Mayor's Arts Awards

Celebrate the Arts at Mayor’s Arts Awards,  Nov. 12

Muncie, IN—The Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts), in conjunction with the City of Muncie, will celebrate the 4th biennial Mayor’s Arts Awards on Friday, Nov. 12, at Sursa Performance Hall on the Ball State University campus.

The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors given by the city to individual artists, teachers, non-profit organizations, and patrons of the arts. Awardees will be honored during the 7:30 p.m. ceremony and a community reception will follow in the lobby. Both events are free and open to the public. Masks are required. For complete event information, please visit http://munciearts.org/.

Mayor’s Arts Awards nominations were accepted from the public in eight distinct categories: Arts Advocate, Arts Leader, Arts Educator, Corporate Arts, Artist in the Community, Next Generation Artist, Maker, and Lifetime Achievement. Nominations were reviewed and awardees were selected by a panel of local and regional representatives from the arts, local businesses, education, and community. All nominees will be recognized during the ceremony.

MuncieArts congratulates this year’s nominees:

Amy & Andy Shears
Brian & Genny Gordy
Classroom Connections of ECI
David Johnson
Debra Gindhart
First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors
Good Girl Gone Boss Podcast
Jaylyn Graham
Jennifer Blackmer
Kevin Klinger
Laurie Lunsford
Leon Crosby
Minnetrista
Moth Danner
Muncie Ballet
Natalie Lowe
North Church Venue
Queer Chocolatier
Rick Zeigler
Robert Dirden
Scott Watkins
Shantanu Suman
Stuart Cotton
Tracena Marie
Travis Harvey

Following on the heels of the pandemic, this year’s event promises to be a celebratory reemergence for our arts communities. The entertainment-filled evening will be led by emcees Laura Williamson of Muncie Civic Theatre and Michelle Kinsey of Indiana Public Radio and Ball State PBS. Live music and theatrical performances from Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance, Muncie Ballet, Muncie Civic Theatre, and Ball State University’s Chamber Vocal Ensemble will be showcased between award presentations. After the ceremony, stay for drinks and dancing at the community reception in the Sursa Hall lobby, featuring music by DJ Jannell, a cash bar, and late night snacks. The party wraps up at 10:00 pm.

“Every Arts Awards year, we hold the ceremony in a different cultural district in Muncie,” said MuncieArts Executive Director Erin Williams. “This is the first time we have held the ceremony on the Ball State campus, so we are thrilled to be able to share this event with the entire Muncie community. Many of us have spent the last year and a half feeling very introspective and isolated. The arts have a unique way of bringing people together, bridging divides, and fostering community. The 2021 nominees have all made exemplary efforts to do just that. We hope this ceremony can celebrate their achievements and also bring a bit of fun to the community at large.” 

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— Raymond James.