Experience all that Newfields has to offer on the first Thursday of every month. Enjoy the Indianapolis Museum of Art and The Garden, live musical performances, and open studio hours and gallery conversations. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime Member, First Thursdays are the perfect opportunity to discover something new and have an exceptional experience with art and nature. 

On this day, general admission is flexible—you choose how much (or how little) to pay. Donations support programs like First Thursday and the care of our art collection and garden, as well as education programs, community engagement initiatives, and more. 

October 2, 2025 | 10 AM–5 PM 

Fifty years ago, Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE statue was acquired by Newfields, and the rest is history. For this First Thursday, you’ll have an opportunity to get your photo taken in front of the statue, enjoy a live cello performance, and learn more about the print that inspired the statue.  

• 10 AM–Noon | LOVE Photo Opportunity | Floor 2 

• 10:30 AM–12:30 PM | Garden Exploration Cart | The Garden  

• 11:30 AM | Artful Conversations | Meet at the LOVE sculpture | Floor 2 

• 11:30 AM–3:30 PM | Open Studio | Studios 1 & 2 | Floor 1 

• 12:30 PM–4 PM | Open Print Study | Print Study Room | Floor 1 

• 1–1:30 PM | Nature Story Time | Stout Reference Library | Floor 1 

• 1–1:30 PM | Docent-led Tour | Meet at the top of the escalator in Efroymson Entrance Pavilion | Floor 2  

• 1:30 PM | Artful Conversations | Meet at the LOVE sculpture | Floor 2 

• Noon–2 PM | Live Music by Jose Martinez | Floor 2 

• 2–4 PM | Garden Exploration Cart | The Garden 

• 2–4PM | Know Your Art with IMA Conservation | Floor 3 Balcony 

• 2:30–3 PM | Docent-led Tour | Meet at the top of the escalator in Efroymson Entrance Pavilion | Floor 2

• 3–4 PM | Garden Guide Tour | The Garden 

• 1–5 PM | Stout Reference Library open | Floor 1 

Botanic Book Club presents Jennifer Ryan’s The Kitchen Front. Two years into WWII, rationing is strictly enforced in Britain. To help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio show called The Kitchen Front holds a cooking competition where the winner will receive a job as the show’s first female co-host. Desperate to win, the four women in the competition use their culinary and foraging skills to climb their way to the top, no matter what it takes. 

Join Newfields Curator Emeritus Marty Krause for a talk about the newly opened exhibition, Luminous Horizons: Celebrating the Legacy of J.M.W. Turner. Turner transformed landscape painting with sweeping skies, turbulent seas, and radiant color. Krause will explore Turner’s bold use of light and atmosphere, his fascination with nature’s power, and his lasting influence on artists. 

Join us for a free Family Day to celebrate the beauty, rhythm, and spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. Spend the day surrounded by art, music, dance, and nature. Enjoy live performances by Peruvian, Venezuelan, Columbian, and Mexican musicians, art and nature activities for all ages, flavorful offerings from local vendors, and more.

In collaboration with Indiana Latino Arts an initiative by Arte Mexicano en Indiana.

Check the schedule below to plan your day.

11 AM–4 PM | Art Vendors

11 AM–4 PM | Art Making: Watercolor and Tin Making

11 AM | Tour Around the Lake

Noon | Tamales by Tex-Mex Tienda y Taqueria (Until supplies last)

Noon–3 PM | Musical Performances

1 PM | Bird Watching Tour

Recharge your spirit through creativity, nature, and community. In this program designed for adults, spend 30 minutes immersed in a guided art activity, followed by a refreshing 30-minute walk through The Garden at Newfields. Experience the health and wellness benefits of artistic expression, gentle exercise, and the beauty of nature—all designed to inspire and rejuvenate. Nurture your creativity and embrace a healthier, more balanced you. 

Explore, investigate, and create together. In this class designed for 5 to 10-year-olds and their adult, you’ll go on a guided exploration of artworks, create your own book of artwork, and become evidence-based investigators using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a child-led conversation that grows observation skills and vocabulary. 

Each ticket includes one child and one adult. Additional adults will need to purchase a General Admission ticket. All materials provided. 

Schedule

August 16: Work in Progress: Conversations about American Art 

September 20: The Message is the Medium: Contemporary Art 

October 18: African Art 

November 15: The Clowes Pavilion Reimagined 

December 20: Decorative Arts 

 Join us for a lecture about the Indigenous Australian bark paintings from the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s permanent collection. Your ticket includes admission to THE LUME where you’ll experience vibrant contemporary art and music and see the paintings up close and personal before or after the lecture. At 11 AM, grab a seat in DeBoest Lecture Hall where Allison Slenker, Associate Conservator of Objects, will dive into the deep historical roots of the bark paintings.

Join our Garden Guides to see The Garden transform throughout the seasons. Each tour will highlight the prominent characteristics of each garden space and discuss flora, architecture, and history. 

Meet at The Garden Entrance Pavilion. 

Don't let the stress of the work week follow you into the weekend. That may seem easier said than done, but at Newfields, it's a walk in the park. 

Each session will start with a short wellness exercise followed by a 30-60-minute walk, depending on the weather and available daylight.  

Meet in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park under Align at 4:30 PM. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. This is a rain, shine, or snow event. In cases of heavy rain, thunderstorms, or extreme low temperatures, the event will be cancelled, and you will receive notice via email at the email you used to register.  This webpage will also note if a Wellness Walk in the Park has been cancelled.  

Recharge your spirit through creativity, nature, and community. In this program designed for adults, spend 30 minutes immersed in a guided art activity, followed by a refreshing 30-minute walk through The Garden at Newfields. Experience the health and wellness benefits of artistic expression, gentle exercise, and the beauty of nature—all designed to inspire and rejuvenate. Nurture your creativity and embrace a healthier, more balanced you.