Artists who participated in Work In Progress Exchange Labs were eligible for small support grants of $250-$1000 on a rolling basis, which could be used to complete a work in progress, purchase new equipment, or repair current equipment.
2025/2026 Timelines
Spring Cycle (Grant Period July 1, 2025 - November 4, 2025)
| Application Available | March 19, 2025 |
| Informational Webinar | April 2, 2025 |
| Deadline to Apply | May 1, 2025 |
| Funding Notification | Week of June 9, 2025 |
| Final Grant Report Due | November 20, 2025 |
Fall/Winter Cycle (Grant Period January 5, 2026 - May 5, 2026)
| Application Available | September 17, 2025 |
| Informational Webinar | October 1, 2025 |
| Deadline to Apply | October 29, 2025 |
| Funding Notification | Week of December 8, 2025 |
| Final Grant Report Due | May 21, 2026 |
The following artists received Work In Progress Micro-Support Grants in the Spring 2025 Grant Cycle:
- Aaron Nicholson, Delaware County
- Carl James Johnson, Putnam County
- Connie Wagner, Putnam County
- Jennifer Johnson, Putnam County
- Zach Evans, Vanderburgh County
- Katie Wood, Putnam County
- Laura Foster Nicholson, Posey County
- Lavinia Hale, Putnam County
- Mary Ann Michna, Posey County
- Phoebe Scott, Owen County
- Rachel L Curtis, Putnam County
- Rebecca Bailey, Vanderburgh County
The following artists received Work In Progress Micro-Support Grants in the Fall 2025 Grant Cycle:
- Alexander Pare, Putnam County
- Alicia Thomas, Marion County
- Anita Westhues, St. Joseph County
- Audrey Johnson, Tippecanoe County
- Becky Hochhalter, Vigo County
- Bowen Tao, St. Joseph County
- Brian Teixeira, Porter County
- Cameron Alford, Allen County
- Chad Copeland, Porter County
- Christopher Wilborn, Marion County
- Cynthia Phillips-Sabla, Vigo County
- Dana Caldera, Allen County
- David Buenrostro, Allen County
- Dawn Diamantopoulos, Lake County
- Dominique Harris, Marion County
- Emily Bennett, Vigo County
- Gabrielle Roach, Clay County
- Gregory Potter, Johnson County
- Hannah Rutigliano, Allen County
- Jessica Renslow, Lake County
- John Sherman, Marion County
- Joseph Swanson, Wayne County
- Justin Kane Elder, Wayne County
- Kaylan Buteyn, Allen County
- Kerri Mommer, Lake County
- Makenzie Lukas, Marion County
- Michael Stevenson, Clay County
- Richelle Brown, Marion County
- Rod Bradfield, Vigo County
- Susan Atwell, La Porte County
- Susan Yanos, Henry County
- Travis Park, Marion County
- Victoria Goring, Sullivan County
- Western Region
Serves Benton, Clay, Fountain, Greene, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren counties
Hosted by Greencastle Arts Council
2025 Convening Schedule
February 8 10 Fold Art Gallery
10 W. Washington
Greencastle, IN 46135March 8 10 Fold Art Gallery
10 W. Washington
Greencastle, IN 46135April 12 Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library
125 South Franklin Street
Bloomfield, IN 47424May 10 Arts Illiana
23 N 6th St
Terre Haute, IN 47807June 28 10 Fold Art Gallery
10 W. Washington
Greencastle, IN 46135July 12 The Arts Federation
638 North St
Lafayette, IN 47901August 9 The Arts Federation
638 North St
Lafayette, IN 47901September 13 Arts Illiana
23 N 6th St
Terre Haute, IN 47807October 11 Arts Illiana
23 N 6th St
Terre Haute, IN 47807 - Eastern Region
Serves Blackford, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Grant, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, Union, Wayne counties
Hosted by Richmond Art Museum
2025 Convening Schedule
January 23 Richmond Art Museum
350 Hub Etchison Pkwy
Richmond, IN 47374February 27 Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy
Muncie, IN 47303March 27 Arts Place
131 E Walnut St
Portland, IN 47371April 29 Richmond Art Museum
350 Hub Etchison Pkwy
Richmond, IN 47374May 22 Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy
Muncie, IN 47303June 21 Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy
Muncie, IN 47303July 17 Richmond Art Museum
350 Hub Etchison Pkwy
Richmond, IN 47374August 26 Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy
Muncie, IN 47303October 28 Richmond Art Museum
350 Hub Etchison Pkwy
Richmond, IN 47374November 20 Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy
Muncie, IN 47303 - Southern Region
Serves Clark, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Dubois, Floyd, Gibson, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Washington counties
Hosted by The New Harmony Project
2025 Convening Schedule
January 25 New Harmony Contemporary Art Gallery
506 Main St
New Harmony, IN 47631February 15 Black Lodge Coffee Roasters
610 Church St
New Harmony, IN 47631March 29 Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (Evansville)
212 Main St
Evansville, IN 47708April 12 Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany)
820 E Market St
New Albany, IN 47150May 10 Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany)
820 E Market St
New Albany, IN 47150June 21 Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany)
820 E Market St
New Albany, IN 47150July 19 Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany)
820 E Market St
New Albany, IN 47150August 16 Maker13
629 Michigan Ave
Jeffersonville, IN 47130September 27 NoCo Arts & Cultural District
628 Michigan Ave
Jeffersonville, IN 47130October 18 NoCo Arts & Cultural District
628 Michigan Ave
Jeffersonville, IN 47130November 15 NoCo Arts & Cultural District
628 Michigan Ave
Jeffersonville, IN 47130 - Northern Region
Serves Adams, Allen, Carroll, Cass, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Huntington, Jasper, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Miami, Newton, Noble, Porter, Pulaski, Starke, Steuben, St. Joseph, Wabash, Wells, White, Whitley counties
Hosted by Chesterton Arts Center
June 28 Chesterton Arts Center
115 S 4th St
Chesterton, IN 46304July 26 IUSB Education & Arts Building
1002 S Esther St
South Bend, IN 46615August 23 Art Link Gallery
300 E Main St
Fort Wayne, IN 46802September 27 Chesterton Arts Center
115 S 4th St
Chesterton, IN 46304October 25 IUSB Education & Arts Building
1002 S Esther St
South Bend, IN 46615November 15 Art Link Gallery
300 E Main St
Fort Wayne, IN 46802December 13 Chesterton Arts Center
115 S 4th St
Chesterton, IN 46304 - Central Region
Serves Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clinton, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Howard, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Shelby, Tipton counties
Hosted by Griffy's Art Supply
June 19 The Stutz
1060 N Capitol Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46204July 17 Johnson County Public Library - Clark Pleasant Branch
350 Clearwater Blvd
Whiteland, IN 46184August 21 Noblesville Creates
107 S 8th St
Noblesville, IN 46060September 18 The Stutz
1060 N Capitol Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46204October 16 Johnson County Public Library - Clark Pleasant Branch
350 Clearwater Blvd
Whiteland, IN 46184November 20 Noblesville Creates
107 S 8th St
Noblesville, IN 46060December 18 The Stutz
1060 N Capitol Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Indiana Arts Commission