Lotus is happy to announce that we have received funding from the Recover Forward Grant, Mayor John Hamilton’s initiative to Recover Forward from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) has awarded $48,000 in grant funding to 21 nonprofit organizations that foster the arts and cultivate community in Bloomington.
All of the grant recipients have made use of online, digital, and other platforms to provide arts and cultural opportunities to residents during this challenging time. In addition to presetting our 2020 Lotus Festival virtually, Lotus also distributed over 1,000 Lotus Festival Outreach Kits and hosted live-streamed concerts in the Spring. Lotus is currently in the midst of our Lantern and Luminaria Project and planning for our Third Thursdays Virtual Winter Concert Series.
“Bloomington’s arts scene is one of our signatures and a critical part of our economic base. It’s also been a source of solace and inspiration during these difficult times,” said Mayor Hamilton. “As our beloved arts and cultural organizations grapple with the challenges of the pandemic, we are committed to helping support them continue to operate, and to activate and elevate all of us.”
“Lotus has been very happy to have a hands-on project this fall, something available to community members and families as they look for activities they can do together,” Lotus Executive Director Tamara Loewenthal said. “The overwhelming number of requests that we’ve received indicates that we at Lotus are not alone in wanting to shine a light in the darkness. We’re so grateful to the BUEA for supporting this work for Lotus and for our community.”