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
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
For information about the program, please contact Jordan Adams, Artist Services Program Manager, at joadams1@iac.in.gov (317) 508-6115
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 46135 |
| March 8 | 10 Fold Art Gallery 10 W. Washington Greencastle, IN 46135 |
| April 12 | Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library 125 South Franklin Street Bloomfield, IN 47424 |
| May 10 | Arts Illiana 23 N 6th St Terre Haute, IN 47807 |
| June 28 | 10 Fold Art Gallery 10 W. Washington Greencastle, IN 46135 |
| July 12 | The Arts Federation 638 North St Lafayette, IN 47901 |
| August 9 | The Arts Federation 638 North St Lafayette, IN 47901 |
| September 13 | Arts Illiana 23 N 6th St Terre Haute, IN 47807 |
| October 11 | Arts Illiana 23 N 6th St Terre Haute, IN 47807 |
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 47374 |
| February 27 | Minnetrista Museum & Gardens 1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy Muncie, IN 47303 |
| March 27 | Arts Place 131 E Walnut St Portland, IN 47371 |
| April 29 | Richmond Art Museum 350 Hub Etchison Pkwy Richmond, IN 47374 |
| May 22 | Minnetrista Museum & Gardens 1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy Muncie, IN 47303 |
| June 21 | Minnetrista Museum & Gardens 1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy Muncie, IN 47303 |
| July 17 | Richmond Art Museum 350 Hub Etchison Pkwy Richmond, IN 47374 |
| August 26 | Minnetrista Museum & Gardens 1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy Muncie, IN 47303 |
| October 28 | Richmond Art Museum 350 Hub Etchison Pkwy Richmond, IN 47374 |
| November 20 | Minnetrista Museum & Gardens 1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy Muncie, IN 47303 |
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 47631 |
| February 15 | Black Lodge Coffee Roasters 610 Church St New Harmony, IN 47631 |
| March 29 | Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (Evansville) 212 Main St Evansville, IN 47708 |
| April 12 | Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany) 820 E Market St New Albany, IN 47150 |
| May 10 | Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany) 820 E Market St New Albany, IN 47150 |
| June 21 | Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany) 820 E Market St New Albany, IN 47150 |
| July 19 | Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (New Albany) 820 E Market St New Albany, IN 47150 |
| August 16 | Maker13 629 Michigan Ave Jeffersonville, IN 47130 |
| September 27 | NoCo Arts & Cultural District 628 Michigan Ave Jeffersonville, IN 47130 |
| October 18 | NoCo Arts & Cultural District 628 Michigan Ave Jeffersonville, IN 47130 |
| November 15 | NoCo Arts & Cultural District 628 Michigan Ave Jeffersonville, IN 47130 |
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 46204 |
| July 17 | Johnson County Public Library - Clark Pleasant Branch 350 Clearwater Blvd Whiteland, IN 46184 |
| August 21 | Noblesville Creates 107 S 8th St Noblesville, IN 46060 |
| September 18 | The Stutz 1060 N Capitol Ave Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
| October 16 | Johnson County Public Library - Clark Pleasant Branch 350 Clearwater Blvd Whiteland, IN 46184 |
| November 20 | Noblesville Creates 107 S 8th St Noblesville, IN 46060 |
| December 18 | The Stutz 1060 N Capitol Ave Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
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 46304 |
| July 26 | IUSB Education & Arts Building 1002 S Esther St South Bend, IN 46615 |
| August 23 | Art Link Gallery 300 E Main St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 |
| September 27 | Chesterton Arts Center 115 S 4th St Chesterton, IN 46304 |
| October 25 | IUSB Education & Arts Building 1002 S Esther St South Bend, IN 46615 |
| November 15 | Art Link Gallery 300 E Main St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 |
| December 13 | Chesterton Arts Center 115 S 4th St Chesterton, IN 46304 |
Indiana Arts Commission