Presented by IU’s Council for the Arts and Humanities and inspired by legendary Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Granfalloon brings together musicians, artists, thinkers and people from all walks of life for a multi-day celebration of the art, ideas and community. The festival kicks off the summer arts calendar in Bloomington and spotlights the creative spirit of the Midwest by tapping into the enduring ethos of Vonnegut’s life and work: promoting civic engagement, encourage independent thought and champion art and creativity as essential to the spiritual life of individuals and the health of our democracy.
Granfalloon 2022 will be presented in conjunction with the Indiana University Writers Conference and the Bloomington Handmade Market. Events will take place at venues on campus and around downtown Bloomington. The festival offers captivating creative experiences ranging from art and theater to film, live music, crafts, writing, puppetry, Nature Tour of the Century, and more. And the icing on the cake of this delicious sundae is an outdoor music festival on Saturday, June 4 in downtown Bloomington with some of the best bands from all over the country: Car Seat Headrest, Japanese Breakfast and NNAMDÏ!
Many events and activities this year pay homage to Vonnegut’s 1986 novel Galapagos, in which Kurt grapples with big questions about evolution, environmental degradation, global economic collapse, and the many, many problems caused by big human brains. (Can you imagine living in such a world?)
