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# University of Indianapolis Launches New MA Program in Social Practice Art and Creative Placemaking
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/university-of-indianapolis-launches-new-ma-program-in-social-practice-art-and-creative-placemaking/
- Published: 2017-03-28T16:01:15.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:27:39.000Z
- Description: The intensive, one-year MA welcomes students to immerse their creative practice in Indianapolis, engaging with neighborhoods, nearby towns, and rural areas for collaborative, transformative, transdisciplinary work.
- Author: University of Indianapolis
- Tags: Announcement, Art Education, University of Indianapolis, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:23 (2016, 2017, part 2)

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2017/03/uindy-spa_1080x720.jpg)](http://bit.ly/2nfC9h8?ref=hyperallergic.com)

The intensive, one-year MA welcomes students with degrees in [Art & Design, Theatre, Dance, Music, or Creative Writing](http://bit.ly/2mZSuVq?ref=hyperallergic.com) to immerse their creative practice in Indianapolis, engaging with neighborhoods and nearby towns and rural areas for collaborative, transformative, transdisciplinary work.

The [program](http://bit.ly/2nfC9h8?ref=hyperallergic.com) developed out of Associate Professor Kevin McKelvey’s ongoing multi-disciplinary collaboration with [Jim Walker](http://www.bigcar.org/who-are-we/?ref=hyperallergic.com), founder and director of [Big Car](http://www.bigcar.org/about/?ref=hyperallergic.com), on many [social practice](http://www.bigcar.org/project/service-center-for-culture-and-community/?ref=hyperallergic.com) and [placemaking](http://www.bigcar.org/project/mapleton-fall-creek-brewers-garden/?ref=hyperallergic.com) projects, and Walker helped develop the curriculum. With additional courses in urban and community sociology, grant writing, and social entrepreneurship, graduates will be uniquely positioned to be a leader and collaborator across arts disciplines in a variety of [business, nonprofit, and community endeavors](http://bit.ly/2nQKAmg?ref=hyperallergic.com).

Students will work in [vibrant and emerging places around Indianapolis](http://bit.ly/2nN98Ml?ref=hyperallergic.com) and the region with faculty members [Jim Walker](https://herehere.us/aboutjim/?ref=hyperallergic.com), [Juan William Chávez](http://juanwilliamchavez.com/home.html?ref=hyperallergic.com), [LaShawnda Crowe Storm](https://www.lashawndacrowestorm.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com), and visiting artist [Rebecca Pappas](http://pappasanddancers.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com). One example is Big Car’s new headquarters at [Tube Factory Artspace](http://www.bigcar.org/project/tubefactory/?ref=hyperallergic.com) in Garfield Park, about halfway between UIndy’s campus and downtown Indianapolis, and the newly launched [Artist and Public Life Residency](http://www.bigcar.org/project/aplr/?ref=hyperallergic.com), which turns nearby [vacant homes into long-term artist residences](http://www.moderncities.com/article/2017-mar-a-new-kind-of-artist-housing-is-changing-neighborhoods?ref=hyperallergic.com).

Weekend practicums will take students to small towns, state parks, festivals, and big cities in the Midwest to work with social practice artists and placemakers. For the thesis project during the summer, students can return to their home area and engage their local community in social practice and placemaking.

The program launches in Fall, 2017, with a priority deadline of May 15th for fall admission.

Visit [www.uindy.edu](http://bit.ly/2nfC9h8?ref=hyperallergic.com) to learn more or [click here to request more information](http://bit.ly/2n2o8lZ?ref=hyperallergic.com).