City of Bloomington Announces 2010 Buskirk-Chumley Theater Grant Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2009

For more information, contact:
Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, 349-3534, michaelm@bloomington.in.gov
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov




Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) and the City Parks and Recreation Department have announced that nine community organizations and artists have been awarded 2010 Buskirk-Chumley Theater (BCT) grants, allowing each one day of free use at the theater for their programming.

Six of the nine recipient projects showcase local music, noted Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts Miah Michaelsen, a nod to the area's strong musical offerings.

"We were glad to see a strong response from our musical community for this program, and several of these musical groups will be on the stage of the BCT for the first time," Michaelsen said. "That helps build capacity for these musicians and strengthens our reputation as a diverse, quality music destination."

The following is a list of grant recipients with a brief description of each project:

• Bloomington Area Music (BAM!): "Fruits of Labor," a collaborative CD/book release that demonstrates the coming together of local businesses, musicians and authors. Three local bands and two local authors chosen from a field of submissions will gather to promote and perform their newest work.
• Bloomington Community Band: "31 Years of Community Music Concert," a free concert to launch the community band's 32nd season. This gala will feature local musicians and highlight several of them as key soloists.
• Bloomington POPS: "Christmas with the POPS," two holiday concerts, featuring a variety of music from classical to pop, will be performed to coincide with the downtown Canopy of Lights. The earlier performance, before the lighting of the canopy, is tailored for children.
• Cardinal Stage Company: "Fun with Frog and Toad" is becoming a Bloomington annual tradition and a favorite family Holiday event. This year, any child who receives a ticket through Cardinal's Community Access Ticket Initiative is eligible for a free copy of Frog and Toad from Borders Bookstore.
• Community Kitchen of Monroe County, Inc.: "Bloomington Chef's Challenge," a fundraiser featuring three area chefs competing to create the best dish in one hour using a secret ingredient and food donated by local farmers.
• Community Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools: "Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee," a first annual spelling bee with a twist. Following official spelling bee rules, teams of three adults sponsored by local businesses will compete in front of local celebrity judges in a fundraising competition benefitting New Tech High School.
• Krista Detor: "Chocolate Paper Suites CD Release Concert" will promote and celebrate the release of the fifth album from Bloomington native, Krista Detor whose music has received national and international acclaim.
• Southern Indiana Youth Symphony, Inc. (MAYO): "Spring Concert" will feature over 70 student musicians from ten Southern Indiana counties performing in the final concert of MAYO's year-long orchestra season. The winning piece from the MAYO Composition Competition will be featured.
• Timmy Foundation at Indiana University: "Timmy Foundation Benefit Concert," two local and one national band will perform in support of the Timmy Foundation and other local organizations who aim to provide sustainable health and educational care to third world nations.

This is the second year of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Grant Program. Guidelines for the 2011 program will be released in fall of 2010.

For more information on the program, visit www.bloomington.in.gov/bead or contact Michaelsen at michaelm@bloomington.in.gov or 349-3534.

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