FAR Center for Contemporary Arts + Pictura Gallery

Our Mission + Story

The FAR Center for Contemporary Arts was created in 2018 to expand and nurture the local arts community. We support bridges between Bloomington and the broader art world. Our mission is to form an influential space for contemporary art and creativity of all kinds. We exist to question boundaries, awaken conversations, and shape community through empathic engagement.

FAR brings together photographers, poets, sculptors, illustrators, musicians, painters, and dancers in a multi-use space. Here, the arts are both shared and taught, through exhibits, lectures and workshops, and performances. Weddings and private event rentals help support these programs.

It began with a passion for photography

Pictura Gallery was established in 2008 on the Bloomington square. Our vision for the gallery grew quickly and organically — to provide excellent and thought-provoking exhibitions for our city, while contributing our voice to the international dialogue on photography.

As our mission grew to include other mediums, we realized our physical space needed to expand as well. The FAR Center for Contemporary Arts was designed to allow for new endeavors to co-exist with those that had already been created. Pictura’s new home inside of the FAR is a space that celebrates contemporary fine art photography as it continues to evolve. Here, photography can interact with other forms of art.

Visit Pictura: https://www.thefar.org/pictura-gallery/about-pictura

We believe spaces make things happen

To make artistry and collaboration an active part of our community, we must build space for it. Bloomington has a rich creative ecosystem, and we are honored to be a part of the local team that tends to it. The FAR was constructed to be a beautiful venue where ideas come to fruition.

We believe art builds community

Art takes us away from our everyday routines and invites new experiences into our lives. The intention to create beauty for one another is a powerful force. The more we experience art together, the more connected we are as a community. The FAR houses projects and conversations between artists and non-artists, beginners and experts, and everyone in between.

We take this mission seriously

The art world is constantly shifting. However, FAR’s essential mission- supporting our community through engagement with art — will never change. We will continue to uphold an active presence in Bloomington while creating and sustaining connections between our city and the broader arts world.