By Jaycee Hendrickson, Northwood High School, Ivy Zhen, Carmel High School, and Penelope Roewe, Niles North High School

The atmosphere around Kirkwood Avenue bustles with energy as hundreds of Bloomington residents pass through the downtown area. While the avenue features a multitude of classic eateries and stores, one striking image catches the eye of every passerby: The glowing red ‘Indiana’ marquee.

Behind the glowing sign, lies a deeper significance absent from chain theaters.

“This is not a commercial venue,” Buskirk-Chumley Theater (BCT) marketing director Casey Rich said. “It’s about serving the mission of the theater.” 

Formerly known as The Indiana, the BCT has a rich history in the IU community. The theater was first established in 1922 by the Vonderschmitt family and has faced multiple management changes following the death of Nova Vonderschmitt and rise of chain theaters.

In 1995, the theater closed for nearly a year before being donated to the Bloomington Area Arts Council for renovation and use as a performing arts center. When the arts council dissolved, the city of Bloomington and BCT management took over.

“[Without Buskirk] there was a gap in Bloomington,” Rich said. “There was a need for an arts venue to serve the community and to serve different community organizations.”

Since the theater was officially renamed to the Buskirk-Chumley in 2001, it has become a lively venue for various artists and the annual Lotus Music and Hoosier Film Festivals. While the BCT plans a few hosted movie streams throughout the year, most of the events are rented out to local organizations. 

One of the most notable renters is Indiana University’s performing arts program. 

“I saw a student film last semester [at BCT], which was a really fun experience,” HSJI counselor and IU senior Cooper Hudson said. “It really is just a great place to hang out, a great place to watch movies old and new.”

Not quite as large as the IU auditorium but significantly larger than any other performing arts center in the area, the Buskirk stands at a perfectly average capacity. This quality has been one of its largest draws and encourages touring shows to book dates in Bloomington.

“It’s something that can just be a good space for the community, where you can have a decent number of folks come together,” Rich said. 

Buskirk continues to serve their mission to the performing arts by providing unique opportunities to small artists. If a tour isn’t bringing their own openers, BCT management will look for local openers to accompany the touring artists to provide a wide array of entertainment.

“We’re not trying to be the tastemakers of what it is in Bloomington,” Rich said. “We are trying to be a community asset to help show the kinds of programming that people want to see and enjoy.”

Video produced / written by Penelope Roewe and Ivy Zhen