By Jessica Shrout—
MUNCIE, IN—Muncie is home to a strong and growing creative community.
Creativity is abundant in Muncie and Delaware County. It shows up in the classrooms of Ball State University and local schools, in exhibitions and programs at Minnetrista Museum and Gardens, in First Thursday Arts Walks, on the stage at the Muncie Civic Theatre, and in the work of countless local artists, performers, and organizations across the community.
There is talent. There is energy. There is momentum.
What’s happening now is an opportunity to bring that momentum together—to better connect people, places, and ideas in ways that support continued growth in a way only Muncie can.
Investing in the arts and downtown spaces isn’t just a “nice to have,” it’s an economic development task that brings growth and excitement to Muncie and Delaware County. That’s the purpose of the Creative Space Action Plan and how it will be used to retain, nurture, and attract talent.
When Creativity Needs a Home
Creative work doesn’t happen in isolation. It needs places to take shape, to be shared, and to grow.
For artists, that might mean:
- Affordable studio space
- Places to perform or exhibit
- Opportunities to collaborate and share ideas, talent, and resources
For the broader community (and those who love the arts), it means something just as important:
- Experiences that make Muncie feel alive
- A chance to feel inspired
- Shared moments that shape how we experience and talk about the city
Without those spaces, even the most vibrant creative energy can become fragments. People work in solos. Opportunities are harder to find. Seats go unfilled at performances, and there’s a hint of, “If only I had known this was happening…” in the wind. Over time, talent begins to look elsewhere for the support it needs. That could mean passionate and gifted artists search for communities outside of Muncie to support their work.
Muncie is working to retain all the talent it has, support them with new and existing resources, and position Muncie and Delaware County as the place to put down roots and let your art flow.
A group of attendees is pictured dancing at the Muncie Three Trails concert featuring Jennie DeVoe at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. Photo courtesy of The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County.
Setting the Stage for What’s Next
What makes this moment different is that Muncie is not starting from scratch.
Across the community, there are already signs of investment in arts and culture—from local organizations and civic leaders to major institutions and grassroots initiatives. That momentum is real, and it is uniquely Muncie.
- University Investments: We’ve already seen nearly $200 million invested in the Village, including the Performing Arts Center at Ball State University.
- City Support: The City has supported infrastructure investments downtown to create a space for the creative sector to thrive.
- State & Private Investments: $10 million has been invested to support housing in and around downtown.
- Local Partnerships: Organizations are actively seeking state and national funding for long-standing arts and cultural organizations.
Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MuncieArts) has listened to the community and reemerged ready to serve artists, neighbors, and visitors looking to connect to creativity.
The question now is how to build on it and nurture that momentum.
How do we connect community assets, especially downtown, Ball State University, and Minnetrista, build on existing investments, and convert cultural activity into broader community benefit?
That’s where the Creative Space Action Plan enters stage left.
A Chorus of Community Voices
The Creative Space Action Plan (announced formally in November of 2024) is not a top-down strategy. It reflects input from more than 300 community members, including residents, artists, and local organizations.
Through that process, a clear picture emerged:
- Muncie has strong creative assets
- There is interest in doing more
- But there are gaps in how people, places, and opportunities connect
Every choir needs a director, so we’re taking on the challenge of convening the community to solve these problems. The Creative Space Action Plan serves as a roadmap to address those gaps—identifying both near-term actions and long-term strategies to strengthen Muncie and Delaware County’s creative ecosystem.
What It Aims to Do
At its core, the Creative Space Action Plan focuses on a few key priorities:
- Celebrating what already exists by strengthening Muncie’s cultural identity
- Bringing the arts community together to support collaboration and shared visibility
- Expanding access to creative space so more people can participate and contribute
- Connecting key areas of the city to create a more unified and accessible experience
These are the practical steps, but they point to something bigger: meaning.
Why It Matters
Creative space is not only about artists. It shapes how a community feels.
It influences whether people choose to stay, to invest, and to engage. Creative space contributes to economic development, supports small businesses, and brings new life to shared spaces that are hungry for visitors and new reasons to keep the lights on.
Just as importantly, creative spaces create opportunities for people to connect—with each other and with the place they call home.
Looking Ahead
Some of this work is already underway. A core leadership team has formed. Early investments have been made. Grants have been pursued. Conversation is continuing and collaboration is expanding.
The Creative Space Action Plan is not something that will be achieved and implemented by one organization alone. It’s a shared roadmap—one that depends on continued participation from residents, artists, businesses, and community leaders.
The goal is not simply to support the arts. It’s to strengthen Muncie as a place where creativity contributes to economic vitality, community identity, and long-term sustainability—and where people choose not just to create, but to stay.
Jessica Shrout is President of Circle Three Branding.
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