Located in the heart of Old Town Carmel, Indiana, the Arts & Design District is the Midwest’s premier arts and design destination. It is home to interior designers, art galleries, showrooms, restaurants, antique stores and a variety of specialty retail shops.
This area has been part of the redevelopment plan of City of Carmel’s Mayor and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission to transform Old Town Carmel from a run down and very neglected part of town into the vibrant and thriving Carmel Arts & Design District, while maintaining the area’s historic charm. Before the real work could begin on the District, the City invested more than $10 million on adding storm sewers, curbs, sidewalks with brick accents, historic-style street lighting, improved streets and water mains to ensure that the Old Town neighborhood was brought up to Carmel standards. After those upgrades were complete, the redevelopment efforts intensified to bring galleries, unique shops, restaurants and the Indiana Design Center to the Arts & Design District.
To show their commitment to identifying the Old Town area as the Arts & Design District, the City installed archways over the main entrances to the district. Eventually, flower baskets, flower boxes at windows, benches, out door sculptures and bump out curb dining complemented the experience in the district.
Throughout the redevelopment of this area, the City has used public private partnerships to encourage investment by the private sector in the area. The City identified the best areas for redevelopment, purchased and combined small lots and made them ready for development, and created a plan for the area so that the private sector could come in and begin work more easily.
Today, the Carmel Arts & Design District is home to distinct galleries and designers, unique shops, boutiques, antique dealers, and restaurants for every palate. The vibrant night life in the District includes a wine tasting experience, live music, neighborhood pubs and even comedy nights.
While the neighborhood in and around the Arts & Design District continues to thrive, additional residential options have added to the constant vibrancy of the area including condos and apartments above some of the commercial space and along the Monon Greenway, which runs through the heart of the District.
The Arts & Design District continues to grow and offer more and more amenities for residents and visitors. We hope you enjoy this area that has truly been transformed into one of Carmel’s most successful redevelopment projects.
The Community Relations and Economic Development team works on initiatives including events and festivals within the Arts & Design District among other things.
Director of Community Relations and Economic Development
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Manager
Administrative Assistant
Community Relations Specialist – Events
Transportation Development Coordinator
The Carmel Arts & Design District received its cultural district certification in 2010 from the Indiana Arts Commission, who advocates for engaging with the arts to enrich the quality of individual and community life.
