INDIANAPOLIS — Art Squared, Fountain Square’s longest-standing arts festival, is always on the third Saturday of September. This year the event will be on September 19th, 11am to 5pm, with the annual Masterpiece in a Day competition beginning at its traditional 9 a.m. start time. Logistically, organizers are undeterred by ongoing road construction in the neighborhood.
“Art Squared” is the all-encompassing name for one event made up of several main activities: The Art Squared art vending area, the Masterpiece In A Day (MIAD) competition, and new this year, a silent auction of previous years’ MIAD winners with all funds raised going toward future Art Squared events, and a Kids Zone inside the Murphy Arts Center.
Masterpiece In A Day predates Art Squared, going back over a quarter of a century, in various iterations, in and around Fountain Square. Artists gather between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to begin creating their masterpiece, with all art media welcome. All work must be turned in by 3 p.m. The work will be judged by representatives of the local art community, and cash prizes awarded to the top three winners. Masterpiece In A Day is free to enter, and all participants must bring their own supplies. Winners will be announced at 4pm. For more information on participation in MIAD, please see https://indyarts.org/opportunity/masterpiece-in-a-day-competition-2026/
This year, the Murphy Arts Center will be a hub of activity anchoring the Virginia Avenue section of the festival. It will act as the MIAD headquarters, and will host the silent auction, and a Kids Zone with a BRIDGE Collective-backed color-by-number community art project.