By Michelle Kinsey—
MUNCIE, IN—The office of Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and the Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts) are pleased to announce more than 20 nominees for the 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards.
This year, the Mayor’s Arts Awards is marking 10 years of celebrating Muncie’s vibrant arts community. The ceremony will be Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at Muncie Civic Theatre, 216 E. Main St. Register for the free event here.
“As the City of Muncie’s arts partner, we are honored to present the 10th anniversary of the biennial Mayor’s Arts Awards,” noted Tania Said, executive director of MuncieArts. “We look forward to celebrating the nominees who represent the outstanding individuals and organizations that make Muncie a destination and vibrant place to live. Everyone is invited to join the fun!”
The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognize the contributions to the cultural community by all visual, performing, literary, 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.
Nominees this year:
Tiffany Arnold, executive director of Youth Symphony Orchestra of East Central Indiana
Beyond I Can, arts program housed at Madjax
Heather Marie Collins, musician, events coordinator/promoter, radio host
Debra Gindhart Dragoo, artist, poet
Karen Fisher, artist, educator, and owner of Art Mart
Nate Harmon, tattoo artist and owner of 111 Arts Gallery
Amanda Kishel, photographer
Christiana Mann, chef, educator and entrepreneur
Mike Martin, musician and owner of The Common Market
Erica Markley, stained glass artist
Laura Mickler, founder of Sustainable Steps
Muncie Children’s Museum
Pat Nelson, metals and jewelry artist
Sean Orlosky, local theater veteran
John “Doc” Peterson, musician, founder of Doc’s Music Hall
Zach Poor, designer and artist
India Potter, musician, actor, graphic artist
Robin Phelps-Ward, artist, educator, founder of Viola Lou Studio
Lily Rawson, glass artist and educator
Jim Rhinehart, musician and educator
Ashley Runkle, mural artist
Graham Watson, arts and culture community builder
Carrie Wright, silk artist
Eva Zygmunt, Civil Rights Museum, Shaffer Chapel
Awards will be given in eight categories:
Artist in the Community: An individual artist (in any discipline) recognized for artistic excellence and singular efforts in contributing to Muncie’s cultural vitality.
Arts Advocate: An individual or organization whose strong support of the arts has been ongoing through philanthropy and/or volunteer service.
Arts Educator: An individual whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far-reaching.
Arts Leader: An arts professional or organization who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, organizational stewardship, and partnership within the local arts community.
Corporate Arts: An individual or organization whose strong support of the arts has been ongoing through philanthropy and/or volunteer service.
Lifetime Achievement: An individual or organization recognized for significant and sustained contributions to the field of arts and culture in the Muncie area.
Maker: A local, for-profit business owner who exemplifies the impact and vitality of Muncie’s creative economy.
Next Generation Artist: A working artist/craftsman (in any discipline) under the age of 40 who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to the arts community.
The 2025 People’s Choice Award winner – determined by nominations collected on the MuncieArts Facebook page – will also be announced. (If you would like to nominate someone for the award and do not have Facebook, please send the name of the nominee to info@munciearts.org).
Each Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony has been hosted in a different location. Previous locations have included Minnetrista Museum and Gardens (2015), Cornerstone Center for the Arts (2017), Muncie Civic Theatre (2019), Sursa Performance Hall, Ball State University (2021), and Southside Middle School (2023).
This year’s celebration returns to Muncie Civic and will feature performances by local musicians.
“Performing for the Mayor’s Arts Awards is both exciting and humbling—it’s a chance to represent music as an essential part of Muncie’s vibrant arts scene,” said India Potter, one of the musicians scheduled to perform. “I hope people leave the event reminded of how powerful music can be in shaping a community—how it inspires, heals, and brings people together.
Other performers will include Dan Wright, the Barrelhouse Cats, and Ball State University’s Pop Performance Lab led by John Kolar.
Emcees for the evening will be Laura Williamson, Executive Director of Muncie Civic Theatre, and Michelle Kinsey of the Office of Community Engagement at Ball State University (and the MuncieArts board vice president).
New this year, the awards will be presented by previous winners in that category, there will be fun swag giveaways, and there will be a drawing for a special gift basket with donations from artists and arts organizations.
To register for the drawing – and the event – please go here (must be present to win).
Carl Schafer of Gordy Fine Art and Framing leads the Mayor’s Arts Awards steering committee.
“The Muncie Mayor’s Arts Awards are important because they directly equate the arts as central to the city’s identity,” he said. “So instead of thinking that the people of Muncie are fortunate to have so many arts offerings, we now simply think that Muncie is a great city.”
Sponsors for this year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards include the presenting sponsor of The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County; the media sponsor of Ball State Public Media; nominee reception sponsor of Accutech and Vera Mae’s Bistro; and award and performance sponsors of City of Muncie; College of Fine Arts, Ball State University; Destination: Muncie; Muncie Downtown Development Partnership; First Merchants Bank; First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors; Gordy Fine Art and Framing; Ivy Tech Community College – Muncie; Meridian Health Services; Muncie Civic Theatre; Muncie Sports Commission; Old National Bank; Pridemark Construction; and the Sherman and Marjorie Zeigler Foundation.
For more information about the Mayor’s Arts Awards, please visit munciearts.org.
About MuncieArts
The mission of MuncieArts is to champion arts and culture experiences, public art, and a thriving community of artists and allies in Muncie, Indiana. MuncieArts is the official arts partner of the City of Muncie and was founded in 2009. We impact economic growth, sustainable communities, and health and wellness through arts and culture.
