| Description |
| NIBGA was formed in 1976 by a group of musicians from the Fort Wayne, IN area who liked to play and listen to bluegrass music. They formed a not for profit organization whose purpose is to educate the public to, and promote the awareness of, Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music. The clubs first outdoor festival was held in the fall of that year. |
| Background |
| NIBGA has also tried to extend beyond the holding of festivals and fulfill our charter of educating the public. NIBGA has donated over 700 instructional video tapes to area public libraries. These tapes cover every aspect of how to play various bluegrass instruments and how to sing bluegrass. If your library doesn't have the videos, request them through your local library on an interlibrary loan. There may be a small fee charged by your library for this service.
NIBGA, working with the International Bluegrass Music Association, has produced a video tape at a local grade school where Special Consensus performed their Traditional American Music program. This tape was donated to the music in the schools program of IBMA. If you would like to obtain this tape for your school contact IBMA at 207 East Second Street, Owensboro, KY 42303 (502) 684-9025. NIBGA also gave a grant to IBMA to produce an educational DVD that is used in schools through out the world.
Since 1997, over 1,500 area students have been exposed to bluegrass music through a series of matching grants made to area schools. These grants have been used to hire Special Consensus to perform their 45 minute TAM program. Additional programs are planned in 1999 including one at the Kendallville school system prior to the Labor Day 1999 festival.
In November 1998, NIBGA provided a grant to a school teacher in the Findley, OH school system to acquire 25 lap dulcimers to be used with her at risk students. She plans creating a dulcimer band that will perform at a Findley summer festival.
During the last two years, nearly $9,000 in scholarships have been awarded to young musicians to attend summer workshops. The intent of this program is to provide assistance to those who need the funds or to encourage a budding musician to continue their studies. |
| Services Offered |
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- Education presentations to schools, community organizations
- Assisting in Planning Arts Events
- Doing demonstrations
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| Availability |
| Contact NIBGA for further information. |
| Visitor Information |
| Winter meetings are held October, November, January, February, March and April at the Southwest Conservation Club, 5703 Bluffton Road , Fort Wayne, IN 46809. On Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Memorial and Labor Day weekend, NIBGA manages the Bluegrass Festival at the Noble County 4H Fairgrounds in Kendallville, IN |
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