With the holiday season upon us, it’s also time for membership renewals! Take advantage of our special seasonal offer: sign up or renew your membership now, and it will be active through the end of 2025.

And don’t forget—our annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair is just around the corner, running from the end of November through December. It’s the perfect place to shop for unique, handmade gifts—or even to showcase your own work as a vendor. We’d love to see you there for all the seasonal fun and creativity!

Upcoming Events with the Arts Alliance

Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival – Flex Space

Save the date! The Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington’s annual Holiday Craft Fair is just around the corner, bringing holiday festivity to every weekend from Thanksgiving through December. Join us at the Arts Alliance Center to explore one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts perfect for the your loved ones. There’s no better place to find unique treasures for family and friends, all created by local artists.

Event Dates:

• Thanksgiving Weekend: November 29 – December 1
• December 7 – December 8
• December 14 – December 15
• December 21 – December 22

Booth Fees:

• Thanksgiving Weekend: $65 for AAGB Members | $75 for Non-Members
• Saturday/Sunday: $50 for AAGB Members | $60 for Non-Members

Whether you’re looking for a special gift or simply enjoying the holiday spirit, the Holiday Craft Fair offers an amazing experience filled with creativity and community . The deadline to apply as a vendor has been extended to Wednesday, November 20, so there’s still time to join in the holiday magic! Vendors can apply for one or multiple weekends.

For more information or to apply, email Sarah Asher at aac@bloomingtonarts.org or click here. Celebrate the season with us and support the arts in our community!

Arts Alliance Center Artist: Katya Alexeeva

Today, Katya actively contributes to the local arts community as a member of IPAPA and as the show organizer for the Upland Plain Air group. Her dedication to arts education is evident in her commitment to teaching, offering free art lessons for children and adults at St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church in Greenwood, Indiana, on Sundays. She also provides personalized instruction in academic drawing, watercolor, and oil painting both online and in-person, sharing her expertise with aspiring artists. With four awards and nearly a dozen exhibitions in recent years, Katya’s work continues to enrich and inspire the Bloomington arts scene.

RECENT EVENTS

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Death Becomes Her | Q+

Thurs Nov 7th, 7:00-8:30pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• Brimming with biting satire, black comedy, and ahead-of-their-time special effects, this camp classic follows two longtime frenemies—fading actress Madeline (Meryl Streep) and writer Helen (Goldie Hawn)—as they fight over a token husband (Bruce Willis), a tonic that provides immortal life and beauty, and most importantly, each other’s egos. [104 min; comedy; English]

A Taste of Ireland

Fri Nov 8th, 7:30-9:30 (EDT)

Buskirk-Chumley Theater

• Hot off its Off-Broadway premiere, ‘A Taste of Ireland―The Irish Music & Dance Sensation’ hits stages across the USA this fall, performing the show that has entertained thousands around the globe. Laugh, cry and jig into the night with a production that is Celtic, for this generation.

The Power of Words

Sat Nov 9th, 7:00-8:30pm (EDT)

Buskirk-Chumley Theater

• Join us for an inspiring program dedicated to amplifying authentic voices and celebrating the richness of diversity in literature, featuring acclaimed authors Ashley Hope Pérez, author of Out of Darkness, and Jacinda Townsend, author of Mother Country, in conversation with Yael Ksander as they explore the transformative power of storytelling.

The Great Indian Kitchen w/ Q&A | More Than Masala

Sun Nov 12th, 7:00-9:00pm (EDT)

IU Cinema

• This 2021 Malayalam film portrays the journey of a newlywed woman who struggles to conform to the traditional and patriarchal expectations of her in-laws and new husband in a traditional middle-class household. Initially, she tries to adapt to the monotonous and demanding routine of cooking, cleaning, and other domestic duties. However, her frustration continues to grow and she moves toward rebellion, highlighting issues of gender inequality and the stifling nature of domesticity in a patriarchal society. [100 min; comedy, drama; Malayalam with English subtitles]

Acoustic Afternoon at Juniper Art Gallery w/ Pat Otto

Wed Nov 13th, 4:30-6:00pm (EDT)

Juniper Art Gallery

• Juniper Art Gallery is thrilled to welcome back multi-instrumentalist, and singer/songwriter Pat Otto to our Janiece Jaffe Legacy Stage for November’s 2nd Wednesday Acoustic Afternoon on Nov 13th from 4:30-6:00pm. Pat will play both covers and originals on guitar and mandolin. His shows are always entertaining and enjoyable, and we have food & beverage available through our cafe. Come out for a wonderful afternoon of music and art, and some new arrivals in the shop!

Andrew Marlin Stringband

Thurs Nov 14th, 7:30-9:30pm (EDT)

FAR Center for Contemporary Arts

• Andrew Marlin is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chapel Hill, NC. His latest solo record, Phthalo Blue, is out now! The album features all original music by Andrew, recorded around one mic at The Tractor Shed in Goodlettsville, TN. In addition to Marlin on mandolin, the music showcases a slew of frequent collaborators including Stephanie Coleman (fiddle), Allison de Groot (banjo), Clint Mullican (bass), Josh Oliver (guitar), and Nat Smith (cello) – engineered by Sean Sullivan. Will-call will be available for pick up at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office until 4pm on Thursday, 11/14. After that, will-call will be available for pick up at the venue the FAR Center for Contemporary Arts when doors open for the event. If not sold out, tickets will be available for purchase at the door of the venue. Cash and card will be accepted. Prices go up the day of the show.

Another Round’s Winter Concert

Fri Nov 15th, 8:00-9:30pm (EDT)

Buskirk-Chumley Theater

• Another Round is Indiana University’s premier all-male a cappella group. Established in 1996, Another Round has entertained audiences in Bloomington and beyond for over two decades. By pairing their rich harmonies with their signature sense of humor, Another Round puts their audiences in the middle of a truly unique entertainment experience. Their chemistry and showmanship leave you with a feeling of hometown charm unique to the group’s beloved Bloomington, Indiana. Join us for a night of music you will not forget!

Blind Boys of Alabama

Sat Nov 16th, 7:30-10:00pm (EDT)

Buskirk-Chumley Theater

• The Blind Boys are known for crossing multiple musical boundaries with their remarkable interpretations of everything from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material by songwriters such as Eric Clapton, Prince, and Tom Waits. They have appeared on recordings with many artists, including Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Ben Harper, Patty Griffin, and Taj Mahal.

The Firehouse Follies: Keep Bloomington Weird!

Sun Nov 17th, 2:00-4:00pm (EDT)

Waldron Arts Center

• The Firehouse Follies is a worldwide showcase for the amazing talent we have in Bloomington and South Central Indiana. A live broadcast performance features audio theatre plays and comedy sketches by the Mighty Firehouse Art Players, music from Kid Kazooey and the Four-Alarm Orchestra, special musical guest Krista Detor, and poetry created by Indiana’s Literary Champion, Tony Brewer. The audience becomes part of the two-hour show at the Waldron Auditorium, starting at 2 p.m. November 17, so come and join us! Broadcast and streamed live over WFHB, 91.3 FM and www.wfhb.org

Sip & Sing

Tues Nov 19th, 7:30-8:30pm (EDT)

Davis Academy of Music

• Join us weekly on Tuesdays from 7:30 – 8:30 pm for a group adult music class focusing on singing, “Sip & Sing.” Taught by Emily Davis and other Davis Academy voice teachers, “Sip & Sing” is for students 21 and over, as one complimentary glass of wine will be provided for every participant.