ArtSmart: Indiana is a visual means of learning about Indiana’s art, culture and history, 1800 to the present. It was first written and copyrighted in 1985 by the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. This educational enrichment program promotes a sense of pride in the significant role that Indiana’s art and artists have had in the growth of the state of Indiana.
ArtSmart is an innovative tool that embraces an artistic and historical approach. The program was originally developed to complement the teaching of Indiana studies in the fourth grade and has evolved into a resource for both classroom instruction and self-guided learning for any age.
First in print starting in 1985, Art Smart: Indiana went online in 2010 thanks to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences in Washington, D.C. The website is designed to provide instant access to the history of Indiana artists and their art. It encourages teachers to use its content within its visual learning activities, and to provide students with opportunities to explore and interact with the artwork.
The current version of ArtSmart: Indiana is an educational partnership between the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and Purdue University, with generous support from the McAllister Foundation, as well as other organizations and individuals.
ArtSmart: Indiana was endorsed by the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial Commission.