The following is a press release written by Holly Warren and Desiree DeMolina for The City of Bloomington.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2024
Bloomington, Ind. – The City of Bloomington has announced the recipients for its 2024 Arts Project, Operations, and Artistic Advancement Grants, providing funds to support local public-facing arts programming, operational costs for nonprofit arts organizations, and professional advancement for local artists.
Funds from previous grant cycles have allowed arts groups and organizations like The Buskirk-Chumley Theater, WFHB Community Radio, the Bloomington Creative Glass Center, and the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival to offer free or discounted programming to the community. Funds have also allowed local artists, including Bethany Habegger and Claire Pendreigh, to develop and share their work at local venues such as i Fell and the Orbit Room.
The recipients of the Arts Project Grants will use their funding to produce public arts programming that enriches Bloomington’s vibrant cultural scene. Award amounts range up to $3,000, with most recipients receiving partial funding. The Operations Arts Grants provide funds to help nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations cover operational expenses. These grants are available to organizations with an annual operating budget of no more than $500,000. The Artist Advancement Grants provide artists with $1000 to enhance their professional careers.
The BAC awarded over $134,000 dollars for the Arts Project, Operations, and Artistic Advancement Grants in 2024. Of the total amount awarded, $48,950 in funds were provided by the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association. The remaining funds come from the City of Bloomington’s 2024 General Fund and Local Income Tax budget lines.
"In my three years leading the Bloomington Arts Commission's granting efforts, I have witnessed incredible growth in the demonstrated need for funding local artistic efforts and our city's capacity to meet these requests,” said BAC Grants Chair Elliot Josephine Leila Reichert. “I am grateful to the artists and arts organizations that make our city a uniquely vital place to live and the volunteers who facilitate the rigorous process of evaluating and awarding these funds."
The Arts Commission will host an end-of-year party to celebrate 2024 grantees from 6:30 - 9 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11 at Backspace Gallery. The Public is invited to attend to meet the artists and learn more about the Bloomington Art Commission’s work. An RSVP is required to attend.
2024 BAC Arts Project Grant Recipients
Art Remains Creative ReUse Center
Artists for Environmental Restoration
Babette Ballinger- Paint Bloomington
BCT Management, Inc.
Bloomington Bach Cantata Project
Bloomington Fine Art Supply
Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
Buffy Prom
Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana-Art Gallery for Cancer Patients & Families
Carrie Weaver
Cicada Cinema
Debbi Ponella- Kids Compose Workshop and Performance
Early Music Associates, Inc.
Eclipse Productions Company
Erica Rubis- Shakespeare’s Ear
FAR Photo Review Group
Hideout Press
Huner Emin
Iris Rosa Dance Studio
Jessica MacLean- Inclusive Family Music Classes
Lauren Weatherall- Backyard Summer Concert Series
Monroe County Historical Society, Inc.- Streetdance Rewind: A Celebration of Bloomington Punk Music
Music Industry Creatives, Inc.- Burning Couch Music Festival
Musical Arts Youth Organization
Off Night Productions
Rachel Kavathe- Art and Nature Zine for Bloomington's Children
Rebecca Woodward- Figure Drawing/ Painting for Teens and Adults
Redbud Books
Resilience Productions
Roses Midwest Art Gallery
Stafford C. Berry, Jr.- Bloomington High Schools Africanist Dance Performance Project
Urban Deer
WFHB Community Radio, INC
WonderLab Museum - Science of Art: Limestone Carving
Writers Guild at Bloomington, Inc.
2024 BAC Arts Operations Grant Recipients
Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington
Bloomington Bach Cantata Project
Bloomington Chamber Singers
Bloomington Creative Glass Center
Bloomington Poetry Slam
Early Music Associates, Inc. dba Bloomington Early Music
Eclipse Productions Company
Fourth Street Festival of Arts and Crafts
Girls Rock Bloomington
Indiana Limestone Symposium
Lotus Education & Arts Foundation
Reimagining Opera For Kids
Southern Indiana Youth Symphony Inc. (DBA: Bridges Musical Arts Youth Organization)
Stages Bloomington Company
USA International Harp Competition, Inc
Windfall Dancers Inc.
Writing for a Change Foundation of Bloomington, Inc
2024 BAC Artist Advancement Grant Recipients
Allyn Boley
Alyson Alde
Andreea Alunei
April Ridge
Austin White
Benjamin Cartha Fowler
Bethany Habegger
Caleb Poer
Casey M-T Rogers- CMT Pottery
Chance Allen/RTR Tapes
Claire Pendreigh
Dan "Sully" Sullivan
Daniel Cueto
Elizabeth Elich
Essence London
Eve Elizabeth Swanson
Gabriel Peoples- DJ Good Peoples
Gail Fairfield
Gloria Manzanares Romero
Hannah Crane
Hannah Kish
janan alexandra
Jesse Kogge
Katherine Robertson- Kay Robertson
Katie Chapman
Kyle Quass
Leland Rene Grossman
Leni Wiegand
Lillian Frazer
Lisa Kwong
Malory Owen- Little Tiger Glassworks
Matthew Woods- The Kismet Magazine
Nicholas Graham Hall
Nick Romy
Robert Perry Vance- Cartunez
Rodney Margison
Sara Colvard
Steven M. Warnock
Sydny Bohuk- Peacock The Phoenix
Sylvester Makobi
Tom Pieciak- Sleeping Trees
Tony Brewer
yonatan shere- Yg Glassworks
Zachary Taylor
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