~ The City of Bloomington has recently announced the recipients of their Arts Project Grants, totaling $76,000. These grants have been awarded to a diverse group of artists, arts organizations, and community groups who will use the funding to produce public arts programming that will enrich the cultural scene in Bloomington.

The 2026 Arts Project grant cycle received a large number of proposals, showcasing the dynamic and artistic spirit of Bloomington. The selected projects aim to celebrate and support local artists while providing more opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the arts. The grant amounts range up to $3,000, with most recipients receiving partial funding.

Among the projects awarded are the 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration presented by the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts, Redbud Book's community play reading series featuring local playwrights, and Babel Theatre's "Urban Circles" participatory and storytelling performance and workshop series. Other projects include the creation and public presentation of new music by Tortilla Jackson, a Latin soul ensemble led by artist Nicholas Najera; We're Crankie Fest - a community scroll art festival by artist group We're Crankie; and CHAKCHAK Languages and Cultures Foundation's Volga-Finno-Ugric cultural performance series.

More on TelAve News

• CCHR: DOJ Takedown Exposes Over $220 Million Defrauded in Behavioral Mental Health Fraud Schemes
• Lady Liberty Is Coming Home: Historic WWII A-26 Invader Begins Her Final Journey to the Tulsa Air & Space Museum
• The Lashe Announces Limited-Time Sale on Professional Premade Fan Lash Extension Trays
• PropAccount.com Adds Prediction Markets to Its Multi-Asset Prop Firm Platform
• Rising star Hip-Hop and R&B Force Della Drops Highly Anticipated New Single, "Throw It"

The production of live music performance series "Road Trips" by artist Joan Hawkins was also awarded a grant. Of the total amount awarded, $31,000 was provided by the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association while the remaining funds came from the City's 2026 General Fund. All proposed projects were evaluated based on their level of artistic quality, community impact, and organizational capacity.

Nada Abdelrahim, Chair of the Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC), expressed appreciation for the engagement of the Bloomington community throughout the grant cycle. She stated that they were inspired by the creative ideas and connections that emerged during this process. Abdelrahim also emphasized how important the arts are to the city and its community, and how the BAC is dedicated to supporting both new and ongoing projects to keep Bloomington thriving.

The 2026 BAC Arts Project Grant recipients include a diverse group of individuals and organizations such as Artists for Climate Awareness, Blockhouse Bar LLC, Bloomington Chamber Singers INC, Hoosier Jazz Inc., Indiana Heritage Quilt Show, Jewish Theatre Bloomington Inc, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Sculpture Trails Inc., Southern Indiana Wind Ensemble, and Writers Guild at Bloomington Inc.

More on TelAve News

• UK Financial Ltd. Opens Test-Phase Maya 3 Liquidity Pool on Uniswap with DEX Screener Visibility for Market-Smoothing Ahead of CATEX Exchange Launch
• Wagga Trucks set to expand to the Canberra Region as authorised dealer for Volvo, UD & Mack along with Freighter Group Trailers
• June Employment Report Reveals Hidden Weakness Beneath Lower Unemployment
• Phinge Home Of Netverse, Is Actively Investigating The "Model Context Protocol" (MCP) For Infringement Of Its IP From Its June, 2021 Priority Dates
• Kasinohai Audit: Most Slots Could Be Affected by Finland's Draft Gambling Rules

The BAC will be hosting two more grant cycles in 2026. The Artistic Advancement Cycle is currently open until August 10th and provides funds to support the professional career advancement of artists living and working in Bloomington. The Operations Cycle will be open from August 17th to September 24th and provides funds to support operational costs for 501(c)3 organizations with arts-centered missions and Bloomington-based impact. More information about both grant cycles can be found on the City of Bloomington's website.

The City of Bloomington continues to show its commitment to supporting the arts through these grants. With a vibrant cultural scene already in place, these projects will only add to the city's artistic spirit and provide more opportunities for residents and visitors alike to experience the arts.

---

Show All News | Disclaimer | Report Violation