Bloomington Arts Commission Invites Applications for 2017 Arts Project Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2017

For more information, please contact:

Sean M. Starowitz, Assistant Director of Economic and Sustainable Development for the Arts and Staff Liaison for the Bloomington Arts Commission, 812-349-3534, starowis@bloomington.in.gov

Bloomington Arts Commission Invites Applications for Arts Project Grants

Bloomington, Ind. - The City of Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC) welcomes applications for its 2017 Arts Project Grant Program. Guidelines and application details are available on the City of Bloomington website at bloomington.in.gov/bac. Applications are due by Friday, March 31st at 5:00 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 are equitable and inclusive,

● to foster ongoing creativity and innovation,

● to enhance and support a high level of artistry, and

● to support the economic vitality and interests of local artists and arts organizations.

Organizations may apply for awards of up to $2,000. In 2016, 17 arts projects were supported through the grant program. The BAC has revised its evaluation criteria this year, and each application will be evaluated on artistic quality, community impact, creativity and innovation, and organizational capacity. This will be the only round of grant applications in 2017.

As part of an ongoing capacity-building effort, the BAC and Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association will host a joint informational session on 2017 Arts Grant Funding on Wednesday, February 22nd from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at The I Fell Building, 415 W. 4th Street.

The BAC will hold a drop-in workshop for prospective applicants on Wednesday, March 8th from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the McCloskey Conference Room in City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street. Prospective applicants are invited to bring applications in progress to the workshop to receive preliminary feedback. The drop-in workshop will be first-come, first-served and will conclude at 5:00 p.m.

The BAC Arts Project Grants panel meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 12th at 4:00 p.m. in the McCloskey Room, City Hall. Applicants are asked to attend the beginning of the meeting and will be invited to offer a 2-minute update, if their projects have changed in any way.

For further questions, the Bloomington Arts Commission can be reached at bac@bloomington.in.gov.

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