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Contact us about renting Tube Factory artspace for your next special event. 

LOCATION + CONTACT INFO

Tube Factory artspace
1125 Cruft Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203
just south of beautiful Garfield Park

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See photos of Tube Factory set up for a wedding reception here.

HISTORY

Previously a vacant 12,000-square foot former manufacturing building, Tube Factory is now an artfully renovated home base for Big Car’s work as well as partnership-based community meetings and cultural events. It was built in 1908 for use as a dairy bottling plant before housing an armory, sheet metal pattern works, peanut roaster, and factory where people made metal tubes. The industrial feel and history have been maintained with thoughtful updates and art pieces throughout, which make it a unique venue for your special event.

FACILITY FEATURES

Tube Factory artspace is the home of Big Car Collaborative — a nonprofit arts organization based in Indianapolis with the mission to bring art to people and people to art, sparking creativity in lives to transform communities. Tube Factory is located in the heart of the Garfield Park neighborhood on Indianapolis’ southeast side, just 1.5 miles south of Fountain Square and 3.5 miles south of Downtown. 

During our normal business hours, the artspace features Normal Coffee, rotating exhibits, interactive projects, community space to hang out, a reference library and free books for teens and kids to take home, an outdoor gathering space, and much more to find through exploring. During our private events, this flexible space is transformed to suit the needs of each client. There is ample parking for your guests on the east side of the building in an adjoined, surface level lot that is securely fenced in. Street parking is also available along Shelby Street, less than a half block from the facility.

Community Room (2630 sq. ft.)

Our Community Room features exposed brick and ceiling beams and is filled with natural light during the day and high-quality lighting at night. It is equipped with state-of-the-art sound from Klipsch Audio and can accommodate a full band as easily as a DJ or iPod. The Community Room also houses our onsite speakeasy-style bar that serves beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. 

Gallery 

Though our galleries are not part of any facility rental, it can be open during your special event, adding a fine art experience unlike anything else in the city. Our contemporary art gallery features rotating exhibits from national, international and Indianapolis-based artists. Food and drink, photo booths, etc. can’t be set up in the galleries. 

EVENTS FOR EVERYONE

Weddings 

Tube Factory artspace is not your typical wedding venue. We are not a hotel ballroom. We are the home of a quirky arts organization — the influence of which is evident throughout the building. We do not require certain vendors, but we are happy to recommend some we like. And we have all of the amenities — like a premium sound system, on-site bar, and a day-of venue coordinator — all provided to make your wedding day stress-free and memorable.

Wedding packages start at $10,000.

Community

Partnerships drive Big Car’s work both on the local level and as Big Car looks to expand our reach regionally and nationally. We collaborate with more than 50 partners annually, both from the arts field and outside of it. As part of these partnerships, we look for mission-aligned opportunities to facilitate events and programs at a reduced rental rate.

Corporate

Tube Factory artspace is a flexible, light-filled space that naturally invigorates people’s minds and — dare we say — spirits. It is the perfect place to get people out of the everyday and into a creative environment to inspire new ideas and collaborations. This combination of built-in features also provides a unique environment for photo and video shoots.

PRICING

Contact us about rates. The hourly rate starts at set up. Discounts may be available for nonprofit organizations and community partners.

Think we might be a fit for your next event? Get the conversation started by emailing us: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Rental FAQs

How many people can the space hold? Depending on the set up, anywhere from 150-300. The community space is best suited for 150 or less seated. 

What’s included in the rental? Free parking. Access to leading contemporary art galleries for visitors (no food or drink or event set ups in the galleries). Access to outdoor placemaking and grounds. Use of Tube community space with our table and chairs. Audio/visual needs are arranged upon request. Use of the bar is optional. 

Drink: You must use our bartenders to staff the bar. You must use the beer and wine we carry. Renters can’t bring in or serve alcohol per alcohol rules related to our license.

Food: We don’t have restrictions on food. We do have a list of catering friends we can supply who have experience working with Tube Factory for receptions and events. We have a small out-of-site staging area and fridges. It is not a commercial kitchen.

Exhibition spaces: The galleries are not part of the facility rental. There are no tables, chairs, food or drink allowed in the gallery. While the gallery can be open during your event, it is not included as part of the facility rental.

Sound and AV: We have a high-quality built-in sound system that you are allowed to plug into and use for events. Other options may include use of stand alone projector and screen, potential use of the upstairs video room. We do not supply staff to run sound unless previously arranged. 

Decorations:  Let’s talk about it! You can’t hammer nails or put tacks into the walls. There are also certain areas you cannot cover, such as the donor wall and the installation that creates bar area. Command strips or the ceiling may be available for decorations. Lights in the Tube are adjustable to 16 million color options. Again, some flexibility here.

What can be moved? The space can be configured in many ways. The tables and chairs upstairs. You are welcome to rent tables and chairs to bring in. 

Will you promote my event? We help promote partnership events. Partnerships also have flexibility on rental costs.

Can I put my own images on the TVs? The images on the televisions and projections can be used depending on the situation and the status of exhibits.

Parking?  Tube Factory features 80 parking spaces and more on nearby Shelby Street. In order to be thoughtful of our neighbors who have limited parking at their homes, street parking on Cruft is for residents only.

Do you have other options besides Tube for rental?

The Guichelaar Gallery is located at 1135 Cruft St. – a multi-use house gallery located next to the Tube Factory artspace. This space featured a monitor and is great for small meetings.