Due to the upcoming Heat Advisory and extreme heat, Cooling Stations around the county are being opened temporarily for residents who may need a place to cool down. As of right now, the Cooling Stations will be open Thursday, July 27th and Friday, July 28th, from 9am-8pm.
Bloomington Arts Commission announces recipients of the 2023 Arts Project Grant Cycle
The City of Bloomington Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 Arts Project Grant Cycle. Arts Project Grants are meant to help offset costs incurred by local artists and arts groups facilitating public-facing arts projects.
Each year the BAC facilitates three grant cycles, including cycles for Arts Projects, Operations, and Emerging Artists. More information regarding the 2023 grant cycles is available at bloomington.in.gov/arts/grants. Arts Commission grants are funded by the Economic and Sustainable Development Department’s General and Local Income Tax budget, as well as funds from the Bloomington Urban Economic Association.
The Commission received 67 exceptional applications for the 2023 Arts Project Grant cycle – a record number, nearly double the applications it has received for this cycle in the past. All proposed projects were evaluated based on their level of artistic quality, community impact, and organizational capacity. The following artists and arts groups received funding for their projects:
- WFHB Community Radio – WFHB Local Live Remote Broadcast Series
- Reimagining Opera for Kids – Reimagining Opera for Kids presents Rufus and Rita!
- Backspace Gallery – Immersive Experiential Art exhibit
- Sobremesa Farm, LLC – Mural Design, Fabrication and Installation at Sobremesa Farm
- Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates – Uplifting our Children
- Indiana University Arts & Humanities Council – Indiana University Prison Arts Initiative
- Bloomington North Choirs – Commission for Bloomington North Treble Chorus
- Monroe County History Center – Connecting to Our Letterpress History
- Roses Midwest Art Gallery – Art Programming
- Bloomington Buffy – Bloomington Buffy Prom: Anti-Valentine’s Day Cover Show & Fundraiser for Reproductive Justice
- Bruna Kalil Othero – The Porn President or a Tropical Odyssey: a short film
- Kyle Quass – Bloomington Improvised Music and Film Series
- Rebecca Woodward Art Education, LLC – Open Figure Drawing Sessions for the Community
- FAR Photo Review Group – FAR Photo Review Group Exhibition 2023
- Paint Bloomington – 2023 Paint Bloomington Event
- Cicada Cinema – Film Series Programming
- PDVNCH – ‘D’OPEN-MIC
- Pictura Gallery – Pictura Kids Workshop Series and Youth Art Month Exhibition
- The People’s Market – Dyeing with Local Plants Kids Workshop
- Orbit Room – Mural on Parklet on College Ave
- Lotus Education & Arts Foundation – 30th Annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival
- Sounds Of Indiana – Everyone In Harmony
- Writers Guild at Bloomington – Writers Guild Spoken Word Events
- Indiana Recovery Alliance – “Ending Overdose Together: Harm Reduction in Our Community” Film Series – an IU Cinema Creative Collaboration with Indiana Recovery Alliance
- Alchymy Viols – Deep River: American Spirituals My Mother Taught Me performed by Michael Walker and Alchymy Viols
- The Saint John of Damascus Society – Heaven and Earth: A Song of Creation
- Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble – Chamber Music Coaching
- Jamey Guzman – Open Heart Surgery: A New Chamber Opera
- Buskirk-Chumley Theater – BCT Summer Family Film Fest
- JCP Designs – Pretrial Justice: Reforming Our Pretrial System
- Urban Deer Recording Co. – Urban Deer Performance Series
- Kid Kazooey – Band Practice with Kid Kazooey
- Bloomington Early Music – BEMI: Bloomington Early Music Immersion
- Bloomington Symphony Orchestra – Celebrate the Season: Make Your Holidays Sparkle with the BSO!
- Visit Bloomington – Switchyard Park Thursday Night Summer Music Series
Grants and Scholarships are Available for Businesses and Residents in the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Zone
The Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) is pleased to announce the availability of three grant programs to support small business owners in the Enterprise Zone, as well as one scholarship program to support residents. The Small Business Safety & Security Grant, the Business Building Improvement Grant, and the Accessibility Modification Grant collectively offer $55,000 in funds to enhance safety, security, and accessibility in the community.
The Small Business Safety & Security Grant aims to improve overall safety and security of businesses, through a total annual budget of $20,000. The Business Building Improvement Grant provides funds to small businesses to enhance the physical condition of their building, through a total annual budget of $20,000.
The Accessibility Modification Grant provides $15,000 annually for the purpose of bringing businesses into compliance with ADA standards.
The Economic Independence Scholarship offers residents the opportunity to attend post-secondary classes, such as college, trade school, or other special training, to enhance their skills as valuable workforce members. The BUEA will cover two courses, including textbooks, or up to $750.00 per semester, whichever is less, up to a lifetime maximum of $1,500.00 in educational assistance. The second submission window is open now until September 1, 2023.
For more information about grant and scholarship requirements and to submit an application, please visit the BUEA website at bloomington.in.gov/business/buea/business.
This Week in Hoosier History
1805 – The first General Assembly of the Indiana Territory met in the territorial capital of Vincennes. The session went through August 26.
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