Omaha's Mexican Dance Academy performs during the New American Arts Festival - an annual collaboration between BFF & Lutheran Family Services to highlight local immigrant and refugee arts and cultures.
Event goers embrace during a first Friday opening inside a Petshop artist studio. "Petshop" is BFF's headquarters offering affordable artist studios, offices, galleries, and community spaces.
Benson artist Trudy Swanson works in her studio during a first Friday.
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"With an influx of visitors, tourists, and artists in our area, we would see more jobs generated and economic activities would increase." - Leslie Clark, Auburn advocate & Project Director, Honeybees in the Heartland
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"[BFF] has truly made a huge economic impact on the community and created a culture of creativity in our tight-knit neighborhood."
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| letter_of_rec.pdf |
BFF partnered with Sarah Johnson (a cycling advocate) and The New Philharmonic to create a flash mob-style performance called Eine Brise (A breeze) - A Fleeting Action for 111 Bicycles.
Pedi-cabs transport event-goers during warmer months.
Models show off fashions produced by REVIVAL during
"LOOSE JUICE," a BFF fundraising event during Omaha Gives 2019, featuring local fashion, visual art, music, and performances. |
"I can count on roughly doubling my sales" - Steph Lambert, owner of REVIVAL Buy-Sell-Trade
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"We had no idea what we were doing, but the BFF team was there to support us every step of the way!" - JP Gurnett, Creative Director &
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| bff_letter.pdf |
Queer Nite performers in downtown Lincoln, outside BFF's MaMO Gallery, amidst a rain storm, at Lincoln Calling Music Festival, 2019.
Queer Nite's Molli Poppinz performs for a celebratory crowd
during BFF's annual Members ONLY Ball, 2019.
during BFF's annual Members ONLY Ball, 2019.
High School students exhibit work inside Yoshitomo Gallery - BFF operated youth programming here 2017-2019 made possible through a donation from a building owner, but it has recently closed it's doors.
Youth Engagement activities are a big attraction for families
during summertime first Fridays. |
"The funding from this grant would have an immense impact on the local community by giving it's young people a safe place to express themselves and take ownership of their neighborhood." - Shelby Audiss, Youth Engagement Coordinator, BFF
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Event-goers at BFF's annual art and music fundraising event, PETFEST. Tim Carr was one of the many area musicians and artists who volunteered to perform the festival.
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"BFF is half the reason I go to Omaha. The other half is the people affiliated with BFF. The art, artists, and culture they provide and support should be world wide. I seriously love EVERYTHING BFF represents." - Tim Carr, Lincoln artist and BFF donor |
Download a testimony submitted to the Urban Affairs Committee Hearing by Doug Zbylut, Executive Director - Nebraskans for the Arts.
BFF was also invited to speak at this hearing :)
| lr126_testimony_-_nebraskans_for_the_arts.pdf |