BEAD’s August Atrium Exhibit to Showcase Sister Cities Program

[[image:15731,right]|http://www.bloomington-sister-cities.org/]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2015

For more information, please contact:

Miah Michaelsen, Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts, City of Bloomington Economic and Sustainable Development, 812.349.3534

BEAD's August Atrium Exhibit to Showcase Sister Cities Program

Bloomington, Ind. - During the month of August, the City of Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) will showcase images taken by Bloomington residents who have recently returned from visits to its two sister cities, Posoltega, Nicaragua, and Santa Clara, Cuba. The images will be displayed as part of an exhibit during the month of August in the atrium of City Hall, 401 N. Morton St.

The photographs are designed to give viewers a glimpse into daily life in both Nicaragua and Cuba. An opening reception will be held for the exhibit on Friday, August 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the atrium of City Hall. Sister Cities' representatives will be in attendance to answer questions about the program, provide more information about the photos and share experiences about their time spent in each city. Representatives also will share food from each city for participants to sample.

The exhibit will be on display Aug. 5 - 31. Exhibition hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, as well as additional evening and weekend hours when City Hall is open for meetings.

The mission of the Bloomington Sister Cities program is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation - one individual, one community at a time. More information about the Sister Cities program is available at [bloomington-sister-cities.org|www.bloomington-sister-cities.org].

For more information regarding the City's atrium exhibition program, please contact Assistant Economic Development Director for the Arts Miah Michaelsen at 812.349.3534.

About the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD)

BEAD seeks to bring the business and creative sectors together to advance commerce and culture, build community and spur economic development. BEAD is a geographically defined, mixed-use cultural district in downtown Bloomington which capitalizes on local and regional assets that are specific to the cultural, economic and social issues of Bloomington. BEAD emphasizes the high concentration of creative assets and related activities to strengthen and enhance the overall economic development of the community and provides a connective link to a variety of incentives, programs and grants to benefit its major stakeholder groups and users: the community; visitors; the creative, cultural and entertainment sectors and small business.

BEAD's Atrium Exhibit program 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 the website|/arts].

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