In a display of cultural muscle, Bloomington, MN, along with its Twin City neighbors, has flexed its artistic vibrancy to secure a spot among the country's top arts hubs. According to a recent announcement, the area comprising Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington has been ranked sixth in the nation for its arts vibrancy, as per the SMU DataArts' National Center for Arts Research report.
Not one to shy away from the limelight, this isn't the first time the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington trio has shown up on the radar, with a consistent presence on the Arts Vibrancy Index since the beloved rankings took flight in 2015, this year, they've grabbed the sixth spot out of the 20 most arts-vibrant large communities throwing a spotlight on yet another Midwestern hidden gem. "The arts have an important role in Bloomington, and have a positive economic, social, and cultural impact on the community," Alejandra Pelinka, Bloomington's Creative Placemaking Director, stated in a release coming from the city's digital mouthpiece.
It's not just about the rightful bragging rights for Bloomington, but it's also about celebrating the numerous arts and cultural organizations, and the artists and culture bearers who Pelinka claims "contribute to the vibrancy of Bloomington." These cultural architects have been instrumental in weaving an art tapestry that's not only rich in texture but also leaves a lasting impact on the economic and social fabric of the region.
This artistic kudos for Bloomington mirrors a growing trend where smaller cities are stepping up to the cultural plate, swinging hard, and often connecting, to show they can compete with their coastal cousins in the art stakes; while the hustle and bustle of larger metropolises typically draw the big headlines, it's becoming increasingly clear that the magnetic pull of the arts knows no geographical bounds. According to the data, the vibrancy index looks at factors like the number of artists in the community, the dollars flowing through the arts economy, and the reach of arts organizations to the community which could tell us a lot about where we're heading culture-wise.
