The following is a press release written by Sebastian Cortes for The Americas Chamber Orchestra.
For the First Time in the Modern History of classic Performing Arts, and Thanks to the Bloomington Opera Camp™, ALL Stakeholders Will Decide What’s Broadcasted on Stage – Join the Movement on March 29, 2025!
BLOOMINGTON, IN – For centuries, opera, orchestra, and ballet experiences have been dictated by a select few behind closed doors—often out of touch with the communities they claim to serve. But a historic shift is underway. Bloomington Opera Camp™ (a Performing Arts Laboratory Production) is leading a radical transformation in the governance of the Performing Arts with its Pre-Production Meeting: Repertoire—a TOTALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY that gives the power of REAL decision-making directly to the full spectrum of stakeholders.
This free and open event will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 3:00 PM at the Monroe County Public Library – Southwest Branch, Room B, and all members of the community, students, and professionals are invited to participate.
A Pioneering Shift in Performing Arts Governance
This initiative, developed by the Performing Arts Laboratory (PAL) and backed by over 15 years of groundbreaking research pioneered by Maestro Diego Barbosa-Vásquez, challenges the traditional, top-down model of arts management that has led to alarming audience decline.
Did you know that only 0.7% of the U.S. population engages with opera today? That’s a staggering drop from 3.2% in 2012 and 2.2% in 2017, according to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
Why? Research from the Performing Arts Laboratory shows that performing arts institutions fail to engage with the communities they serve because of their Club Framing logics, making key artistic decisions in isolation, disconnected from real-world audiences.
The Solution? Bloomington Opera Camp™ is pioneering a new era of "Shared Governance" in the arts, positioning opera, orchestra, and ballet as cultural commons—owned and shaped by ALL Stakeholders, not just a privileged few.
"Framing the performing arts as Cultural Commons allows us to develop governance and accountability models that benefit all stakeholders, while also identifying and managing asymmetries that have long harmed the sustainability of the arts," says Maestro Barbosa-Vásquez, General Director of the Performing Arts Laboratory and creator of the Opera Camp™ model, and whose doctoral and post-doctoral research in Performing Arts Sustainability serves as the foundation for this initiative.
Be Part of History: Decide the Future of your Artistic Experience
At the Pre-Production Meeting: Repertoire, attendees will:
- Engage in the Artistic Decision-Making Process – influence in the selection of the key stories, values, and cultures to be featured in Bloomington Opera Camp’s upcoming productions.
- Shape the 2026 and 2027 Opera Seasons – Gain exclusive insight into the 2025 opera, El Imperio de la Luz(The Empire of Light, Peru), and directly influence the 2026 Mexican opera and the 2027 country selection.
-Participate in a groundbreaking, world-first artistic transformation. – Witness a new model of Performing Arts sustainability—one that has the power to reshape the entire industry.
Join the Movement: A Future Where the Arts Belong to Everyone
This initiative is more than just an event—it’s a call to action. With the Performing Arts Laboratory at the helm, Bloomington Opera Camp™ is setting the stage for a more sustainable, and inclusive future for the Performing Arts.
The Pre-Production Meeting is FREE AND OPEN TO ALL, but official allied institutions and registered participants of Bloomington Opera Camp™ 2025 will have secured participation privileges.
Want to guarantee your voice is heard? Secure your spot for this groundbreaking event and register for Bloomington Opera Camp™ (May 27–June 7, 2025) at:
https://www.performingartslab.com/oc/bloomington-in
FREE EVENT – Be Part of the Future of the Arts!
WHEN? Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 3:00 PM
WHERE? Monroe County Public Library – Southwest Branch, Room B (Bloomington, IN, USA)
WHO? Everyone! All levels, ages, and artistic backgrounds (or desires) welcome!
About the Bloomington Opera Camp™
The Bloomington Opera Camp™ (BOC) will take place from May 27th to June 7th, 2025, at Harmony School (Bloomington, IN, USA). Participants (of All Ages, Levels, and Arts) will engage in an immersive artistic journey that encompasses singing, acting, painting, stage design, instrumental performance, production, arts administration, and more—all working towards the creation of a fully staged opera production.
For its inaugural Bloomington season, the BOC will present "El Imperio de la Luz – The Empire of Light" an original opera inspired by Inca mythology and Peruvian culture, featuring a multilingual libretto in English, Spanish, and Quechua.
Register Today and Enjoy Special Introductory Discount: Early registration deadline is March 31st, 2025! Register now and secure a place in this groundbreaking artistic experience for everyone.
More Information & Registration: https://www.performingartslab.com/oc/bloomington-in
A Community-Driven Initiative
The Bloomington Opera Camp™ is produced by Bloomington Opera Camp LLC (an entity led as a benefit corporation) in collaboration with:
- Performing Arts Laboratory
- Harmony School
- FAR Center for Contemporary Arts & Pictura Gallery
- Reimagining Opera for Kids
- Barbosa-Vásquez Private Studio
- Society of Colombian Friends
- City of Bloomington’s Department of Economic and Sustainable Development (ESD)
- The Americas Chamber Orchestra
- And many more community partners!
