Downtown is a haven for Bloomington's arts and culture scene.
While arts and culture venues are smattered across Bloomington, a high concentration of them lie in our downtown district. You'll find live music performances nearly every night of the year, weekly stand-up comedy acts, public art painting the streets in vibrant colors, theater and dance performances from local & nationally-touring groups, galleries filled with art by local, regional, and national artists, and much more. No matter what you seek out or simply stumble upon, Bloomington is an artistic and cultural treat for both visitors & locals to experience and enjoy.
Beer bar and live music venue. Located in the alley below The Back Door. On-going weekly events include Honky Tonk Tuesday, jazz night on Wednesday, or pint night on Thursday. Check the Facebook page for upcoming shows. Learn more
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Spanish mission revival silent movie house is one of the busiest community theaters in the country. As a high-quality performance venue and community resource, the BCT hosts a year-round program of music, theatre, dance, film, and community... Learn more
Located inside Fountain Square Mall on the south side of the downtown square, By Hand Gallery is a fine crafts cooperative that's been a Bloomington staple for more than 40 years. Showcasing the work of more than 70 local, regional and national artists, By Hand Gallery features a wide variety of... Learn more
The Comedy Attic, Bloomington's first and only full-time comedy club, is located on the corner of 4th and Walnut Streets. Since 2008, The Comedy Attic has become one of the most respected clubs in the country, and is routinely named on Top 10 Lists, namely USA Today in 2014. Many comedians cite... Learn more
Providing an accessible gallery space for local and regional artists of various medium types in rotating exhibits. The gallery is located on the southern part of downtown Bloomington, just off the B-Line Trail. It is part of Artisan Alley, a cooperative arts group. Learn more
Mary Ellen and Ed Farmer left their historic 1869 residence and its contents to the Bloomington community in 1999, to be used to promote historic preservation and cultural memory. The collection is varied and unique, with items from the nineteenth & twentieth centuries including clothing,... Learn more
The historic Fountain Square is a multi-purpose center that offers a vibrant collection of unique-to-Bloomington boutiques, galleries, and experience-based activities. Establishments include Andrew Davis... Learn more
Located inside Fountain Square Mall, GallerySCG is within easy walking distance of the Monroe Convention Center and downtown lodging. Visit GallerySCG and be transformed by traditional to contemporary photography and other types of art. Featuring the work of local artists, like Bloomington native... Learn more
Mark your calendar for the First Friday of every month when 14 downtown galleries, conveniently located within walking distance of one another, stay open from 5pm-8pm for Gallery Walk Bloomington. For information on this year's dates, participating galleries, and downloadable maps visit ... Learn more
The Monroe Convention Center is also home to an exceptional permanent display of varied artwork by local artists. You'll find amazing works in a variety of media, including oil and acrylic paintings, ceramic tile, sculpture and even carvings of locally quarried Indiana Limestone. Bloomington... Learn more
The Monroe County History Center strives to collect, interpret, and present the genealogy, history, and artifacts of Monroe County in order to best depict the heritage & culture of the community. The museum is located in a historical building that was previously a Carnegie Library, and before... Learn more
Established in 2008, Pictura Gallery is an institution that celebrates photography in its many iterations. We present work that represents the state of the medium today, and we are dedicated to showing the art form as it evolves. Learn more
Rose Hill Cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent Bloomington citizens and offers several beautiful examples of the use of locally quarried Indiana limestone. Jazz aficionados often visit the gravesite of Hoagy Carmichael and leave pennies stuck into the grooves on top of the... Learn more
The Vault at Gallery Mortgage, or simply, "The Vault" is our dedicated gallery space to exhibit the works of only local artists. All proceeds support the artists and a local non-profit organization that provides housing support to at-risk local youth. The Vault hosts six shows a... Learn more
Located downtown on Grant Street, just south of Kirkwood Avenue, The Venue brings you original, award-winning oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings and limited edition prints from acclaimed local, regional, national and international artists. Also showcased is a wide array of uniquely crafted... Learn more
The Waldron Arts Center is home to two performing arts venues, as well as a visual arts gallery. The venue is housed under Constellation Stage & Screen, which is the result of a three-way merger... Learn more
Did you know that one of the Top 25 science centers in the country is located right here in Bloomington? The WonderLab Museum strives to provide kids with opportunities to learn about all things science-related through interactive exhibits and programs. They believe learning is at its most... Learn more
