CONNECTING ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY
Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington
The Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington (AAGB) is a hub for communication for the many individual artists and arts organizations of all genres in our community. We do so through our online Arts Directory connecting artists with each other, the community, and to patrons. We also manage an Arts Center with a gallery, gift shop and an intimate performance or educational space (the Flex Space) located at College Mall.
Mission
The Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington strives to strengthen and sustain the arts by connecting artists, cultural organization, and artistic endeavors with patrons and the community.
Vision
A successful and thriving arts community.
History
The Arts Alliance Greater Bloomington was formed in August 2010 by a large group of practicing artists and arts advocates. The Alliance was incorporated on October 11, 2011 as a not-for-profit entity. In January 2012, the membership elected its first official Steering Committee, representing all arts genres. IRS 501 (c) (3) status was conferred in August, 2014. The term “Board of Directors” was voted to replace the term “Steering Committee” in 2016. In August 2021, the Arts Alliance Center opened in College Mall with a Gallery and a Flex Space.
Structure
The Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington identifies six distinct arts groups within the arts community: visual arts, literary arts, music, dance, theatre/film, and gallery/venue/festival. Representatives for each group communicate their genre’s unique perspectives and concerns as members of the Board of Directors, which then set the Arts Alliance agenda. This insures that the interests of all arts genres are represented equally. The Alliance strives to be inclusive and representative of all artists and arts supporters in our community.
IN SERVICE OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY
2024 Board of Directors
Here are the board members of the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington. We have representatives from Music, Visual Arts, Dance, Theatre, Venues & Producers, Arts Advocate, and Seat at Large. If you are an artist with a request or proposal, find your representative and contact us.
You can find which genre the board members represent under their profile pictures.
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Henry Leck
PRESIDENT
MUSICProfessor Emeritus – Butler University. Choral Music Founder - Indianapolis Children’s Choir. Website: henryleck.com
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Tom Duffy
VICE PRESIDENT
ARTS ADVOCATEFine art & documentary photographer. Emeritus Professor IU School of Education, Learning Sciences, & Cognitive Science.
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Sarah Asher
TREASURER & Arts Alliance Center Coordinator
ARTS ADVOCATEMBA with an emphasis in Finance & Bachelors in Business Management. Former Manager of By Hand Gallery.
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Donna Barbrick Carlton
SECRETARY
DANCEAdjunct faculty in the School of Public Health Physical Activity Instruction Program. Middle Eastern Dance & Hatha Yoga Instructor.
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Colleen Newbill
SEAT AT LARGE
Assistant City Attorney with the city of Bloomington.
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Danielle Bruce
THEATRE
Freelance designer, visual artist, & theatre designer. Board member of My Sister’s Closet & Middle Way House.
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Michael Squires
VENUES & PRODUCERS
M.A, M.P.A, PhD. Empirical Theory and Methodology.
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Valerie Gill
ARTS ADVOCATE
Associate Vice President Business Partnerships - IU
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Xinyuan Zhang
SEAT AT LARGE
UX and content designer with an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction and design from IU Bloomington. I built the Arts Alliance website.
Passionate about life.
xinyuanzhang.me -
Emily Waldo
WEBMASTER SEAT AT LARGE
B.A. in Media with a specialization in Creative Advertising from IU Bloomington. Website: emilywaldo.com
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Hiromi Yoshida
HEAD OF PROGRAMMING
LITERARY ARTSM.A. in English from Fordham University. Poet (3 chapbooks released, and 2 forthcoming). Faculty - Indiana Writers Center. Freelance writer and editor. Diversity consultant - Writers Guild at Bloomington. Amazon author page here.
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Lily Fishleder
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
SEAT AT LARGELSW Therapist, Certified Yoga Teacher, Chinese Adoptee, and musician.
New York City native. -
Carol Rhodes
HEAD OF MEMBERSHIP
VISUAL ARTS
Founder of Artists for Climate AwarenessWatercolorist 30+ years, teaching watercolor at Ivy Tech Center for Lifelong Learning and actively serving on the board of Bloomington Watercolor Society for nearly two decades. Founder, Artists for Climate Awareness.
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Kendall Reeves
VENUES & PRODUCERS
Owner - Spectrum Creative Group. Professional Photographer & Indiana Artisan. Member of Hoosier Artist Gallery in Nashville.
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Bob Appelman
SEAT AT LARGE
IU Professor Emeritus - Instructional Systems Technology
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Krista Detor
MUSIC
Singer-songwriter and pianist whose music has been featured on NPR[1] and with Mike Harding on the BBC. Website: kristadetor.com
WITH INSIGHTS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS
2023 Advisory Council
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Alain Baker
ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR
Founding Director - IU Jacobs School of Music’s Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development
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Miah Michaelson
Executive Director – Indiana Arts Commission
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Sally Gaskill
Director - Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP)
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Holly Waren
Assistant Director - IU Arts in the Economic & Sustainable Development Department
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Gabe Grogan
Managing Director - Cardinal Stage Company
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Jonah Crismore
Executive Director - Buskirk-Chumley
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Bob Arnove
Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus. Academic Programs: History, Philosophy, & Policy in Education; International & Comparative Education
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Brad Schiesser
Managing Director - Bloomington Playwrights Project
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David Young
Founder - Young and Laramore Advertising Agency. Sculptor
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Jaime Sweany
Owner - Juniper Art Gallery in Spencer, Indiana
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John Armstrong
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Pigasus Pictures
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Malcom Abrams
Editor & Publisher Bloom Magazine
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Babette Ballinger
Member Bloomington Arts Commission
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Patricia Cole
12-Year Member of Bloomington City Council. Authored 1% For Art Legislation. Painter & Community Activist
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Krista Detor
Singer-Songwriter & Pianist
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Tom Gallagher
Owner – Gallagher Properties
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Stafford Berry
Director - African American Dance Company. Professor of Practice, Theatre, Drama, & Contemporary Dance
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Dena Hawes
Teacher - New Genre, Sculpture & Contemporary Art. Multi-Media Artist
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Ursula Kuhar
Faculty Member - O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
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Denise Lessow
Owner - Limestone Collectibles. College Level Science & Math Educator/Tutor
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Martha Moore
Owner - Pictura Gallery at FAR Center for Contemporary Arts
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Mary Grogan
Founder & General Director - ÓperaMaya Foundation. Soprano
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