Are you interested in the arts, having fun, and making a difference in the Broad Ripple community? Do you have a few days or just a few hours to spend making friends, learning about the arts, and working for a good cause? If so, you'll be a perfect volunteer for the Indianapolis Art Center. The Art Center is a not-for-profit community arts organization that makes art accessible to all people and enhances people's lives through art. Located in the Broad Ripple Village Cultural District and along the White River, the Indianapolis Art Center is the place to make art, see art and talk about art. the Art Center plays host to many events and art openings that exhibit outstanding local creativity, as well as the work of internationally recognized artists. Thanks to the Indianapolis community, the Art Center has flourished and the need for volunteers is at a record high. Volunteering is imperative for the continuing success of the center. Without the help and determination of its supporters, the Art Center wouldn't be the diverse and exciting cultural center that it is today.

With all the exciting events coming up this year and during next year's 75th anniversary, the number of volunteers must match the intensity of festival-goers and art lovers. During the weekend of May 17 and 18, 2008, the 38th Annual Broad Ripple Art Fair, presented by the Art Center and sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, will draw art and art enthusiasts from all throughout the Midwest. Art Center volunteers will provide information and answer questions about the center while walking around and enjoying the festival for themselves.

June holds another prestigious event for the Art Center. On June 28, 2008, the "Grand Gala Opening Celebration and Dinner" will open for Two Worlds, One Language Through Art, an exhibition and series of programs celebrating Chinese culture. Art, Harmony and Nature: From the Land of Confucius will showcase 60 prints and paintings by faculty and master artists from China's Shandong College of Arts. Two Worlds will include numerous events that will last throughout the summer until its closing at ARTSPARKLE August 23, 2008, its attendance planned to number 500. This opening will provide culture to the community as well as create interesting new programs and workshops at the Art Center. However, it will also require a committed staff of volunteers to make sure the opening goes off without a hitch.

Some of the Art Center's most committed volunteers are members of the Art Center Circle (ACC), an auxiliary group devoted to promoting cultural expansion and artistic expression in the region. ACC membership is open to the public, and its members work by organizing and promoting Art Center events. Just as the Art Center is a vital part of the Broad Ripple community, ACC members are vital in the continued growth of the Art Center. ACC members pay a $35 fee for an individual membership, and only $10 for a family membership. ACC members also pay yearly dues of $25. Each ACC volunteer is asked to be active for three years, and can easily exchange their hours for class credit. Members meet the second Monday of each month through June and September at the Art Center. At these meetings they plan events from the ground up, coordinating and interacting with local and international artists, as well as cultural and community leaders. To become even more involved, ACC members can become Art Center board members as well.

So if you would like to spend time with friends and make new ones while immersing yourself in Broad Ripple culture, volunteering with the Art Center is a wonderful opportunity. Volunteering is a fun and rewarding way to be a part of events from the ARTSPARKLE gala to the Day of the Dead Celebration. For more information on how to volunteer or become an ACC member, as well as more details on the Art Center's upcoming events, you can call (317) 255-2464 or visit www.IndplsArtCenter.org.