(Photo by Joe LaMantia, 2003)

LOTUS VISUAL ARTS

Lotus visual arts = public workshops, collaborative community works, projects for kids at the Blossoms Bazaar, and happenings at the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival.

Children at a Boys and Girls Club camp work on a Lotus banner.
2014 Arts Village, Photo Credit: Daniel Axler

(Photo by Daniel Axler, 2014)

LOTUS SUMMER ARTS
OUTREACH PROGRAM

Each summer, Lotus engages the community in an annual art-making project connected to cultural traditions around the world. The Visual Arts project is based on a specific theme; examples of past themes include mask-making, drawing cultural symbols, creating African-inspired banners, and more. Art-making happens in public workshops, events with non-profit partners, as well as directly with social-service agencies and organizations reaching underserved populations such as at-risk youth, seniors, and participants with special needs. The final product is an installation in the Festival Arts Village at the annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, allowing participants to see their creativity proudly displayed for enjoyment by the whole community.

In some cases, a Visual Arts Outreach project will extend beyond the summer and span an entire program year. Examples include the 2013 Power of Pattern initiative and the 2016 One Million Stars project.

Lotus’s Summer Arts Outreach Program works to create maximum access and impact for children and adults in the community by:

  • engaging participants through a themed, hands-on art experience designed to reflect the interests and needs expressed by partner agencies.
  • providing project materials and workshop sessions free of charge.
  • bringing the workshop sessions to the organizations and their clients.
  • providing disadvantaged youth the opportunity to work alongside practicing professional artists, learning new skills and receiving one-on-one feedback.
  • situating participants in a global context and encouraging participants to learn about – and contribute to – world cultures through the creation of artwork and personal identification with new themes or modes of creative expression.
  • creating avenues for participants of all abilities, backgrounds, and learning styles to become invested in being part of the larger community and interact with others from diverse or unfamiliar cross-sections of the community.
  • empowering participants through opportunities to express themselves creatively and explore their ideas, talents, and curiosity through the arts.
  • celebrating contributions from everyone in the community and fostering a sense of pride through public display and acknowledgment of their work and creative contributions.

Guiding
PRINCIPLES

  • Lotus visual art programs focus on community engagement and collaboration through participatory, hands-on arts programming.
  • Lotus visual art programs are accessible, reaching various sectors of our community, underserved groups and individuals, and participants of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
  • Lotus seeks out the artistic capabilities of all, tapping into both individual and group creativity throughout our community.
  • Lotus visual art programs are mission-oriented and create connections to the artistic expression of local and global cultures.
  • Lotus visual art programs support its performing-arts programming.

Programs
MAY INCLUDE:

  • Community and school workshops
  • Service-learning projects with schools/universities
  • Exhibits
  • Activity stations at the Lotus Blossoms World Bazaar
  • Community art projects
  • Lotus in the Park art camp and workshops
  • Festival Arts Village
  • Festival parades

Policies and
PRACTICES

  • Lotus visual art programs and projects are volunteer-driven, directed by Lotus staff within a framework established by the organization’s strategic planning and annual budget. Lotus values partnerships and collaborations, which expand the reach and effectiveness of our programs.
  • Lotus may – from time to time and budget permitting – engage the assistance of professional artists on a stipend basis, based on a specific area of expertise and/or skill set related to a visual arts project.
  • Exhibitions typically focus on existing artifacts, with an emphasis on local/regional collections and relevance to the Lotus mission. Lotus exhibits are not commissioned or purchased. Exhibit planning focuses on developing partnerships to expand our resources and further our engagement with the community.
  • All artwork created under the auspices of Lotus becomes the property of Lotus. Lotus reserves the right to use artworks in support of future programming, unless otherwise designated, and to divest items periodically in a way that supports the organization.
  • Lotus is not able to loan artworks for use by other community organizations or events. This policy exists to prevent loss and damage, to preserve the condition of items that may be needed for future Lotus events, and to reduce the administrative burden that a loan program creates for our small staff.
  • Lotus will consider donations of artworks, materials, and program supplies on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, limited storage capacity means that we are not always able to store items that someone may wish to donate to our organization.

Your contributions, large and small, make our work possible. When you donate to Lotus, you commit to helping foster the love of the diversity of the world’s cultures in South Central Indiana. There are many ways to donate to Lotus. Click “Donate” for more information.

NOTES &
NEWS

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