Last chance to seek town art support

Time is ticking for students interested in proposing a show at the John Waldron Arts Center. \nThe Bloomington Area Arts Council will accept applications for shows for its 2005-2006 season until 5 p.m. today for the chance to produce just about any performing art spectacle one can think of in town.\nKaira Hogle, performance director for the BAAC, encouraged anyone with an idea and an artistic passion to fill out an application.\n"Unlike other theaters, we accept proposals for anything from theater to dance to live music to children's events with clowns or puppets," she said. "Our mission is to strengthen and support artists. One way we do that is to work collaboratively with them to present their artistic ideas." \nLast year, the council received 25 applications and approved 18 of them. Those numbers could be a little higher this year, but Hogle said it's too early to know for sure.\n"It's human nature to usually wait until the last day for these types of things," she said. "We've grown significantly since I've been here, so we'll see what we get."\nOnce the applications are received, a committee of board and community members will review all the proposals. Hogle said they will choose based on the strongest applications but also with an eye for scheduling a calendar with diversity and variety in the performances.\nFor those that are selected, the council assists with administrative tasks, marketing, finding underwriting and some of the behind-the-scenes responsibilities. When the curtain is drawn, however, the groups or individuals making the proposals have complete control.\n"We stay out of the artistic side," Hogle said. "They're completely in charge of the artistic side. If they want assistance, we will assist, but only per request."\nMark Bisesi, president of the Bloomington Classical Guitar Society, said he has worked with his organization to propose and put on concerts through the council each of the last three years. \n"I think it's been great," he said of the collaboration. "It's exposure we wouldn't get otherwise. They're skilled in marketing and fund raising. As a small society, we wouldn't have the resources to do it (otherwise)."\nThis year, Bisesi's group is proposing at least two concerts: "Espen Jensen and Friends," a Jan. 28 concert featuring an IU doctoral student and another performance set for Nov. 12 by Goran Krivokapic, the winner of a competition by the Guitar Foundation of America. \n"(It's) been an incredible resource for community artists of all kinds," Bisesi said. "I really appreciate what they're doing; it's great work for the community."\nProposing and producing a show might mean a lot of work, but Hogle said students are still more than welcome to take part.\n"It's a great way for student artists or groups to get exposure they might not get at IU," Hogle said. "It's more practical experience to learn how to put on a show with marketing concerns, rehearsals and things like that. It's a real hands-on experience that students can obtain outside of IU." \nApplications for proposals are available at the Bloomington Area Arts Council's Web site, www.artlives.org/series.html.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Gavin Lesnick at glesnick@indiana.edu.