Conference Social Program
28 June 2023 (Wednesday)
Join us for a welcome reception at the Indiana University Gayle Karch Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities featuring a performance from Brad Leftwich and the Humdingers, a classic Americana (and Bloomington-based) band.
Following the reception, all conference participants are invited to an ACEI Open Mic Night at The Bishop Bar in Bloomington. Attendees can request instruments and sign up to perform via the ACEI Slack group. All are welcome to share and appreciate the talents of our ACEI Conference peers!
29 June 2023 (Thursday)
Late Thursday afternoon, we’ll travel as a group to Columbus, Indiana, a town known around the world for its collection of significant modern art and architecture where we’ll embark on an architectural tour. The evening will conclude with the Gala dinner at The Commons in Columbus and will feature Jacobs School of Music professor, Atanas Tzetkov, playing classical guitar. Dress code is conference attire (business casual).
30 June 2023 (Friday)
The Closing Ceremony will be held Friday afternoon followed by an optional group trip to the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington. (Scroll down to learn some fun facts about the TMBCC!)
About Bloomington
“There are two defining characteristics that have shaped this Indiana town and its people: the land and the university. The hills, forests, and lakes provide a sanctuary; one that is valued and protected. The limestone is quarried and milled by hard-working Hoosiers, and turned into beautiful buildings and sculptures throughout the area and the nation. Students and faculty from across the country and the world flock to Indiana University, bringing ideas and dreams to a community that embraces them all. It’s a place that nurtures artists and scientists, farmers and philosophers, athletes and musicians. It’s a community of aspirations and inspirations, a breeding ground for transformations. Welcome to Bloomington.” - Visit Bloomington
If you are passionate about film, check out some locations from the Academy Award winning film Breaking Away (1979) that was shot in Bloomington and features some of the area’s serene beauty.
In 2017, the romantic comedy, The Good Catholic, starred Zachary Spicer, Danny Glover, John C. McGinley, and Wren Schmidt. There are many local sites to check out from this production. The film was written by Indiana University alum, Paul Shoulberg (MFA ’07) and produced by Indiana University alum Zachary Spicer (BA ’06) and John Amstrong (BA ‘ 02 and MFA ’07).
Things to do in Bloomington
- WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology
- Check out the award-winning science museum in Bloomington. Children (and adults!) of all ages will enjoy the excitement of science through interactive exhibits and programs.
- Switchyard Park
- This 65-acre park includes a dog park, the B-Line bike and walking trail, skate park, picnic shelters, a spray pad, and playground.
- Go on a Friday and check out local food from Bloomington food trucks!
- While the kids play at the spray pad or playground, check out the Hoosier Line/North Star Arts installation at the spray pad!
- Monroe County Public Library
- In addition to books for all ages, the Monroe County Public Library (located in Downtown Bloomington) has spaces for children to play, explore, and learn! There are rooms for infants and toddlers to explore and play.
- Bowling on campus at Indiana Memorial Union
- Stay on IU campus and head to the bowling alley at the IMU. (Children bowl for free in June!) While you’re at the IMU, check out the bookstore or cool off with ice cream from The Chocolate Moose.
- Starlite Drive-In Theater (open Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- Enjoy a movie from your car at the Starlite Drive-In Theater!
- Vintage Phoenix Comic Books
- Comic fan? We’ve got you covered. Head to Vintage Phoenix Comic Books in downtown Bloomington.
- Putt Putt Golf
- Spend the day outside at Hoosier Putt Hole mini golf! Enjoy refreshing drinks and snacks while you hit the links.
- Monroe Lake
- The lake that has it all! Find boating, beaching, fishing, hiking, swimming, and more at Indiana’s largest land-bound body of water.
- Hiking at Griffy Lake
- Check out hiking, fishing, and boating opportunities at the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. (Note, there is no swimming at this lake!)
- Goat Farm Park
- A 31.5-acre nature park is home to a barn and silo and five-acre restored native prairie.
- Jackson Creek Trail runs along the eastern edge of the park.
- Switchyard Park
- You’ll find Switchyard Park appears in every category! It really has it all. Stroll through the B-line trail to enjoy the beautiful park scenery.
Drinks
- Cardinal Distillery Tours
- Take a tour of a local spirit distillery!
- Just thirsty? Skip the tour and have a drink and a bite at Cardinal Spirits.
