Ball State performing arts center among recipients of $4M in grants
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The Muncie-based Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded more than $4 million in grants to nearly three dozen projects in the region. Among them is a $2.5 million grant to support the construction of the new Performing Arts Center at Ball State University.
The $60 million performing arts center is part of the university’s planned revitalization for The Village commercial district adjacent to the Muncie campus.
The Performing Arts Center will be home to Ball State’s theatre and dance students, hosting more than 160 performances each year, and attracting an estimated 35,000 people to The Village.
The two-story building at the corner of University and McKinley avenues, will feature a main stage theatre with seating for 425 patrons, a studio “black box” theatre that can sit 175 spectators, dressing rooms, and a lobby connected to an adjacent Tapestry by Hilton Hotel.
Ball Brothers Foundation CEO Jud Fisher said the revitalization of The Village–with the performing arts center as its centerpiece–will be transformative.
“This will provide a dynamic gateway to campus—and conversely—to the community that will attract community members and visitors. And it will help to better physically connect the city of Muncie and Ball State University,” Fisher said. “The Ball family has a deep and abiding love both for Muncie and for Ball State University. We’re proud to support this once-in-a-generation project to restore vitality to this end of campus and to create new connections to our award-winning trail systems and vibrant downtown.”
In January, Ball State said construction on the performing arts center and hotel could begin this fall and be complete by the fall of 2026.
Additionally, the foundation has awarded a $250,000 grant to support renovations at Camp Crosley, a YMCA camp on Lake Tippecanoe in Kosciusko County. The renovations include upgrades to the camp’s lakeside cabins such as the addition of modern restrooms, front porches, and HVAC improvements.
“These renovations are crucial for meeting the growing demand for our camp programs,” said Mark Battig, executive director of Camp Crosley. “This support from Ball Brothers Foundation is invaluable in helping us create a great experience for our young campers to really make them feel like this place is where they belong and can grow.”
Camp Crosley hosts over 2,600 campers from across the Midwest each year, and the foundation said the renovations will accommodate 14 additional campers each week.
The other grant recipients are:
Arts & Culture
- Delaware County Historical Society – $20,000 to hire a part-time Executive Director to help the organization prepare for its centennial in 1925, the bicentennial of the county in 1927, and other general operations activities.
- Muncie Children’s Museum – $30,000 toward design and fabrication costs for new nature exhibits.
- Music for All – $20,000 in support for MFA’s Summer Symposium, held locally on the campus of Ball State University each June. Funding will allow MFA to bring 900+ students and 150 directors from across the country to Muncie.
- The Community Foundation of Muncie & Del. Co. – $15,000 to engage national consultants, Artspace, to conduct a study of the local arts/culture landscape and to develop an action plan to help inform economic development, tourism, downtown revitalization, and historic preservation.
Education
- Anderson University – $25,000 for the Center for Security Studies and Cyber Defense, a “cybersecurity incubator” that recruits AU and Ball State University students for highly competitive cybersecurity internships.
- Ball State University – $25,000 to establish a new on-campus cybersecurity internship space, the Cardinal Academy of Digital Security and Education.
- Daleville Community Schools – $100,000 multi-year funding to establish a new staff position to oversee the district’s Outdoor Learning Lab.
- Destiny Christian Center – $15,000 toward the purchase of new playground equipment for the McKinley Neighborhood childcare facility.
- Huffer Memorial Children’s Center – $30,000 in general operations support for childcare and early education programs.
- Ivy Tech Foundation – $50,000 to help establish a “college concierge” program to support high school to community college transitions.
- Job Source – $10,000 to support start-up of the Muncie Scholar House, a housing and wrap-around support program for single parents pursuing post-secondary education.
- Shafer Leadership Academy – $100,000 in multi-year support for general operations and growth.
- Vision Corner – $15,000 for e-sports racing simulators at this downtown Union City hub for education, small business development, and workforce training.
- YMCA of Muncie – $40,000 to support general operations of childcare and early learning programs.
- Youth Opportunity Center – $35,000 to expand staffing for on-site academic programs in partnership with Muncie Community Schools.
Environment
- Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District – $35,000 for educational programming, water sampling, and outreach centered on water and soil quality in Grant, Blackford, Jay, Madison, Delaware, and Randolph counties.
Health
- Muncie Sports Commission – $70,000 in general operating support.
- Riley Children’s Foundation – $100,000 to support large-scale diabetes screening research.
Human Services
- Brothers 2 Brothers United – $10,000 to grow staff capacity for a youth mentorship program in the Industry neighborhood.
- Heart of Indiana United Way – $75,000 to support operational costs and to be used as matching incentive to help increase fundraising success of annual campaign.
- Indiana Youth Institute – $45,000 for custom consulting projects for youth-serving organizations in East Central Indiana.
- Muncie Delaware County Senior Center – $7,500 for electrical upgrades.
- YWCA of Central Indiana – $50,000 to support general operations and services for women and children experiencing homelessness.
Public Society Benefit
- Delaware County Sheriff’s Office – $10,000 to support equipment and training for fighting cybercrime.
- Muncie Downtown Development Partnership – $50,000 to support operations and branding campaign.
- Muncie Police Department – $10,000 to support equipment and training for fighting cybercrime.
- Ross Community Center – $95,000 to support general operations and sports fields maintenance.
- Sustainable Muncie Corporation – $175,000 to support general operations and expand maker education.