Where creativity begins with connection.

A conceptual framework by the Marion Arts Commission, 3rd Space brings artists and creatives together through conversation, collaboration, and shared learning. The first 3rd Space | Artist Mixer is on January 24, 2026 (Saturday) from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at the Kennedy Art Center, 326 S Washington St, Marion, IN 46952. Register to be part of 3rd Space.

Register
A colorful graphic featuring overlapping teal and orange circles with the text "3RD SPACE" in the center. The background has gold and purple specks, and the logo of Marion Arts Commission (MAC) in the upper left corner. Below the circles, it reads "CONNECTION IN THE SPACE BETWEEN."

3rd Space is about building relationships before projects and strengthening Marion’s creative community together.

PEOPLE MAKE PLACE

Marion Arts Commission is a proud partner of the newest exhibit at the Kennedy Art Center: “PEOPLE MAKE PLACE,” an exhibition that will spark your imagination and redefine how you see your surroundings. Be among the first to witness this incredible collection. The exhibition runs through January 7th – you won’t want to miss it!

Saturated with a wide array of work and material, People Make Place has been in development by IWU art professor Henrik Söderström for several years, finally coming to fruition after what he refers to as a “game of telephone” with paper fibers across Grant County.

This show uses “memory rich paper”- things like concert stubs, letters, and wedding invitations- as the starting point for making a sort of three-dimensional map of Grant County’s inhabitants. By bringing together the stories and experiences of those around us, we begin to see how the people are what make the place unique. 

Including the work of several artists and partners throughout the process of developing the exhibition, such as @tashemadavisart , @willcarpenterart , @andrewkondratphotography , and more.

It is also highly interactible, with the public encouraged to come in and experience the show in a tactile way - including answering telephones inside of paintings and contributing their own stories to the gallery walls. LACES

A promotional poster for an art and design partnership between Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion Community Schools, and Marion Design Co., featuring graphics and text about the collaboration.
Poster advertising an art exhibition at Kennedy Art Center, with dates October 3rd to January 7th and opening reception on October 3rd from 7 to 9 pm. The background features a window into an art studio, showcasing a blue sculpture and colorful artwork.
Our journey through the arts has been shaped by incredible moments of creativity, collaboration, and community engagement. From inspiring exhibitions and engaging workshops to memorable performances and fundraisers, our past events have celebrated the transformative power of the arts. Explore highlights from our previous exhibits and relive the passion, talent, and dedication that have brought our mission to life. Each event tells a story—a testament to the vibrant spirit of our community and its shared love for the arts.
— Marion Arts Commission

On behalf of the Marion Arts Commission, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us for the 2nd Annual MAC Gala 2025 with the theme “Purple Haze.“ Your presence, generosity, and enthusiasm made the evening an incredible celebration of art, community, and connection.

To our sponsors and partners, thank you for believing in the power of creativity to uplift and unite Marion. Your continued investment helps us expand opportunities for artists, strengthen cultural engagement, and bring new energy to our city’s creative landscape.

To our artists, volunteers, and guests, thank you for sharing your time, talent, and spirit. Each story, performance, and work of art reflected the heart of who we are as a community — resilient, inspired, and full of imagination.

Together, we are building more than moments — we are shaping a movement that honors creativity as a cornerstone of Marion’s identity and future.

Event poster for the 2nd annual MAC Gala, an evening of art and elegance, scheduled for Friday, September 19, 2025, featuring artistic purple smoke backgrounds.
Purple and pink swirling smoke with text promoting the MAC Gala, an evening of art and elegance.

Quilting as an Art

The Marion Arts Commission, in partnership with SAQA Indiana, The Quilters Hall of Fame, and Marion Design Co., proudly celebrated the timeless craft and artistry of quilting in a captivating exhibition.

On display for a limited time, from July 18 to September 10, the exhibition transformed the Kennedy Art Center at 326 South Washington St., Marion, IN, into a vibrant showcase of quilt-making traditions, innovation, and storytelling through fabric.

This collaborative event highlighted the intricate beauty and rich heritage of quilting, connecting artists, enthusiasts, and the community in appreciation of this extraordinary art form.

A colorful quilt with intricate black embroidery stitches, featuring leaf and floral patterns, is displayed on a poster for an event titled 'Celebrate SAQA Indiana II' with the theme 'Quilting as an Art'. The poster includes details about the event dates, July 16th to September 10th, and the opening reception on July 18th from 5 to 7 pm. It lists several partners, including SAQA, The Quilters Hall of Fame, MAC, and Marion Design Co., set against an orange background with decorative patterns.

