The best arts & culture spots in Bloomington

18 arts & culture spots we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

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Arts & Culture · 18 places · showing the latest additions first

Brown County Art Guild blends a rich permanent collection of Midwest masters with rotating shows from today’s leading representational…

48 S Van Buren St (Nashville)

Brown County Art Guild blends a rich permanent collection of Midwest masters with rotating shows from today’s leading representational artists, plus workshops and gallery openings that actually feel fun. Swing through this week, soak up portraits, still lifes, and Brown County landscapes that just calm the soul.

From the Columbus newsletter, August 7, 2026

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Turn your next night out into a case file with The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Indianapolis, IN, a live,…

8787 Keystone Crossing (Indianapolis)

Turn your next night out into a case file with The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Indianapolis, IN, a live, interactive true crime comedy where suspects hide in the crowd and you’re part of the investigation, all while enjoying a full plated dinner and plenty of surprises.

From the Indianapolis newsletter, August 3, 2026

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Wylie House Museum

Arts & Culture

Built in 1835 for a university president, this house is now a museum with period furnishings.

307 E 2nd St

Built in 1835 for a university president, this house is now a museum with period furnishings.

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Museum with a soaring atrium & huge global art collection hosts free tours & visiting exhibits.

Eskenazi Museum of Art, 1133 E 7th St

Museum with a soaring atrium & huge global art collection hosts free tours & visiting exhibits.

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Pioneer Museum

Arts & Culture

Preserved 1800's pioneer village buildings including log cabins, a blacksmith shop, jail & doctors.

Museum Ln (Nashville)

Preserved 1800's pioneer village buildings including log cabins, a blacksmith shop, jail & doctors.

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Mind Tripping Show

Arts & Culture

Up-close magic and mentalism show, plus plenty of comedy and audience participation.

120 W Market St (Indianapolis)

Up-close magic and mentalism show, plus plenty of comedy and audience participation.

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Guided tours & artifacts recount 19th-century medical history inside an 1890s pathology facility.

3270 Kirkbride Way (Indianapolis)

Guided tours & artifacts recount 19th-century medical history inside an 1890s pathology facility.

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Newfields

Arts & Culture

Comprehensive art museum with nature park & historic mansion, plus films, concerts, lectures & more.

4000 N Michigan Rd (Indianapolis)

Comprehensive art museum with nature park & historic mansion, plus films, concerts, lectures & more.

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Neoclassical revival theater, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, plus other live music.

45 Monument Cir (Indianapolis)

Neoclassical revival theater, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, plus other live music.

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Museum exploring the art & culture of the American West, plus cafe, workshops & kids' activities.

500 W Washington St (Indianapolis)

Museum exploring the art & culture of the American West, plus cafe, workshops & kids' activities.

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This columned building houses a shrine to fallen WWI soldiers, an ornate auditorium & a war museum.

55 E Michigan St (Indianapolis)

This columned building houses a shrine to fallen WWI soldiers, an ornate auditorium & a war museum.

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Indiana State Museum

Arts & Culture

Museum with a broad array of exhibits, ranging from fossils to pop culture, plus an IMAX theater.

650 W Washington St (Indianapolis)

Museum with a broad array of exhibits, ranging from fossils to pop culture, plus an IMAX theater.

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Stately home to exhibits & archives covering Indiana history, plus concerts & lectures.

450 W Ohio St (Indianapolis)

Stately home to exhibits & archives covering Indiana history, plus concerts & lectures.

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Set within the famed racetrack, this museum showcases classic race cars & motorsports memorabilia.

4750 W 16th St (Indianapolis)

Set within the famed racetrack, this museum showcases classic race cars & motorsports memorabilia.

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The Cabaret

Arts & Culture

Sophisticated nightspot with opulent decor featuring cabaret shows & crafted cocktails.

924 N Pennsylvania St Ste B (Indianapolis)

Sophisticated nightspot with opulent decor featuring cabaret shows & crafted cocktails.

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Exhibits & tours on the grounds of the 23rd U.S. president's home, plus lectures, theater & more.

1230 N Delaware St (Indianapolis)

S. president's home, plus lectures, theater & more.

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Huge, interactive kids' museum including a planetarium, carousel, science labs & library.

3000 N Meridian St (Indianapolis)

Huge, interactive kids' museum including a planetarium, carousel, science labs & library.

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