By Erin Williams—
MUNCIE, Ind.—The office of Mayor Ridenour and the Muncie Arts and Culture Council are excited to announce the nominees for the 2021 Mayor’s Arts Awards. This will be the 4th biennial celebration recognizing the exceptional contributions made to our cultural community by individuals and organizations. The Mayor’s Arts Awards will occur on Friday, November 12th, 2021 at 7:30 PM at Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State University Campus, followed by a public Community Reception in the Sursa Lobby from 8:45 PM – 10:00 PM.
The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognizes the contributions to the cultural community by all visual, performing, and culinary artists, musicians, writers, poets, rappers, directors, producers, craftspeople, arts educators, arts patrons, arts professionals and volunteers, as well as organizations, institutions, government agencies, corporations, and businesses who work in or for the arts primarily benefiting the residents of Muncie. The goal of this program is to help cultivate greater visibility and understanding of the value of the arts, as well as grow new leadership and new patrons of the arts.
This year we received 25 nominations through the public nomination process. The nominees are:
Jennifer Blackmer, Director of the Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry and Ball State Professor of Theatre
Classroom Connections of East Central Indiana
Stuart Cotton, Digital Mentor/Technologist at the Muncie Public Library
Leon Crosby, Arts Instructor at Cornerstone Center for the Arts
Moth Danner, Organizer of YART and Founder of the Muncie Makers Market
Robert Dirden, Ball State Associate Teaching Professor of Theatre
First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors
Debra Gindhart, Curator/Coordinator for artists at Madjax
Angie Rogers-Howell and Matt Howell, Owners of Farmhouse Creative
Jaylyn Graham, Artist and Ball State University Graduate Student in Information and Communication Sciences
Brian and Genny Gordy, Founders of Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company
Travis Harvey, Owner of Village Green Records
David Johnson, Printmaker
Kevin Klinger, Ball State University Associate Professor of Architecture
Natalie Lowe, Ball State University Graduate Student in the School of Art
Laurie Lunsford, Art teacher, Writer, and Illustrator of Children’s Books
Tracena Marie, Therapeutic Arts Director at Muncie Civic Theatre
Minnetrista
Muncie Ballet Studio
North Church Venue, Owner Megan Pyle and Developer David Jennings
Morgan Roddy, Owner of Queer Chocolatier
Amy and Andy Shears, Owners of Muncie Map Company and Fur in Focus Pet Portraits
Shantanu Suman, Ball State University Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
Scott Watkins, Executive Director of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra
Rick Zeigler, Founder and Organizer of the Muncie Three Trails Music Series
Awards will be given in eight categories:
Arts Advocate – an individual or organization giving philanthropic or volunteer service; Arts Leader – an individual or organization whose leadership is outstanding within the local arts community; Arts Educator – an individual with far-reaching contributions to arts education; Corporate Arts – a corporation that shows exemplary support of the arts within the Muncie area; Artist in the Community – an individual artist in any discipline whose excellence contributes to Muncie’s cultural vitality; Next Generation Artist – an artist in any discipline under the age of 40 with outstanding promise to the arts community; Maker – a for-profit business owner exemplifying the vitality of Muncie’s creative economy; and finally Lifetime Achievement – an individual or organization recognized for significant and sustained contributions to the field of arts and culture in the Muncie area.
The 2021 Mayor’s Arts Awards are made possible through support from the Muncie Arts and Culture Council; the City of Muncie; Presenting Sponsor— Ball State University College of Fine Arts; Nominee Reception Sponsor— First Merchants Private Wealth Management; and Community Reception Sponsor— Sursa Griner & O’Donovan Wealth Management of Raymond James.
For more information about the Mayor’s Arts Awards, please visit munciearts.org.
