Summer is a time when Bloomington's Indiana University campus becomes more than just a university. It is the home of the IU Writers' Conference, an Audobon Institute gathering, Mini University, and a wide array of other summer camps and workshops. This year, visitors to Bloomington and residents alike will bring in the warmer months with Bloomington's first ever Summer Festival of the Arts.
113 Days of Art, as it's otherwise known, is sponsored by Indiana University Bloomington and includes events in music, theater, film and visual art.
Selected Upcoming Events
- At the IU Auditorium, there will be a performance by violinist Joshua Bell with the Festival Orchestra, conducted by Michael Stern, July 1 at 8 p.m.
- The IU Cinema screens Werner Herzog's 2010 3D documentary film, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, June 2 at 7 p.m.
- The Lilly Library hosts a concert featuring 17th-century English song, Pastoral Dialogues: Amorous Duets from Midâ17th Century England, on May 21 at 1 p.m.
- At the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, the exhibit Blended Harmonies: Music and Religion in Nepal explores the interconnectedness of Nepalese music and spirituality.
- The Kinsey Institute's 2011 Juried Art Show will be shown at the SoFA Gallery, with an opening reception Friday, May 20, from 6 - 8 p.m.
- A production of The Music Man will be staged June 23 - July 9 at the Ruth N. Halls Theater.
A Positive Impact On Economy And Residents Alike
Julie Warren is the Director of Tourism at the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau. She describes some of what visitors to Bloomington this summer have to look forward to:
There are numerous opportunities to see live theater, with student and professional staff, and hundreds of musical performances that'll be taking place through the Jacobs School of Music. There are also some art gallery presentations, and IU Cinema is going to be showing a couple of films earlier in the summer. So there are just tons of opportunities to explore.
She says the Summer Arts Festival could create a real positive impact on Bloomington's economy, in part because during the summer the audience for such events is different than during the school year. Alumni come back to visit, and some college freshmen of 2012 have just arrived.
I think it's actually going to be a great introduction for all of the incoming freshmen and new students. There's probably a perception for people who are coming from the east coast or maybe some bigger cities that they're going to be in the midwest in some cornfield and there's not a lot of culture here. I think this is going to blow that perception out of the water.
While some may think that Bloomington slows down during the summer, in fact the rich variety of events at 113 Days of Art is a treasure for Bloomington residents who stick around.
For More Information...
- For more information about 113 Days of Art, visit the festival's Web site.
- Read the press release here.
- Visit the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau.