Small in size and stature but big with talent, the Carmel Arts Council Children’s Art Gallery is the World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery (certified by Guinness World Records). Admission is free and so is the inspiration you and your children will gather from the pieces you see displayed.
The gallery exhibits artwork of local school-aged children from private and public schools. You wouldn’t believe the amount of talent that can fit into one little room! It is located in the heart of the Carmel Arts & Design District, right on Main Street a block East of the Monon Trail.
World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery is right here in Carmel, Indiana! Certified by the Guinness World Records in 1999, the Carmel Arts Council Children’s Art Gallery is officially the World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery. At 15 feet 4 inches long by 9 feet 5 inches wide, the one-room gallery is one of a kind.
Carmel Arts Council Children’s Art Gallery
The Carmel Arts Council Children’s Art Gallery was opened in 1998 and was the first art gallery in the Carmel Arts & Design District. The building was originally a wing from the 1875 Zina Warren home and moved to 30 West Main Street for the nation’s Bicentennial. The gallery was moved to its current location at 40 West Main Street in 2005.
The cozy gallery exhibits art of local kindergarten through 6th-grade students from local schools on a rotating basis. The gallery also showcases artwork from students in Changha, Hunan Province in China as well as students in Kawachinagano, Japan – Carmel’s “Sister City.” A reception is held for each new exhibit opening every month.
Visit the World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery
The World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 pm. It is also open during Meet Me on Main on the second Saturday of each month from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There is a little parking lot right behind the gallery, however, if that is full there is plenty of street parking as well as a free underground parking garage immediately West of the gallery under the Sophia Square building.
The Carmel Arts Council Children’s Art Gallery is perfect for visiting with children. It is completely free and features artwork by local students – they might recognize some names on the wall! Younger children with shorter attention spans will love the pint-sized gallery and if they lose focus, you can just step outside and walk up and down Main Street. There are often beautiful flowers and sculptures right outside of the building as well.
Spend the Afternoon at Carmel’s Arts & Design District
Make a fun-filled afternoon out of your visit to the Carmel Arts Council Children’s Art Gallery. The Carmel Arts & Design District is a bustling area with restaurants, shops, art installations, a mini splash pad in front of Anthony’s Chop House, and the Monon Trail. Stop for ice cream at Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream, look for Carmel-themed gifts at All Things Carmel, shop at Silver in the City, sit on the patio at Peace Water Winery, taste olive oil at The Olive Mill, pick up baked goods at No Label at the Table, or play outdoor games while you wait for your table at Bub’s Burgers.
Speaking of tiny places, after your visit to the World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery, walk East on Main Street to the Museum of Miniature Houses. The museum features exact replicas and fine art in miniature form. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children or you can pop into the museum store for free.
Continue your walk East to the Carmel Clay Public Library. This state-of-the-art library has been newly remodeled and is the perfect place to bring children. There are endless aisles of books to peruse, several play areas for children with toys and manipulatives, an Exploration Lab for older children, board games, a cafe, a museum shop, and a Digital Media Lab with 3D printers!
Explore Carmel
Hop on the Monon Trail, which intersects Main Street just one block West of the art gallery, to explore miles of hiking and biking trails throughout Carmel. You can walk on the trail to Meadowlark Park, just north of Main Street off the Monon Trail.
The first stop South of Main Street is Midtown Plaza Carmel. Midtown offers restaurants, shops, a popcorn store, a splash pad, a playground, a candle-making shop, and a brewery surrounding an outdoor plaza where you can eat, drink, play pool and ping pong, watch a show on the big screen or listen to live music. Next to the playground are bocce ball and shuffleboard courts.
There are so many other parks and playgrounds in Carmel to visit. Check out all of the other wonderful things to do in Carmel with kids. Or, visit Carmel without kids! Here are 22 Carmel date night ideas.
If you’ve got an artsy child and want to foster their creativity, look into Arts for All at Garfield Park, or fill your Spring Break with art-related activities and places to visit. Check out all of the other wonderful art galleries and exhibits for children of all ages at these children’s museums in Indiana. Don’t forget, many libraries offer free museum passes you can borrow for the day. Visit your local library today to see which passes they offer!
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Address
40 West Main Street
carmel
indiana
Visit World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery | A Guinness World Record Gem Since 1999
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