The City of Bloomington Issues Call for Local Artists for the Sixth Annual Bloomington Black y Brown Arts Festival

The City of Bloomington announced a call for local artists of color to apply for the Sixth Annual Bloomington Black y Brown Arts Festival (BYB), taking place on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Switchyard Park Pavilion. The art market will be open from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by performances starting at 12:30 p.m.

“This festival aims to deepen art appreciation, create a welcoming space for people of color in the community, and offer a platform for local talent to showcase their visual and performing arts,” says Shatoyia Moss, director of Community and Family Resources at the City of Bloomington.“By engaging the audience with artists and their work, the festival enhances Bloomington’s spirit of inclusion.”

Supported by the City of Bloomington’s Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department, and the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, this free, family-friendly event will feature a visual arts exhibition in the pavilion and a performance showcase on stage, with food trucks available for purchase.

Artists who identify as African, African-American, Hispanic, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Indigenous American are encouraged to apply. Participants can exhibit visual art or craft, and perform dance, music, spoken word, or other art forms. Artists will also have the opportunity to sell their artworks or merchandise at the venue.

Applications are open at bloomington.in.gov/byb, where artists must submit an image or recording of their work along with a biography and headshot. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, Aug. 25. There is a $10 non-refundable entry fee to reserve a space to sell their work. 

For additional information about the local event, contact Community and Family Resources Director Shatoyia Moss at mosss@bloomington.in.gov or 812-349-3430.