Lotus Blossoms

Lotus Blossoms is our annual four-week series of artist workshops and performances that bring culturally diverse music and arts experiences to South-Central Indiana.
happy volunteers in green shirts

Lotus Blossoms connects world artists directly with children and community members in South-Central Indiana.

For many individuals, especially in rural communities, engagement with a Blossoms artist begins a lifetime of curiosity about the wider world.

Lotus Blossoms World Bazaar

The Lotus Blossoms World Bazaar is a FREE multicultural arts and education event for kids, families, and community members.

Volunteers present arts, music, language, and international crafts that let attendees get their hands on the world with more than 30 vibrant, high-energy stations.

The Friday edition of the Bazaar is open only to area 4th-graders, but Saturday’s Community Day is free and open to the public.

Communities we engage.

A cornerstone of Lotus Blossoms programming is a focus on engagement with under-served urban and rural communities. By presenting global music and arts experiences, Lotus strives to inspire a love of diversity in these communities.

Lotus Blossoms also serves populations that have limited opportunities to engage with in-person musical experiences, including those in retirement homes, preschools, detention centers, or economically disadvantaged communities.

Lotus Blossoms Artists

Since 2001, more than 45 artists from 28 countries have visited communities in South-Central Indiana through Lotus Blossoms. Blossoms artists do more than simply give a performance, they share about their cultures, language, and so much more!

Thank you, 2025 Lotus Blossoms Sponsors

Presented by:

IU African Studies Program, IU Center for the Study of Global Change, IU Folklore, IU Institute for European Studies, IU Kelly School of Business, IU Latino Studies Program, IU School of Education
Jamie Gans Blossoms Artist Fund

Grantors:

National Endowment for the Arts
Arts Midwest
STEM Mobile Lab
Raymond Foundation
Bloomington Thrift Shop
Indiana Arts Commission

With Additional Support from:

Morgenstern's Books
Comprehensive Financial logo
Sadra Clark counseling and consulting
Amanda Franklin
Bloomington Brewing Company
Fresh Figs Marketing
Grease Monkey Oil Changes and More
Organized Living

2025 Lotus Blossoms World Bazaar Committee

Tamara Loewenthal (chair), Mallory Bowman, Nancy Boatner, Laura Plummer, Celina Jaffe, Shelbie Porteroff, Christian James, Sophie Emrah, and Katarina Koch