The Basile Center for Art, Design and Public Life enables Herron faculty and students to apply their talent and skill to real-world situations and needs. The Basile Center brings together Herron artists, designers, and art educators to serve the needs of the broader Indianapolis community. The projects that the Basile Center manages range from permanent public art installations to visual communication design projects, to arts administration and fine art exhibitions, and they yield incredible opportunities for professional practice for our students, including both our undergraduates and students in our graduate programs. Support of these projects has been provided, in part, by Eli Lilly and Company.

Herron is a major contributor to numerous civic development projects in central Indiana, and our collaborations include projects for the new Carmel City Center, the Indianapolis Arts Council, Indy Parks, the new Simon headquarters, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail project, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indy-Go Transportation, the Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund, the Damien Center, and the Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts.

New and progressive ideas are the foundation from which businesses, cultural organizations, and schools gain strength and momentum. The Basile Center’s clients and community partners are progressive leaders who demonstrate a commitment to art and design education and support innovative thinking. They gain a better understanding and appreciation for creative processes and production by working with Herron students and faculty.