2015 Lotus Blossoms by the numbers

Artists from 5 countries/cultures
5,500 participants of all ages
2 months of programming
31 different events at 20 unique venues
23 schools served
World Bazaar 20^th anniversary

 To date, Lotus Blossoms 2015 is 74% funded.
Can you help us reach 100% support?

For 21 years, Lotus Blossoms Educational Outreach has provided Indiana school children with the opportunity to explore the music and art of global cultures, stoking their curiosity about the larger world. Lotus Blossoms’ 2015 slate of excellent performances and interactive activities once again illustrated the Lotus Education and Art Foundation’s commitment to bringing outstanding artist-educators into schools throughout Southern Indiana.

Throughout February and March, Blossoms welcomed cultural ambassadors like Japanese artist Kuniko Yamamoto, who delighted audiences young and old with her innovative blend of origami paper folding and traditional Japanese storytelling. Finnish-American duo Aallotar shared the sounds of their distinctively trans-Atlantic collaboration, while Dirk Powell and Riley Baugus performed Cajun and creole-inspired folk, Americana, and bluegrass music. Kinobe and the Wamu Spirit provided a glimpse into the heart of Uganda and across Africa, followed by Jennifer Goodlander who brought ancient Indonesian tales to life through the magic of Balinese shadow puppetry.

These Lotus Blossoms artists performed for over 2,800 pre-K through 12^th grade students in 12 different schools, as well as for a multigenerational audience of 100+ at Stone Belt and 90+ seniors at Bell Trace. Blossoms also reached hundreds more community members with several free evening concerts and workshops at places like the Monroe County Public Library, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, IU Archives of Traditional Music, and the Mathers Museum of World Cultures. The IU Folklore Department hosted artists on-campus for classroom lectures, and Lotus was thrilled to launch several new Blossoms partnerships in 2015, including St. Mark’s Nursery School/Kindergarten, SCCAP Head Start, Bloomington Center for Global Children, and Childs Elementary School. For the first time, Blossoms artists also graced the studios of WFHB’s Firehouse Sessions radio broadcast.

Lotus Blossoms outreach programming culminated with the 20^th Annual Lotus Blossoms World Bazaar, which opened its doors to 1,200+ students from 13 different MCCSC elementary schools as well as three local private schools. The next day, the World Bazaar Family Day welcomed nearly 500 additional participants of all ages. Hosted by Binford Elementary and staffed by representatives from over 30 community groups, the Bazaar offers participants a bustling “marketplace” of hands-on activities in arts, music, language, and crafts from diverse range of international cultures.

Lotus would like to voice our gratitude for our presenting sponsor, The Raymond Foundation. We would also like to thank Bell Trace Senior Living Community, Bloomingfoods Market & Deli, Indiana University Student Association, IU African Studies, IU East Asian Studies, The Mathers Museum of World Cultures, St. John Associates, and Star of Indiana. Additional grant support provided by Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Indiana Arts Commission, Ivy Tech Community College, and National Endowment for the Arts.

Lotus Blossoms outreach would not be possible without the continued generosity of our sponsors, grantors, and individual donors. THANK YOU to everyone who has enriched lives in our community by supporting Lotus’s 2015 multicultural programming.

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