About Us

MISSION STATEMENT

We strengthen Indiana’s creative communities by connecting people to a select group of artisans who create exceptional fine art and craft, food, and beverage.

Supporting Goals

Identify, curate, and promote Indiana-based artists and craftspeople, as well as the fine arts and crafts, foods, and beverages they create.
Support artisanal entrepreneurs and businesses through marketing efforts, direct retail opportunities, education, and peer networking.
Grow local economies and foster pride in place by increasing opportunities for residents and visitors to interact and engage with artisans.
Establish Indiana Artisan as a standard of excellence and known brand for high-quality, locally created fine arts and crafts, foods, and beverages.

INCLUSION and EQUITY STATEMENT

Indiana Artisan pledges to cultivate opportunities for all Hoosiers who create exceptional visual art, food or beverage and the people who appreciate their work. The organization will pursue justice, inclusiveness and equity throughout its services and programs. We are dedicated to listening to, partnering with and learning from all people, regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Accessibility concerns

Indiana Artisan welcomes questions or suggestions relating to the accessibility of our programs and services. Please direct them to [email protected] or (317) 964-9455.

ABOUT INDIANA ARTISAN

Indiana Artisan is craftsmanship. It is fine oils and fine wines, handmade soaps and hand-turned bowls. It is Lake Michigan artists and Ohio River Valley craftsmen. Indiana Artisan is the state’s best craftspeople – from specialty cheese makers to specialty jewelry makers and from the hands of careful beekeepers to the hands of caring weavers. Indiana’s heritage in painting, glass, musical instruments, stoneware, woodwork, candies, brandies and more is defined through Indiana Artisan.

This collaborative organization brings together Indiana’s talented Artisans’ one-of-a-kind art and food creations. Their select work enriches the lives of Hoosiers and visitors. How? By defining the brand that reflects “This is Indiana’s best.”

Indiana Artisan supports entrepreneurs who create high-quality art, crafts and value-added foods in the Hoosier state. The comprehensive program launched in 2008 to:

• Raise awareness about the availability of locally-crafted products
• Establish a brand for Indiana-made goods
• Provide artisans, particularly those in rural areas, with access to entrepreneurial
• Support including training and networking opportunities
• Support artisan trail and retail development
• Encourage visitation to Indiana

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman began Indiana Artisan as an economic development program to help expand the businesses of Hoosier artisans through initiatives that support and promote their handmade work. Now as a non-profit corporation, Indiana Artisan, Inc. continues that mission of developing a brand that gives meaning and recognition to the highest-quality Indiana-made goods.

This organization brings together the state’s talented artisans and their one-of-a-kind art and food creations. Participation is through an adjudication process focused on design/quality, technique, originality or authenticity exhibiting the tradition or heritage of Indiana communities and marketability. Once each year, food and art jury panels meet to review applications. The timeline for the current adjudication is here.