IAC: Bloomington arts council's low marks lead to suspension

By Andy Graham, Herald-Times

agraham@heraldt.com

Indiana Arts Commission executive director Lewis Ricci confirmed today that the Bloomington Area Arts Council is formally suspended as an IAC regional partner for at least the fiscal year that began July 1.

The suspension resulted from an IAC audit evaluating three areas - governance/management, programs/services and finances. The BAAC was found wanting in all three by the IAC commissioners.

"We had three independent folks do the reviews, people with no vested interests in the Bloomington area," Ricci said. "They did extensive reports in all three instances. They interviewed current and past BAAC employees, current and past BAAC board members, community artists and arts organization personnel, the various stakeholders.