- Oliver Winery
- Wine lover? Check out Oliver Winery. Spend your time strolling through their gardens, rest on the hillside picnic area, or just sipping wine!
- Tasting room hours:
- Monday-Thursday, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Friday-Saturday, 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sunday, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Dunkirk Library
- A unique Bloomington bar, Dunkirk Library, is a speak-easy style cocktail bar.
- The atmosphere is cozy and reservations are recommended.
- Blockhouse Bar
- Every Tuesday: Open Mic at 6:30 PM and Honky Tonk at 8:30 PM
- Every Wednesday: Call & Response Jazz at 7:30 PM
- Restaurant offerings on 4th street
- Home to a variety of international restaurants and walkable from IU (check out Sample Gates on your way!), 4th Street offers cuisines such as Burmese, Cajun, Greek, Indian, Korean, Thai, Tibetan, and Turkish.
- Food truck Fridays at Switchyard
- Held every Friday from April through October, grab a variety of locally made lunch or dinner (open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm) from Bloomington food trucks. at Switchyard Park
Theatre and Film
- Constellation Stage and Screen
- Housed in the Waldron Arts Center, Constellation provides opportunities for live theater, film production, and arts education!
- Established in 2022 as the result of a three-way merger between Bloomington Playwright’s Project, Cardinal Stage, and Pigasus Institute, Constellation is one of Bloomington’s newest art organizations.
- Cicada Cinema
- Cicada Cinema is a pop-up movie theater dedicated to providing high-quality screenings of underrepresented cinema.
- Buskirk Chumley Theater
- A performing arts center dedicated to bringing nationally-known artists to Bloomington. The theater presents films, music groups, comedians, and more.
- Backspace Gallery
- Located in the back of boutique gift shop, Bonne Fête, Backspace features exhibitions curated by and featuring local and Indiana-based artists.
- FAR
- A space for contemporary arts and creativity of all kinds, FAR brings together photographers, poets, sculptors, illustrators, musicians, painters, and dancers in a multi-use space.
- I Fell Gallery
- While you’re there, check out local businesses small businesses including Rainbow Bakery, Ardent Instruments, and Ledge Mule Press, housed inside the I Fell building.
- Monroe Convention Center
- Check out the permanent art collection at the Monroe Convention Center. Open for self-guided tours Monday-Saturday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Nina Chanel Abney mural on the West wall of the Graduate Hotel
- The Fourth street Garage 1% for the Art installation Urban Fabric by Adam Buente/Project One Studio
- One of the largest pieces of public art in Indiana!
- Trades District Garage 1% for the Art Installation Aurora Almanac by West Lafayette-based artist Esteban Garcia Bravo
- Hoosier Line/North Star Arts installation at the spray pad at Switchyard Park
Arts and Culture on Campus
Indiana University is home to many arts and cultural departments, collections, museums including the Eskenazi Museum of Art, the Lilly Library (IU's principal rare books, manuscripts, and special collections library), Archives of Traditional Music (ATM), the Jacobs School of Music, the University Collections at McCalla (housed in a newly renovated gallery space!) and more.
Ways to Explore Indianapolis
Indy Attraction Pass
- See it all in Indy with the Visit Indy Attraction Pass, your mobile passport for admission to the top Circle City cultural institutions. Select either a 24-hour or 72-hour window to gain entrance to eight museums in the city, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the world’s largest children’s museum, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Engage with Indy’s Cultural Scene
- For an unmatched itinerary for all things the Circle City, explore Visit Indy’s cultural trip ideas. From top rated restaurants to new museum exhibits, there is always something happening in Indy to excite the Cultural Connoisseur.
Experience the Top Tens (Top ten lists by theme)
- Make the most of your time in Indiana by taking Visit Indy’s suggestions for the Top Ten ways to experience the city. From Top Ten Outdoor Spaces to Top Ten Shopping Destinations, Visit Indy has the top recommendations for you to find your pace in Indianapolis.
Do Indy Like a Local
- Cities are defined by the people and places that make them unique. In Indy, your ears will perk up as you discover music spilling out of intimate clubs and large venues. From theatres to galleries to street murals, the arts are alive. Do Indy like a local with these helpful guides.
Learn more about the TMBCC
Optional field trip offered 30 June 2023 (on Friday)
After the Closing Ceremony on 30 June 2023, a group will embark on an optional field trip to visit to the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington. Click through the slide show to learn fun facts about the center.
