Bloomington Arts Commission Invites Applications for Arts Project Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2016

For more information, please contact:
Michael Shermis, Staff Liaison Bloomington Arts Commission, bac@bloomington.in.gov , 812.349.3471

Bloomington Arts Commission Invites Applications for Arts Project Grants

Bloomington, Ind. - The City of Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC) announces that guidelines and applications are now available for its 2016 Arts Project Grant Program . Deadline for applications is April 13 at 5 p.m. Grants are available to organizations 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 2015, 20 arts projects were supported through the program. Organizations can apply for up to $1,500. This will be the only round of grant application in 2016. As part of its ongoing capacitybuilding efforts, the Arts Commission will hold a dropin workshop for potential applicants on Wednesday, March 9 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the McCloskey Conference Room in City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street. Potential applicants are invited to bring applications in progress for review and feedback by Commission members. The dropin workshop is firstcome, firstserved and will conclude at 5 p.m.

Guidelines and application are available on the City of Bloomington website. Grant applications will be reviewed during the Arts Commission's April meeting scheduled for April 13 at 4:00 p.m., also in the McCloskey Room of City Hall. 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.

Nominations may be made online here (http://bloomington.in.gov/bac). The deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m., April 13, 2016. For more information contact Staff Liaison, Bloomington Arts Commission, Michael Shermis, at bac@bloomington.in.gov or 812.349.3471.

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