2026 Bloomington Parks and Recreation Performing Arts Series Application

2026 Performing Arts Series Application

The 2026 Performing Arts Series Application deadline is

Friday, January 9, 2026.

Please read through the application in full before submitting your application.
Thank you for your interest in the Bloomington Parks and Recreation 2026 Performing Arts Series. Musicians from Bloomington and the surrounding region are sought for concerts held annually in the City of Bloomington, Indiana, parks. To apply for our 2026 Performing Arts Series, please fill out the form below.

______________________________________

Program Information:

The Performing Art Series is presented by the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department with the help of generous local businesses who sponsor bringing live, local music to our parks every summer. Performances take place at several venues throughout the City of Bloomington's park system.

Venues:
- Bryan Park, 1001 S. Henderson St., is home to the Sunday Concert Series that takes place from 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. These concerts take place on the Bloomington Parks and Recreation's "Showmobile" mobile stage. These concerts are paid at varying rates and are negotiated between the Event Coordinator and the performers.
- Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park, 331 S. Washington St. We are excited to bring concerts back to this park after a scheduled break for construction and improvements to the park. These concerts are paid at varying rates and are negotiated between the Event Coordinator and the performers.
- Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St. Switchyard Park features the Pavilion Lawn, where we bring in our "Showmobile" mobile stage for our 'Happy Hours on the Lawn'. These events are sometimes held in conjunction with 'Food Truck Fridays', which is hosted by The Chocolate Moose. These concerts are paid at varying rates and are negotiated between the Event Coordinator and the performers.
- Hopewell Commons, 630 S. Morton St., a platform performance space located in the new Hopewell neighborhood. Bands will receive a set rate of $300 per performance for these concerts.
The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department will also use these applications to book for other events that take place throughout the calendar year, such as the Holiday Market (held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving annually) and Bloomington Pumpkin Launch (held on the Saturday before Halloween annually).

Sound Engineering:

The City of Bloomington employs a sound engineer to provide a complete sound system and technical assistance during each concert. Staff will connect you with the sound engineer to review stage plots and equipment information before the event date.

Contract & Payment Details:

Upon selection, the band will need to submit a City of Bloomington Vendor Form, which includes a W9 Form and a voided check. An official City contract will be developed and must be signed before the band is booked. The City will provide payment in full for the band's performance via electronic funds transfer to the bank account provided on the vendor form at the end of the performance, as outlined in the contract. These payments may take two to three weeks to be received.

Selection Criteria May Include:
- Fees (limited sponsorship funding available)
- Quality of music
- Fit for the event and audience (family- friendly and "upbeat/danceable"; we aim to have a mix of genres for a balanced concert series)
- Proximity of band to Bloomington, Indiana
- Band reference feedback
Application Consideration Timeline:

January 9, 2026: Deadline for applications*
Late January- February 2025: Booking of performers
March 28, 2025: Performance agreements due

*Only applications returned by the deadline will receive full consideration for booking.
Jury Process:

Performing Arts Series performers will be selected by a jury consisting of members of the local community that have a vested interest in the arts. An example jury typically includes one member of the City of Bloomington Arts Commission, at least one local performer who has not applied for the Performing Arts Series during that calendar year, and one City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation staff member.

Artist Information
Performance Type*

MusicDanceTheatrical PerformanceOther
Name of Artist of Group*
Main Contact Person *

First NameLast Name
E-mail*
Will receive follow-up information and be contacted about booking.
Phone Number*
Best phone number to contact you at.
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry
Performer/Artist Webpage
If you have one
Description of Performance (Marketing Description):*

(1 – 4 words used for promotions ex: Acoustic Folk)0/6
Price of Performance:*
What is the all-inclusive fee for your band to play a 75 to 90-minute set?
Check all venues for which you would like to be considered. Please note the amount of honorarium provided for each.

Bryan Park Concert Series on Bloomington Parks & Rec. Mobile Stage (payment varies)Switchyard Park Pavilion Lawn on Bloomington Parks & Rec. Mobile Stage (payment varies)Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park (payment varies)Hopewell Commons (payment varies)Other Bloomington Parks and Recreation Events (payment varies by event)
Please list two performances that you have been booked for and have taken place in the last three years. You can also include a link to any videos from these performances if you have them.

Please include date, location, duration and estimated attendance at the performance.
Performance #1
Performance #2
Please list a reference who is familiar with bands and preferably has booked you previously.

Include name, phone number, email address, and relationship.
Reference #1

Artist Audio/Video Submission
Please provide links to audio or video of at least 2 pieces of your music or videos of past performances. We do prefer a clip of a live performance to give us a sense of what your band sounds like live. If not available online, please email MP3s or send a CD to the contact information below.

Crystal Ritter, Community Events Coordinator

ritterc@bloomington.in.gov

Attn: Crystal Ritter
City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department
401 N. Morton St., Suite 250
Bloomington, IN 47404
Performance Example #1

Cancelof
Or a Video Link:
Performance Example #2

Cancelof
Or a Video Link:
Performance Example #3

Cancelof
Or a Video Link:
After submission of your application, an automated email will be sent to the email provided on this form. Please print this confirmation email for your reference.

We had over 100 bands apply last year so thank you for your patience as staff and volunteers go through the selection process! We will reach out if we have additional questions.
Should be Empty:

2026 Performing Arts Series Application

The 2026 Performing Arts Series Application deadline is

Friday, January 9, 2026.

Please read through the application in full before submitting your application.

Artist Information

Please list two performances that you have been booked for and have taken place in the last three years. You can also include a link to any videos from these performances if you have them.

Please list a reference who is familiar with bands and preferably has booked you previously.

Artist Audio/Video Submission

After submission of your application, an automated email will be sent to the email provided on this form. Please print this confirmation email for your reference.