The Arts Abound in Richmond

Love the cultural value of a symphony or theatre, strolling through a historical art museum, but hate the crowds of Manhattan? What’s an art lover to do? Visit Richmond, Indiana, the Midwestern town of less than 38,000 with a full complement of cultural experiences — all within a 15 minute drive of anywhere in town! It’s the best of both worlds- the relaxing atmosphere of a small town, with big city cultural opportunities.

Performing Arts

The Richmond Symphony Orchestra

The Richmond Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional 80-piece orchestra, presenting guest artists from around the world, Founded in 1957, the RSO presents seven concerts each season. The RSO performs in the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility that is testimony to Richmond’s commitment to the arts.

Richmond Civic Theatre

The Richmond Civic Theatre has been providing quality production since 1952. Recently renovated, the theatre presents musical comedies to classic dramas, youth theatre productions, and alternative theatre.

Visual Arts

Richmond/Wayne County is a place where expression thrives through many forms of visual arts.  We offer a variety of art trails and museums to make your trip memorable and captivating. 

Mural Trail

You may want to begin with the Richmond/Wayne County Mural Trail.  This trail has more than 80 vibrant murals woven along city streets in an inspirational collage of our history and imagination.  Artists as far away as Italy have worked their magic to portray beauty and culture throughout the county.  In 2013, our murals helped land Richmond a national honor from the Paint Quality Institute as one of “America’s Prettiest Painted Places”.

Richmond Art Museum

The Richmond Art Museum is a fine art museum which features a number of artworks by American Impressionists from the late 19th and 20th Century including William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, Robert Reid and Guy Wiggins to name a few. In 1899, the museum acquired its first painting for a permanent collection and began acquiring works thereafter annually. RAM is the oldest cultural institution in Wayne County and the second oldest art museum in Indiana.  More than an art museum – we offer year-round art instruction, programs, events and exhibitions.   The museum has a history of providing exhibition opportunities to regional artists.  Ahead of the national trend, the museum has remained free of admission since its beginning.

Museum of Overbeck Art Pottery

In Cambridge City, Indiana, in 1911, four sisters established the Overbeck Pottery in their home.  At a time when most pottery was copied from European and Japanese art, they believed that “borrowed art is bad art”. The majority of their work stemmed from their surroundings and included painted porcelain; redware; imported vases, Art Nouveau and Art Deco; and figurines modeled on real-life persons or “grotesques” which Mary called “humor of the kiln”.  They were especially noted for their subtle hues in matte glaze as well as brilliant turquoise and heliotrope in bright glaze. They never divulged these formulas. It is believed they are in the possession of their nephew.  From its inception Overbeck Pottery has been held in high esteem. Awards were won in Paris, Chicago, New York, Syracuse, Baltimore, St. Louis, Detroit, in Indiana on a regular basis and at the Panama Pacific Exposition.  In recent years growing groups of museum curators, art schools and collectors have developed a full realization of the artistry of Overbeck Pottery. It has earned an important place in the history of American art and has been exhibited at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and Wayne County Museum.

Room 912 Gallery
Magaws of Boston
Gennett Walk of Fame