City of Bloomington Arts Commission Announces Art Project Grant Program and Workshop

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 16, 2015

For more information, please contact:
Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, City of Bloomington Economic and Sustainable Development Department, 812.349.3534

City of Bloomington Arts Commission Announces Art Project Grant Program and Workshop

Bloomington, Ind. ‒ The City of Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC) announced that guidelines and applications are now available for the 2015 Arts Project Grant Program. The grant program helps fund different arts activities completed by nonprofits throughout the community.

Grants are available for arts activities that align with current areas of focus of the Arts Commission: to cultivate a community in which residents appreciate the value of personal and collective artistic activity, to encourage collaboration in and diversification of artistic activities that include participants from across the community, to enhance and support a high level of artistry and to support the economic vitality and interests of local artists and arts organizations. In 2014, 15 arts projects were supported through the program.

The April grant round will only be the only round in 2015, and applicants must submit applications online by April 1 at 5 p.m. The maximum grant amounts awarded this year will be $1,500. The grants are available to nonprofit organizations with projects taking place within Bloomington city limits. Detailed guidelines and applications are available on the [City of Bloomington Arts Commission's website|/bac].

As part of its ongoing capacity-building efforts, the Arts Commission will hold a drop-in workshop for potential applicants on Wednesday, March 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the McCloskey Conference Room in City Hall, 401 N. Morton St. Potential applicants are invited to bring applications in progress for review and feedback by Commission members. The drop-in workshop is first-come, first-served and will conclude at 5 p.m.

Submitted grant applications will be reviewed during the Arts Commission's April meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, at 4 p.m. in the McCloskey Room of City Hall, 401 N. Morton St. The public is invited to attend and observe.

This project is another effort under the City's strategy to leverage and expand the economic development potential of the arts in Bloomington. According to the 2012 Americans for the Arts study, Arts and Economic Prosperity IV, Bloomington's nonprofit arts sector contributes $72.3 million to the local economy annually through direct spending by arts organizations and their audiences. For more information on the study, [visit the website|/arts].

For more information on the grant program, contact Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts Miah Michaelsen at [michaelm@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:michaelm@bloomington.in.gov] or 812.349.3534.

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