 Celebrate SAQA Indiana II   

JULY 18, 2025 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 Kennedy Art Center

Event poster for an art exhibition titled 'Making a Garden of Strange Fruit' at the Kennedy Art Center, featuring an image of a woman walking through an art gallery, with a display of luminous artworks on a black wall and botanical prints on a gray wall.

This exhibition features the installation previously displayed at the 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennial: THIS IS A REHEARSAL at the Chicago Cultural Center. The installation, Making a Garden of Strange Fruit, is by Marion-born artist Samuel Levi Jones and his collaborators LAA Office and Sam Van Aken. Click on the link below . . .

Learn more about this exhibit
Reflective surface with numerous small lights creating a symmetrical, intricate pattern.

Making A Garden of Strange Fruit

Making A Garden of Strange Fruit

Making a Garden of Strange Fruit February 21, 2025 - July 01, 2025

Kennedy Art Center 326 S. Washington St., Marion, IN 46952

Marion Arts Commission with KAC and Marion Design is proud to feature Marion's own Samuel Levi Jones brings his thought-provoking exhibition, "Making a Garden of Strange Fruit," home. This project, in collaboration with LAA Office and Sam Van Aken, prototypes "Marion Legacy," a site dedicated to the memory of James Cameron, Thomas Shipp, and Abram Smith. Visit the Kennedy Arts Center to experience this immersive exhibit and engage in an important reflection about our past and our future.

marionlegacy.org
Art exhibition poster from Kennedy Art Center featuring a landscape painting of snow-capped mountains, pink blossoming trees, a body of water, with the sun in the sky. Text indicates an art show titled "Work by The Borg Board" opening December 6th with a reception on January 18th, created by Dawn Conwell.

WORK BY THE BOARD DECEMBER 6, 2024 - FEBRUARY 13, 2025 OPENING RECEPTION: JANUARY 18, 2025 | 7-9 PM


The Marion Arts Commission Board is a diverse collective of individuals—artists, designers, bankers, entrepreneurs, educators, small business owners, and healthcare providers. Despite our varied backgrounds, we share a unified passion: empowering the arts to cultivate growth in our city and enhance the quality of life for all.

This exhibit at the Kennedy Art Center showcases the stories, passions, and visions of both current and past board members. It celebrates the beauty of creativity born from moments of stillness—those cherished pauses where boredom turns into inspiration and dreams take flight.

We hope this exhibit encourages you to embrace moments of reflection in your own life. Take time to pause, dream, and let your imagination grow. Together, let’s continue fostering a community where art connects and inspires.

We want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who participated in the 1st Annual MAC Gala. Your support and enthusiasm made this event a resounding success and a truly memorable celebration.

From all of us at the Marion Arts Commission, thank you for being a part of this special night. We can’t wait to share even more incredible experiences with you in the years to come!

Green gradient background with white text advertising the 1st annual MAC Gala, an evening of art and elegance.

 SAQA  

JULY 17, 2024 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 Kennedy Art Center 326 S. Washington St., Marion, IN 46952

A poster for the quilt exhibit celebrating Saqa Indiana, scheduled from July 17 to September 13 at the Kennedy Art Center. Features a central quilt with a woman in traditional attire, surrounded by colorful floral and heart-themed quilts. The exhibit's opening reception is on July 20, 2024, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

A Celebration of the Art of Quilting

The Marion Arts Commission, in partnership with SAQA Indiana, The Quilters Hall of Fame, and Marion Design Co., proudly celebrated the timeless craft and artistry of quilting in a captivating exhibition.

On display for a limited time, from July 17 to September 13, the exhibition transformed the Kennedy Art Center at 326 South Washington St., Marion, IN, into a vibrant showcase of quilt-making traditions, innovation, and storytelling through fabric.

This collaborative event highlighted the intricate beauty and rich heritage of quilting, connecting artists, enthusiasts, and the community in appreciation of this extraordinary art form.

SPACE BETWEEN  

April 19, 2024 - July 12, 2024 Kennedy Art Center 326 S. Washington St., Marion, IN 46952

Logo of Indiana Arts Commission with a stylized abstract figure in red, yellow, green, and blue, and the text 'INDIANA ARTS COMMISSION' and 'MAKING THE ARTS HAPPEN'.
  • A game of connect four with pink, purple, and yellow heart and star shaped pieces on a yellow grid. The game is set against a maroon background with the text "Space Between" and details about an event at the Kennedy Art Center.

