Bloomington Partnership Expands Artist Workspace and Arts Programming

~ Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington has announced a new partnership aimed at supporting the creative economy in south-central Indiana. The Uplands Regional Creative Economy Commons, anchored by a $3 million grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., will provide affordable artist studios, business development opportunities, and regional arts programming at Switchyard Park.

The $7 million initiative is a collaboration between the City of Bloomington, IU Research, Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Amplify Bloomington, Constellation Stage & Screen, Girls Rock Bloomington, Secretly Canadian, Eurton Opportunity Fund, and IU Innovates. The City of Bloomington has contributed both funding and services to help the project succeed.

One of the key components of the Commons is the creation of 12 affordable artist studios in the Showers Administration Building at 10th and Morton streets. This will provide working artists with a stable and accessible space to create. In addition to this, the City will also partner with Amplify Bloomington to offer creative entrepreneurship training for artists looking to turn their work into sustainable careers.

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Switchyard Park will also play a significant role in the initiative by hosting concerts, performances, markets and community arts events featuring creatives from across the Indiana Uplands. The City will provide in-kind support for these events including facility access, staffing and event services.

Mayor Kerry Thomson expressed her belief that this partnership model can serve as a framework for other communities in Indiana. "Bloomington's creative community is one of our greatest economic and cultural assets," she said. "This partnership is about making sure that artists and makers can afford to stay and build their futures here."

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten also emphasized the importance of investing in arts and culture for community enrichment and economic growth. "We're proud to partner with organizations across the Indiana Uplands to create opportunities for artists, entrepreneurs and creative professionals," she said.

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The READI 2.0 grant, awarded to IU Research, will run through December 2028 and is a part of a $1.25 billion state program investing in community-led projects that improve quality of life, place and opportunity across Indiana. The READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., has allocated $65 million statewide to advance regional creative economies.

The City of Bloomington's contributions to the Uplands Regional Creative Economy Commons include a 10,000-square-foot regional arts production facility at Switchyard Park and "Uplands Creatives," a digital platform connecting artists across the 11-county region with events, grants, and professional development opportunities.

For more information about the City of Bloomington's involvement in this project, interested parties can contact Paige Sharp at [insert contact information]. This partnership is expected to have a significant impact on the creative economy in south-central Indiana and serve as a model for future collaborations between civic government, higher education, private industry, and nonprofit arts organizations.

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