Crowdfunding launched for a Bloomington monument to Star Trek Captain

captain-janeway

        A crowdfunding campaign is underway to erect a monument in Bloomington to a hometown hero not yet born, and  who  doesn’t exist.

        The Captain Janeway Bloomington Collective announced the campaign to create and install a monument to the Star Trek: Voyager captain recognizing her future birthplace of Bloomington, Indiana.  The monument will have a bronze bust of the captain atop a Starfleet insignia shaped limestone base plated with stainless steel.  It will have an informational display outlining the fictional character’s orgian and connection to Bloomington and be installed along Bloomington’s B-Line Trail

        The non profit group Artisan Alley with permission from CBS studios us using the  CreatINg Places program sponsored by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) to raise the money.  If the $12,500 goal is reached the state will match it dollar for dollar. Captain Janeway is Kathern Janeway the fictional Captain of the Starship Voyager from the TV series Star Trek; Voager that ran for 7 seasons on television from 1995 to to 2001.  The actress who portrayed the character is Kate Mulgrew.

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The following is the official news release from CreatINg Places.

 Bloomington residents will soon be able to recognize Captain Kathyrn Janeway of Star Trek: Voyager  with a monument along the B-Line Trail if a new crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal to raise $12,500 by December 21st. The campaign, led by creative nonprofit Artisan Alley with the permission of CBS Studios, is using the CreatINg Places program sponsored by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

If the campaign reaches its goal, the ‘Captian Janeway Bloomington‘ project will receive a matching grant of $12,500 from IHCDA.

Click here for project details and to donate.

Star Trek has entertained millions of people over the last several decades with their highly successful TV series franchise,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch who serves as board chair for IHCDA. “As the lead character for Star Trek: Voyager, Captain Kathryn Janeway regularly showed strength, bravery and a caring spirit. We are pleased to partner with Artisan Alley to recognize this empowering female leader while at the same time activate an area along the B-Line Trail.”

The funds raised will be used to create a monument, signage, and community engagement events.

“Captain Janeway consistently demonstrated integrity and humanity in the face of many challenges. She led her crew home without compromising her principals and became a role model to a generation of young women. Captain Janeway deserves to be recognized in Bloomington, the place of her future birth,” said Peter Kaczmarczyk, of the Captain Janeway Bloomington Collective.

The CreatINg Places program began in 2016 and its projects have raised in excess of $3 million in public funds with an additional $2.4 million in matching IHCDA funds.

The CreatINg Places program is available to projects located in Indiana communities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 status) and Local Units of Government are eligible to apply.

Eligible projects must have a minimum total development cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should they successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHCDA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project.