CONNECTING ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY

Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington

The Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington (AAGB) is an arts education and advocacy hub for communication for the many individual artists and arts organizations of all genres in our communities across South-Central Indiana. We do so through our online Arts Directory connecting artists with each other, the community, and to patrons. We also manage our Alliance Center with a gallery, gift shop and an intimate performance or educational space (FlexSpace) located at College Mall. And By Hand in Fountain Square.

View the AAGB Bylaws

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

The Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington envisions a safe and inclusive environment where artists feel empowered and supported in an evolving and engaged 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 Alliance Center opened in College Mall with a Gallery and FlexSpace. In February of 2025, the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington took over management of the historic By Hand gallery in downtown Bloomington.

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 ensures that the interests of arts genres are represented equally. The Alliance strives to be inclusive and representative of artists and arts supporters in our community and all across South-Central Indiana.

IN SERVICE OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY

2024 Board of Directors

Meet 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.

  • Henry Leck

    PRESIDENT
    MUSIC

    Professor Emeritus – Butler University. Choral Music Founder - Indianapolis Children’s Choir. Website: henryleck.com

    Email Me

  • Carol Rhodes

    VICE PRESIDENT
    VISUAL ARTS
    Founder of Artists for Climate Awareness

    Watercolorist 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.

    Contact me

  • Donna Barbrick Carlton

    SECRETARY
    DANCE

    Adjunct faculty in the School of Public Health Physical Activity Instruction Program. Middle Eastern Dance & Hatha Yoga Instructor.

    Email Me

  • Sarah Asher

    TREASURER & GALLERY MANAGER
    ARTS ADVOCATE

    MBA with an emphasis in Finance & Bachelors in Business Management. Manager of Alliance Center & By Hand Gallery.

    Email Me

  • Natalia Almanza

    SEAT AT LARGE

    IU Arts & Humanities Council Internal Programs and Operations Coordinator

    Email me

  • Bob Appelman

    SEAT AT LARGE

    IU Professor Emeritus - Instructional Systems Technology

    Email me

  • Danielle Bruce

    THEATRE

    Freelance designer, visual artist, & theatre designer. Board member of My Sister’s Closet & Middle Way House.

    Email Me

  • Tom Duffy

    ARTS ADVOCATE

    Fine art & documentary photographer. Emeritus Professor IU School of Education, Learning Sciences, & Cognitive Science.

    Email Me

  • Victoria Fields

    SEAT AT LARGE

    Founder and editorial director of local advertising agency Fields & Co. with a B.A. in Journalism from Indiana University and Masters in Counseling.

    Email me

  • Camryn Greer

    SEAT AT LARGE

    Lotus Foundation Partner Relations Manager

    Email me

  • Ryan Irvin

    VISUAL ARTS

    Founder of Outside Design. Outside is a graphic design studio specializing in bold and thoughtful brand identity and things.

    Email me

  • Charles Pearce

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & ARTS ADVOCATE

    Creative Director, Adjunct Professor, and Digital Artist. Background in commercial video production & post-production. Founder of the Bloomington Motion Artists Group.

    Email me

  • Emily Waldo

    WEBMASTER SEAT AT LARGE

    B.A. in Media with a specialization in Creative Advertising from IU Bloomington. Website: emilywaldo.com

    Email me

WITH INSIGHTS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS

2024 Advisory Council

  • Malcom Abrams

    Editor & Publisher Bloom Magazine

  • John Armstrong

    Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer of Pigasus Pictures

  • Bob Arnove

    Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus. Academic Programs: History, Philosophy, & Policy in Education; International & Comparative Education

  • Alain Barker

    ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR

    Founding Director - IU Jacobs School of Music’s Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development

  • Babette Ballinger

    Founder of Paint Bloomington American Knitworks, Bloomington, Indiana

  • Stafford Berry

    Director - African American Dance Company. Professor of Practice, Theatre, Drama, & Contemporary Dance

  • Kenneth Buzzard

    President - Bloomington Symphony Orchestra

  • Patricia Cole

    12-Year Member of Bloomington City Council. Authored 1% For Art Legislation. Painter & Community Activist

  • Pablo Fuentes

    Co-founder of Cosmic Songwriters Festival. Director at Buskirk-Chumley

  • Tom Gallagher

    Owner – Gallagher Properties

  • Sally Gaskill

    Director - Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP)

  • Gabe Gloden

    Managing Director - Cardinal Stage Company

  • Mary Grogan

    Founder & General Director - ÓperaMaya Foundation. Soprano

  • Dena Hawes

    Teacher - New Genre, Sculpture & Contemporary Art. Multi-Media Artist

  • Ursula Kuhar

    Faculty Member - O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

  • Denise Lessow

    Owner - Limestone Collectibles. College Level Science & Math Educator/Tutor

  • Mike McAffee

    Executive Diector - Visit Bloomington

  • Miah Michaelsen

    Executive Director – Indiana Arts Commission

  • Martha Moore

    Owner - Pictura Gallery at FAR Center for Contemporary Arts

  • Gerard Pannekoek

    Program and Operations Coordinator - IU Arts & Humanities Council. Chair - Bloomington Arts Commission

  • Brad Schiesser

    Manager of Leadership Giving - United Way

  • Irina Shishova

    Artist and Owner of Viridian Moon Gallery

  • Jaime Sweany

    Owner - Juniper Art Gallery in Spencer, Indiana

  • Steven Versaw

    Executive Director - Buskirk Chumley Theater

  • Holly Warren

    Assistant Director - IU Arts in the Economic & Sustainable Development Department

  • David Young

    Founder - Young and Laramore Advertising Agency. Sculptor

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