City Grants Lotus Funds For Free Family Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2006

For more information, contact:
Danise Alano, Assistant Director of Economic Development, City of Bloomington, 349-3477
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569

Bloomington, IN - With colorful, canvas banners created by students as a backdrop, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that the City of Bloomington will commit $15,000 to Lotus for the second annual Lotus in the Park family event. The event will be held in October during the 2006 Lotus World Music and Arts Festival.

"We are proud to support Lotus because it embraces all four of the initiatives I announced in my City Vision address in April: Community Commerce, Community Collaborations, Community Condition and Community Character," Kruzan said. "It is a wonderful asset that provides strong economic impact and truly helps make Bloomington, Bloomington."

Lotus in the Park will be free and open to the public. The event will take place Sat., October 7, from noon to 5:15 p.m., at Third Street Park, located at Third and South Washington Streets. Musical performances by Lotus Festival artists from around the world and hands-on activities appropriate for all ages will be featured.

Lee Williams, Lotus Executive and Artistic Director, said he is excited about the event and the City's support.

"We're very happy and grateful that Lotus in the Park can continue after its success last year thanks to the City," Williams said. "We hope that families in the community will attend the event and see all that Lotus has to offer. It's not only entertainment; it's a learning experience that will enable participants to engage in and celebrate multiculturalism and diversity."

Performances and activities include musicians from Mali, Brazil, Peru and Louisiana; Lotus Dickey old-time music featuring Grey Larsen and Mark Feddersen; an accordion demonstration and workshop hosted by Sophia Travis; percussion from Cote d'Ivoire; face painting; and the building of a Mongolian yurt supplemented with a traditional Tibetan music performance. Bloomingfoods will be on hand to provide food and drinks.

The Indiana University Global Education Pavilion will house educational programming complete with festival artist workshops and presentations. Attendees also can enjoy art projects to make and take home, including African Adinkra-print banners, noisemakers and African parade hats and masks.

Lotus in the Park will conclude with a procession, led by stilt-walker Sogbety Diomande from Cote d'Ivoire, from Third Street Park to Kirkwood Avenue that will segue into the evening's festival schedule.

According to Williams, in 12 years the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival has grown from 1,000 in attendance in its first year to nearly 9,000 people and an economic impact of more than $150,000 in 2005. More than 1,000 people attended the first Lotus in the Park and more are expected this year.

Additional sponsorship of Lotus in the Park is provided by Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS; ISU The May Agency; TASUS Corporation and WFIU.

Lotus will help celebrate October as Be Diverse Bloomington, part of the City's "Be Bloomington" community character campaign. For more information about this and other Be Bloomington events, visit [www.bloomington.in.gov/bbbb|/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=2072] or call 349.BBBB.

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