The Lotus Education & Arts Foundation is delighted to announce a new partnership with the MCCSC STEAM/CS team for its 2024 Lotus Blossoms spring programming. The STEAM/CS team will contribute science activities and funding for the 2024 Lotus Blossoms Residency Program. Funding comes from a grant through the city of Bloomington aimed at bringing artists into schools.
“We are excited to partner with the MCCSC STEAM/CS team for the Blossoms residency this year,” Lotus Community & Arts Engagement Director Jill Campbell said. “By working together we are able to create a residency that is more meaningful for each school. I’m hopeful that this will be our best residency yet.”
For over 25 years, Lotus has connected south central Indiana with musicians from around the world through its Lotus Blossoms spring programming.
“One of the goals of the Blossoms program is to help communities make a lasting connection with visiting artists,” Lotus Executive Director Katarina Koch said. “This is done through classroom and community visits and artist residencies that include learning about an artist’s culture, instruments, language and more.”
This year’s Lotus Blossoms Residency Artist is Ugandan musician and educator Chinobay.
Chinobay will be working with two Title I MCCSC schools: Grandview 2nd graders and Highland Park 3rd graders, for three kalimba (finger piano) workshop sessions at each school during his week-long residency. His residency culminates with school performances during which students will join him on stage to help him perform songs.
Chinobay will also engage community members with a lecture/demonstration at the Lincoln Street Boys & Girls Club, and at a retirement community in Bloomington.
As part of the Blossoms program, Lotus creates study guides that teachers and community members can use to help groups engage more deeply with Blossoms visiting artists. This year, the MCCSC STEAM/CS team will add science lessons to each of the Blossoms study guides. The MCCSC STEAM Bus will also be present at the 2024 Lotus Blossoms Community Day taking place on Saturday, March 23 from 11 AM – 3 PM at the Fairview Elementary Gym.
Don’t forget to look for the 2024 Lotus Blossoms public performances from Aoife Scott, Making Movies, and Northern Resonance at lotusfest.org/events.
