March’s Atrium Exhibit Works by Stone Belt Artisans to Celebrate Disability Awareness Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 27, 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

March's Atrium Exhibit Works by Stone Belt Artisans to Celebrate Disability Awareness Month

Bloomington, Ind. - During the month of March, the City of Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) will showcase artworks by Stone Belt clients to celebrate March as Disability Awareness Month. Works are created in a variety of media, including what has become Stone Belt's signature style, the mixed-media mosaic.

Stone Belt is a nonprofit organization that believes in the uniqueness, worth and right to self-determination of every individual. It is Stone Belt's mission, in partnership with the community, to prepare, empower and support persons with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the life of the community.

The exhibit will be on display March 1 - 31. Exhibition hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as additional evening and weekend hours when City Hall is open for meetings. A reception will be held on Friday, March 6, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., which is free and open to the public. In addition to being on display, the Stone Belt artwork will be available for purchase. Stone Belt artists will be in attendance to meet the public, discuss the artwork and answer questions.

The Stone Belt Arts Program provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to expand their capacity for self-expression, contribute to the beautification of the community, develop new life skills and work professionally in the arts. Creative exploration provides an outlet for self expression, identity transformation and the sharing of one's personal story. Stone Belt envisions "the arts" broadly, including visual, performing,and culinary arts, and strives to provide a diverse offering of experiences through its education programming. For more information about Stone Belt's art programs, visit www.stonebelt.org/thearts.

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, 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 www.bloomington.in.gov/arts.

For more information about the City's atrium exhibits, contact Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts Miah Michealsen at 812.349.3418.

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