In 2018, Indiana University’s Bloomington Campus established the new the Center for Rural Engagement (CRE), which works to connect campus resources with communities in Southcentral Indiana. Traditional Arts Indiana (TAI) works with the CRE to host exhibitions and community programs, and to develop resources based on the traditional arts of this region. Through support from the CRE, TAI is helping improve the lives of Hoosiers through community-based traditions and local knowledge.
TAI is working with public libraries in the Region to introduce (or reintroduce) music playing into the lives of older adults. Our first two programs collaborated with musician Kara Barnard to teach string music to seniors in both Greene County and Washington County.
In addition, TAI is working with the Brown County Art Gallery to bring an exhibition about Indiana traditions and to host a series of public programs to engage the community in identifying important cultural resources in their communities. TAI will also host this same series of services in Washington County.