    SPACE BETWEEN

  • An art exhibition poster for 'Space Between' at Kennedy Art Center featuring abstract geometric artwork by Audrey Barcio, with opening reception details.

    SPACE BETWEEN

  • Close-up of a woman's face with red hair, eye partially covered by hair, advertising an art exhibition titled "Space Between" at Kennedy Art Center, opening reception on April 19 from 7 to 9 pm.

    SPACE BETWEEN

A promotional poster for an art exhibit titled Space Between at Kennedy Art Center, opening on April 19 from 7 to 9 pm. The poster features a multicolored game piece with yarn, small heart and star shapes, and photographs in circles on a grid.
S P A C E B E T W E E N

This thought-provoking exhibition explores the concept of space—specifically, the space between two things. Whether it’s the physical gap between two objects, like the distance between two trees, or the conceptual space between ideas, experiences, or states of mind, this show invites diverse interpretations of what "space" can represent.

How do we navigate the space between different worlds? What does it look like when comparing the experiences of someone raised in the country with someone from the city? Or the gap between two social classes or two individuals from distinct walks of life? The possibilities are endless, and we encourage varied interpretations of this theme.

The Opening Reception took place on April 19, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and the exhibit was proudly sponsored by the Marion Arts Commission in partnership with the Indiana Arts Commission. The show was on display at the Kennedy Art Center through mid-July, offering a dynamic platform for artists to explore and reflect on the spaces between us. 

Dare to Disrupt the Ordinary

The excitement began on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Kennedy Art Center with a creative and exhilarating fashion workshop in preparation for the 3rd Annual Marion Made Fashion Show! Aspiring designers of all ages stepped up to the challenge, daring to think outside the box as they crafted innovative outfits from locally sourced, gently used clothing and found objects.

The workshop wasn’t just a chance to create—it was a competition! Local budding fashionistas vied for 25 coveted spots on the runway, showcasing their unique designs. After careful deliberation, judges selected the standout creations, setting the stage for an unforgettable fashion show.

On February 3, 2024, the Kennedy Art Center gallery was transformed into a stunning runway, where the selected designers unveiled their bold, imaginative looks. The Marion Made Fashion Show celebrated creativity, sustainability, and the power of daring to disrupt the ordinary.

Promo poster for a fashion workshop titled "Bored With Bored" with images of a man in a beige shirt with a polka dot tie and a woman in a green top and flower skirt, including event details for January 20 at Kennedy Art Center.

How Do We Get Here . . . A Race Retrospective Exhibit

Event poster with dark purple background, advertising an interactive exhibition running from October 20 to January 20, with an opening reception on October 20 from 7 to 9 pm, featuring dotted design elements.
Poster titled 'How Do We Get Here?' for an exhibit, featuring abstract network diagrams, logos of Kennedy Art Center, MACK sponsor, and Indiana Arts Commission.

Design is all around us—shaping the products we use, the spaces we inhabit, and the very way we experience the world. Yet, how often do we pause to consider the deeper impact design has on our communities, particularly on people of color? Sponsored in part by the Indiana Arts Commission, this interactive exhibition explored the community’s perspective on race within the context of media and product design. It challenged visitors to reflect on how design not only influences our daily lives but can also be a powerful tool for creating a more just and equitable future for all. From October to December, people from all walks of life engaged with the exhibit, viewing interviews from diverse community residents, discovering the historical impact of design, and contributing their own insights at interactive displays. This exhibition encouraged a thoughtful dialogue on how design choices shape our society and how we can collectively influence a better tomorrow.

A STORY IN STILLS

A conversation through photographs

July 28, 2024 - September 22, 2024 Kennedy Art Center 326 S. Washington St., Marion, IN 46952

Explore the narratives captured through the lenses of talented local photographers in this thought-provoking exhibition. A Story in Stills invites us to consider the tales embedded in the landscapes of our daily lives and the dialogue they create with more stylized, crafted imagery.

Making Art Visible: Investing in the Arts for a Stronger Community

Art has the power to connect, inspire, and transform communities. By making art visible, we create spaces where creativity thrives, where stories are told, and where diverse voices are heard. Investing in the arts is not just about supporting artists—it’s about enriching the cultural fabric of our community and fostering an environment where innovation and expression can flourish. When we choose to invest in art, we invest in the future of our society, ensuring that creativity continues to inspire, challenge, and uplift us all.