Five-Year Strategic Plan
Approved May 2026
Vision Statement
A world connected through art & nature.
Mission Statement
To enrich lives and build community through exceptional experiences with art and nature.
Core Values
Excellence: Every detail matters. Every visit counts.
Service: We show up for people—every time.
Inclusivity: Everyone belongs here.
Innovation: We ask, "what if?"—then we explore.
Stewardship: We protect what matters today to inspire tomorrow.
Pillars
The five pillars that underpin and support our vision and mission include; the Newfields Promise, Art, Nature, Community, and Sustainability. Together, these pillars define how we will strengthen excellence, deepen community connection, expand access and belonging, and ensure long-term resilience.
Newfields Promise
Newfields is an essential part of the community, and it is a place where art and nature bring people together.
Our promise: To deliver a consistent, welcoming experience for everyone.
We will provide a clear and consistent identity, tell our compelling story, and ensure interactions with our guests and stakeholders reflect our commitment to excellence in all we do.
Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art will strengthen its position as a leading museum known for great art, engaging exhibitions, strong scholarship, and meaningful community connections. As the artistic heart of Newfields, the IMA will create inspiring experiences that connect people through art. Through this pillar, we will:
Strengthen the IMA’s reputation and visibility locally, nationally, and internationally.
Create bold and engaging exhibitions and art experiences.
Bring our collections and historic spaces to life in new and meaningful ways.
Expand access, learning, and community connection through art.
Support excellence in curatorial work, collections care, and scholarship.
Nature
The Garden and The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park are living expressions of Newfields’ identity and mission delivery; leveraging the power of beauty and connection. Through this pillar, we will:
Invite a broad audience to a range of experiences across formal gardens to natural areas.
Raise the bar for design through the Integration of horticulture, art, nature, wellness, and learning opportunities.
Expand our living collection in support of garden development, guest experience, plant conservation and natural lands stewardship.
Invest in sustainable solutions to ensure a welcoming campus for generations to come.
Community
Newfields brings people together through art and nature—creating shared experiences, learning opportunities, and programs that spark curiosity, foster belonging, and inspire lifelong connection.
Through this pillar, we will align community engagement, education, and programming to create:
Meaningful experiences rooted in art and nature.
Trust, inclusivity, and lifelong engagement.
Authentic partnerships through listening and collaboration.
Greater relevance for Newfields on campus and across the community.
Sustainability
Institutional Sustainability ensures that Newfields is built to endure—financially, operationally, and culturally. It allows us to:
Continue to progress and to evolve our 30-year Master Plan to guide thoughtful institutional growth and stewardship.
Ensure long-term financial health and diversified revenue.
Strengthen philanthropy and endowment growth to fund strategic priorities.
Modernize operations and enterprise systems for efficiency and clarity.
Invest in people, culture, and leadership capacity.
Strengthen data, technology, and AI capabilities to enable insight-driven decisions and scalable impact.
Build an agile, resilient institution prepared to adapt and thrive.
Image credits:
Jusepe de Ribera (Spanish, 1590–1652), A Philosopher, probably Euclid, 1637, oil on canvas, 49-1/8 x 38-7/8 in. (canvas); 56-7/8 x 46-9/16 x 3 in. (framed, glazed). Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, The Clowes Collection, 2000.345
Bold: New Voices in Contemporary Art is organized by Michael Vetter, PhD, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at Newfields. This exhibition was made possible with support from Eric Antoine Logan.
