During the fall 2020 semester, more than 12,000 people attended 300-plus outdoor events as part of the Open Air Ventures initiative on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. The free outdoor venues will be available again this spring for campus organizers and clubs to host events related to fine and performing arts, popular entertainment, civic and community engagement, health and wellness, and athletics.
Doug Booher, executive director of IU Auditorium, which coordinates booking, staffing and execution of events, looks forward to even greater numbers in the spring 2021 semester.
“Launching Open Air Venues for the spring semester provides continued opportunities for the campus community to gather safely,” Booher said. “To ensure their preferred venue is available to host a successful event, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to start planning their events and reserving spaces now.”
Event organizers can begin making free online reservations, starting today, to use 12 different venues on campus during the spring semester. The venues are categorized as either daytime and casual Campus Corner locations or the more formal Performance Hub destination locations.
Campus Corner locations are established along student paths and can be equipped with a small stage and simple canopied truss. Meant for casual programming during class breaks and other high-traffic times, these venues include Woodburn Clock, Jacobs East Studio Lawn and Metz Grand Carillon.
Performance Hub locations have greater infrastructure to accommodate staged performances. Among these venues are Prebys Amphitheater, Kinsey Hollow and the Hamilton Lugar School South Lawn.
Logan Mulvaney, co-director of films for the 111th Indiana Memorial Union Board, spoke during the fall 2020 semester about how Open Air Venues benefited the campus.
“Throughout this semester, it has become clear that students are much more comfortable gathering outside for our weekly film series, and IU Auditorium is on the frontlines of fulfilling this need,” he said. Open Air Venues was “essential for supporting the student experience with Union Board Films and many others in this new environment.”
A list of upcoming Open Air Venues events will be posted on the IU Auditorium’s website.
Schedule of availability
All Campus Corner locations and Prebys Amphitheater will be available for use starting Feb. 8. All other Performance Hub locations will be available for use starting March 1. Free reservations can be made beginning Jan. 19.
