By: Jessie Irwin—
On Thursday, December 3, Cornerstone Center for the Arts hosted its Annual Meeting and Donor Recognition. A new addition for this year was the recognition of four of the organization’s founders through awards named in their honor.
The first award acknowledged Beth Turcotte who stepped up to lead the organization for three years while taking a sabbatical from her position at Ball State University. Turcotte’s passion for the arts sparked a fire in the Muncie Community to rally behind this new organization. In her honor, Patricia Kreigh was named the 2015 Beth Turcotte Arts Education Achievement recipient. Kreigh has served the organization for eight years as a visual arts instructor to both youth and adults sharing her talent and creativity with her students. She goes above and beyond to serve Cornerstone through outreach programs at the Muncie Public Library and The Youth Opportunity Center, as the main instructor of the Pints & Paints series, and often provides interactive entertainment at events and fundraisers. Kreigh has been a true asset to Cornerstone’s education programming.
Secondly, Cornerstone honored Judith Barnes who has volunteered her time and energy to Cornerstone since its inception. Barnes has spent the past 16 years advocating for the arts community and doing everything in her power to help Cornerstone succeed. It is through selfless volunteers like her who help make Cornerstone’s programs and events possible. Brian Blair was named the recipient of the 2015 Judith Barnes Spirit of Service Award. Blair has spent years volunteering his talents as a visual artist and entertainer to benefit Cornerstone. From repairing delicate hand painted murals to entertaining the masses at The Rocky Horror Picture Show and creating a full-on haunted house at Cornerstone, Blair is always willing to help. His unique presence in the Muncie arts community provides inspiration for blossoming creative minds.
The third award of the evening celebrated the lives and legacies of Robert and Beverly Terhune. Since the creation of Muncie Center for the Arts, the Terhune family has worked tirelessly to support the organization financially, as well as with their time and talents. It is only fitting that Cornerstone’s corporate sponsors be recognized in honor of the Terhune’s. The 2015 Robert and Beverly Terhune Corporate Champion was awarded to PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union. PrimeTrust is a long-time supporter of Cornerstone. As the naming sponsor of many of Cornerstone’s fundraising events such as: A Taste of Muncie, The Wedding Showcase, and Nightmare on Main Street, PrimeTrust goes above and beyond to support the organization. Not only do they support the organization with monetary resources, but their employees can often be found volunteering at Cornerstone’s various events. It would not be possible to make these events happen without the support of our corporate sponsors.
Lastly, through his work at the Ball Brother’s Foundation, Douglas Bakken was instrumental in organizing the right team to establish the historic building as an arts center. His guidance and support through the merger that created Cornerstone Center for the Arts were crucial to the organization’s development. Even in retirement, Bakken continues to be an avid supporter of Cornerstone. It is through caring individuals and small businesses like Bakken that Cornerstone is able to thrive. The obvious choice for the 2015 Douglas Bakken Small Business Steward was Chris Piche and The Fickle Peach. The Fickle Peach not only is the anchor location for Cornerstone’s Pints & Paints program but sponsors numerous events each year such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, All Hallows’ Eve Bash, and A Taste of Muncie. Piche’s support of the Muncie community should not go without recognition.
Each year, Cornerstone will add the award recipients to a plaque that will be hung in the Founder’s Room on the second floor. This will preserve the legacy of the organization’s founders and donors as well as outstanding instructors, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and small business partners who go above and beyond to support Cornerstone Center for the Arts.
Spirit of Service: L to R: Jeff Robinson, Cornerstone Director of Community Relations, Brian Blair of Scarevania/Freakhouse Flicks, and Judy Barnes.
Small Business Steward: Chris Piche of The Fickle Peach and Doug Bakken.
Corporate Champion: Jeremy Allison of PrimeTrust and Julie Terhune.
Arts Education Achievement: L to R: Carly Acree King, Cornerstone Director of Education and Communication, Patricia Kreigh, Beth Turcotte.
Jessie Irwin is Education and Marketing Coordinator for Cornerstone Center of the Arts
