About LOTUS

The Lotus Education & Arts Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Bloomington, Indiana
(est. 1994).

Our mission is to create opportunities to experience, celebrate, and explore the diversity of the world’s cultures, through music and the arts.

All Lotus programming supports the institutional mission: our annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival; our Lotus Blossoms Educational Outreach program; the Lotus Firebay, our community space for performances and workshops; and Edible Lotus, our fundraiser; as well as a vibrant Visual Arts program. Lotus also offers special programming and events with community partners throughout the year.

The Foundation’s flagship program is the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival.  Established in 1994, the Festival is one of the oldest world music festivals in the U.S. and the only festival of its kind in the state of Indiana.  Now entering its 27th anniversary year, it attracts more than 12,000 people to downtown Bloomington annually each fall, for 4-5 days of music and arts from around the globe.  Through the Festival, Lotus creates  – on a grand scale – the rare opportunity for audiences to experience places far removed from their everyday routines and to broaden their worldview through the arts.

Lotus is supported by a diverse funding base that includes individual contributors, business sponsors, foundation and governmental grants, and ticket revenues.  The organization is named partly in honor of Indiana musician Quinten Lotus Dickey (1911-1989). His spirit of open inquiry into the music of cultures other than his own—and his gifts as a musician, singer, and songwriter — inspired the founders.

Our VISION

LOTUS THE MAN, LOTUS THE FLOWER

By choosing the name “Lotus” for the Festival, the founders wished to equally honor our local heritage as well as the international scope of the music and musicians who would come to perform. We are proud to celebrate Indiana musician Quinten “Lotus” Dickey as a partial namesake for our Festival, alongside the Lotus flower which has deep meaning in many cultures and religions and blooms all over the world — including right here in Indiana.

A gifted folk singer, songwriter, and musician from rural Orange County, Lotus Dickey (1911-1989) wrote beautiful songs that still speak to people of all walks of life. He was a singer, a prolific songwriter, and a musician who played fiddle and guitar.  The tunes and songs that he wrote drew from his family and community, as well as from country singers and fiddlers he heard on the radio.

Each year, the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival honors both Lotus inspirations:  our logo evokes the flower, and we honor Lotus Dickey’s memory with a set of music, an interactive workshop, or a designated “Lotus Dickey Artist” that introduces new audiences to his music and the old-time traditions of the United States. Learn more about Lotus Dickey 

LotusInBloom_IUcampus_KevinShanholtzer7.5.15

Lotus in Bloom, IU campus.
Photo by Kevin Shanholtzer

Hoosier musician Lotus Dickey; photo by Nan McEntire

Lotus Dickey
performing in Indiana in the 1980s. Photo by Nan McEntire.

Staff

Executive Director:
Katarina Koch

Artistic Director:
Tamara Loewenthal

Community & Arts Engagement Director:
Jill Campbell

Communications & Marketing Specialist:
Kathleen Clark-Perez

Board of Directors

Michael Valliant, Chair
Andy Qualls, Vice Chair
Erica Penna, Secretary
Sheridan Arnold
Dave Debikey
Amanda Franklin
Kathleen Hugo
Katja Miller
Dan Mounlio
Genevieve Pritchard
Daniel Reed
Jennifer Riley Simone
Zac Simpkins
Annie Bartlett Stowers

Katarina Koch, Ex Officio

Advisory Board

Heidi Harmon
Scott Burgins
Jane Clay
Doug Eibling
Bob Flynn
Candice Foss
Kim Gray
Brandi Host
Deb Hutton
Jim Krause
Jillian Kinzie
Laura Plummer
Bridget Rinehimer
Michael Shermis