Arts & Education Classes at the JCC Indianapolis
Adult Continuing Education classes at JCC Indianapolis offer a chance for you to expand your mind, continue learning, and make connections with others. We offer a wide variety of continuing education classes to those in the Indianapolis and central Indiana community – from art classes to classes on Jazz Appreciation, to fair and balanced political discourse. Our adult education classes are as diverse as our membership.
Current Classes
See our Events Calendar for current and upcoming classes.
Upcoming Classes
For upcoming events, visit our Events page.
We also send arts-only emails to those interested in arts events at the J. The emails are sent about twice a month. Visit our Stay Connected page to learn more and subscribe.
Past Classes
Foundation and Uncial Calligraphy with Ellen Simon
Uncial is a script written entirely in capital letters commonly used for certificates, invitations, envelopes and more.
Creative Designs in Paper with AnnaLee Chalos-McAleese
A focus on designing geometric patterns in relief using Japanese techniques.
Virtual Tour of Israel
A four-part series with a licensed Israeli guide introducing viewers to important cultural areas in Israel.
Implicit Bias and Racial Equity
An online conversation about implicit bias, what it means, and how we as individuals and as a collective of individuals might respond. The conversation was facilitated by Paula Means and Nedra Feeley, professional facilitators, friends, and educators who have led multiple conversations about race.
Politics Update
If anyone can help make sense of the world of politics, it’s Pierre Atlas, senior lecturer at IUPUI’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Also a monthly opinion columnist for the Indianapolis Business Journal, Atlas provides background and insights to help audience members separate the facts from the fake news.
Indiana Jewish Podcasters Forum:
Hear from many of Indiana’s groundbreaking leaders in the world of Jewish podcasting. Each will share their story followed by Q&A. In partnership with the Indiana Jewish Historical Society. Participating podcasters include:
- (Bloomington) Jeremy Shere: Adventures in Jewish Studies Podcast
- (Munster) Eliezer Zalmanov: Chatting Rabbis Podcast
- (Bloomington) Jen Richler: Jewish Women’s Archive Podcast
- (Indianapolis) Dovid Grossbaum: The Zal
- (South Bend) Michael Brown: IN-Jewish History Podcast
About Irwin and Ann Katz
Art Education classes are made possible in part with funding from the Irwin and Ann Katz Cultural Arts and Education Endowment Fund. Irwin “Irv” Katz was devoted to the JCC for more than 70 years, serving as president of the JCC board of directors at its old location from 1950-52 and again from 1958-61 during a pivotal time, its move and construction at its current location. The resulting 24,000-square-foot facility boasted meeting rooms, nursery school facilities, a gym, locker rooms, and outdoor space for summer camp.
The annual Ann Katz Festival of Books and Arts was transformed from a one-week book fair to a major cultural arts program in Indianapolis when, in the year 2000, Katz infused the festival with a significant annual contribution. At that time, the festival name was changed to honor the memory of his wife, Ann, an inveterate reader and lover of books and literature.
Friends of the Arts
In addition to foundations and corporations, support for arts programs at the JCC comes from a group of active, engaged arts enthusiasts called J Friends of the Arts. As an example, the group provided more than $50,000 in funding toward the purchase of new, more comfortable seating for the Laikin Auditorium. To become a member of J Friends of the Arts, contact Camille Arnett at 317-715-9240 or carnett@JCCindy.org.
Lifelong Learning Is a Core Jewish Value
The story of the Jewish people is one of freedom from tyranny and oppression. As a people, we believe that true freedom is experienced in a community’s ability to educate, to expand minds and perspectives, and to tolerate opposing ideas rooted in truth. The goal of JCC programs is to educate and inform and to forge and strengthen partnerships, e.g., The Unity Project whose mission is to build respect and understanding between various communities, especially the black and Jewish communities, through dialogue and the arts. Other partnerships include The Indy Jazz Foundation for our Jazz at the J series; Dance Kaleidoscope and Indiana Writers Center for Spirit & Place events; Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library for our Circle City Authors series, and many others.