August is Member Appreciation Month—and we’re celebrating you and your contributions all month long! You make exceptional experiences with art and nature possible at Newfields every day. Our 22,000 Member households are the heart of the institution. Membership dues help support Newfields’ day-to-day operating expenses, such as the landscaping and maintenance needed to keep The Garden beautiful as well as the careful conservation of the IMA’s collection.

We love our Members! Read on to learn why Members love Newfields too.

Bailey Lovett and Noelle Schultz first joined Newfields as Student Members while attending Ivy Tech. For the couple, Newfields has been many things over the years: a student perk, a favorite place to spend an afternoon, a setting for life’s biggest milestones, and now a place where they are creating new memories with the next generation.

Years after graduating, they continue to make Newfields a regular part of their lives, finding that the value of membership has only grown over time. "We have been members of Newfields for many years," said Bailey. "Now that we are out of school, the membership is easy to justify as the annual membership fee is manageable and economical."

What started as a budget-friendly opportunity to explore art and nature eventually became the backdrop for some of the couple’s most cherished memories. After a summer spent visiting Newfields nearly every day, Bailey proposed to Noelle at one of the chess tables beside The Beer Garden.

“I proposed to my beautiful wife on campus. Her saying yes resulted in the birth of our equally beautiful son,” said Bailey, adding, “Newfields is a huge part of our story.”

The chess table where Bailey proposed remains one of their favorite spots on campus. "We enjoy revisiting the table for a quick game or to relive the memory of that moment," said Bailey.

While the chess table holds obvious sentimental value for the family, it’s not the only reason they keep coming back to Newfields. "You can't beat the food and drink at The Beer Garden," said the couple. "We consider it to be some of the best in the city."

Today, their visits look different from when they were students. The family now spends time exploring The Garden with their young son in tow. "The Newfields campus is essentially the cleanest park in the city," said Bailey. "Our favorite thing to do is watch our son explore nature without the worry of a loose dog or other distractions hindering that ability."

Beyond the peaceful setting and memorable meals, Lovett and Schultz say the artwork housed within the Indianapolis Museum of Art leaves an equally lasting impression, shaping their worldview and serving as a reminder to live with greater compassion.

"Surrounding yourself with any form of art will lead to increased empathy, awareness, and humanity," said the couple. "Walking the halls and admiring the art of people, 90% of whom are no longer walking this earth, is a reminder to live every day like it's your last and to appreciate our ability to create things of beauty."

The couple’s beloved chess table they visit in The Beer Garden was once part of an indoor exhibition in 2018. Installation view of City as Canvas: New York City Graffiti from the 70s & 80s, October 7, 2017—January 28, 2018. Artwork © their respective artists.

Interested in learning more about all that Newfields Membership has to offer? See our Membership Benefits guide.