The City of Bloomington is seeking local artists of color to apply for participation in the Bloomington Black y Brown Arts Festival, according to a press release Tuesday.
The festival, which aims to create a space for persons of color, is returning for its third year. The festival will include a range of art and merchandise from respective groups.
Other goals of the festival include uplifting art appreciation in order to create a space that accepts people of color into the Bloomington community, according to the release.
“We’re excited to see the return of the Black y Brown Festival to our City’s proud lineup of cultural offerings,” Mayor John Hamilton said in the release . “In just a few years, this newer addition to our arts calendar has served to connect a broader and more diverse scope of artists with audiences and expand what people know about Bloomington and Bloomingtonians.”
Organizations supporting the festival include the city’s Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, Bloomington Parks and Recreation, the department of Economic and Sustainable Development and the Bloomington Arts Commission, according to the release
The festival will be a free event with a number of visual arts exhibitions in the pavilion and performances on the stage. Food trucks will be offering wares for purchase as well.
The city encourages local artists of visual, literary and performing arts to apply. These artists should identify with the African, African-American, Hispanic, Latinx and Native American communities, according to the release. This space will allow them to exhibit their crafts, dances, music, spoken word and other art forms. These artists will also be permitted to sell their works or merchandise at the venue.
The festival will take place Aug. 8 at Switchyard Park Pavilion. The performances will begin at 2 p.m.
Artists can apply at the city’s website, where they will be prompted to submit an image or recording of their work along with a biography and headshot. The deadline for submissions is 5:30 p.m. on July 26.
