NoCo Arts & Cultural District in Jeffersonville, IN | Exploring the Midwest Podcast Episode 36

Last Updated on February 3, 2022 by Jody Halsted

I was really impressed by the NoCo Arts and Cultural District during a recent trip to Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Emily Dippie, the Public Arts Administrator for Jeffersonville, was my guide that day and agreed to share more about this special section of Jeffersonville.

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NoCo Arts and Cultural District

As Public Arts Administrator Emily is a city employee who works with the Jeffersonville Public Art Commission looking out for the arts in Jeffersonville. She also leads development in the NoCo Arts & Cultural District.

A Focus on the Arts

The NoCo Arts & Cultural District is an area of Jeffersonville that has been specifically planned, zoned, and set aside for the development of the arts and art businesses in Jeffersonville.

The ‘anchor’ of the area is a muraled water tank which also includes an aerial mural, so when people fly into the area they can see it as they land.

Around the water tank mural is a paintbox garden, planted to create the colors of the rainbow, and the story trail, which is a partnership with the local schools.

The NoCo Art Center, next to the water tank, has 8 in-residence studio artists, and also hosts classes for the community.

Across the street are Picasso Point, a family artistic play space where games and mazes are painted onto the ground.

The Depot, an artistic event space created with refurbished shipping containers, fills the next lot. Events here include music, food trucks, art sales, and shows.

And Maker 13, a creator space open to anyone, is a ‘playground for the imagination’. Here members of the community can access expensive tools like laser cutters, 16-needle embroiderers, 3D printers, and more equipment for a monthly membership fee.

The area is rounded out with the Clark County Historical Muesum, the Vintage Fire Museum, a local bakery, and Hoosiers Hardware, which takes you back in time.

Connecting the Community to Artists and Artists to the Community

Jeffersonville has a very people-centric arts community that local organizations and businesses have rallied around.

Beyond events at The Depot, the community is invited to take part in city arts projects, like the NoCo Mural Mile, which painted 1800 linear feet of sidewalk mural in one day.

In 2022 a new project will see neighborhoods working with an artist to design a door that reflects their area.

Visiting the NoCo Arts & Cultural District

To check out events in the NoCo District and throughout the area visit the events page at GoSoIN, the local tourism bureau.

To track the arts in Jeffersonville use the Jeffersonville Art page on Facebook and Jeffersonville Arts & Cultural District page, also on Facebook. Not only will you see event postings, but artists can find opportunities and commissions.

3 Top Tips for visiting Jeffersonville, Indiana

Cross the Big Four Bridge – a pedestrian walking bridge across the Ohio River to Louisville, Kentucky. (Then follow the sidewalk murals to the NoCo Arts & Cultural District!)

Eat & shop local – the downtown area of Jeffersonville has so many tasty spots to eat and charming boutiques to find treasures you didn’t know you needed!

Visit in October – for the mural festival and Steamboat Nights.

You can also walk to Kentucky for Bourbon.