MUNCIE \u2013 Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts) is the recipient of the 2026 Community Engagement for the Arts grant.<\/p>\n
The annual competitive grant was created in 2022 to demonstrate Ball State\u2019s commitment beyond our campus to community engagement through the arts, awarding $35,000 over 12 months to an East Central Indiana community arts-focused organization or program. The funding is intended to assist initiatives across all creative fields that promote public awareness and appreciation of the arts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly rewarding to see the impact we can have, in collaboration with our deserving community partners, through supporting the arts by helping to develop enrichment programs and experiences in East Central Indiana,\u201d said Stephanie Simon-Dack, Vice Provost for Research at Ball State and a CEFTA selection committee member. \u201cThis year, we are so pleased to fund such a deserving initiative so close to home.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mission of MuncieArts, formed in 2011, is to champion arts and culture experiences, public art, and a thriving community of artists and allies in Muncie, Indiana.<\/p>\n
\u201cReceiving the Community Engagement for the Arts grant is incredibly meaningful for MuncieArts because it allows us to bring a bold community vision to life through\u00a0\u2018Art for the People: A Historic House Reimagined as Public Art\u2019,\u201d noted Tania Said, MuncieArts Executive Director.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project, in partnership with the Delaware County Historical Society, represents everything we value\u2014public art, creativity, education, and community participation. We are honored that the Community Engagement for the Arts grant recognizes the importance of investing in projects that transform public spaces while creating opportunities for residents to engage directly with the arts. This support also reflects confidence in MuncieArts’ ability to successfully manage impactful public art initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grant funding will support every phase of\u00a0\u201cArt for the People: A Historic House Reimagined as Public Art.\u201d The majority of the investment, according to Said, will be used to engage a professional artist and provide stipends to finalists who develop concepts inspired by community input. Additional funds raised will also support preparation and restoration of a historic building, ensuring the site is safe, accessible, and ready to serve as a canvas for large-scale public artwork.<\/p>\n
Said added that the project also includes a significant educational component through the purchase and distribution of 1,000 copies of\u00a0\u201cThe Big Orange Splot,\u201d by Daniel Manus Pinkwater, a book that encourages creativity, individuality, and community identity. Outreach efforts will ensure broad public participation throughout the artist selection process, community engagement activities, and final unveiling celebration.<\/p>\n
Richmond Civic Theatre received the grant in 2025. Marion Community School of the Arts (CSA) was the 2024 Community Engagement for the Arts Grant recipient. Hoosier Shakespeare Festival was the 2023 recipient, and Arts Place in Portland was the first recipient in 2022.<\/p>\n