Muncie and Anderson Arts

I find it hard not to think of Anderson and Muncie as twin cities.  They are about 27 miles apart. In the days of landlines, calling from one to the other was a long-distance call. The West Fork of the White River runs through the cities. Both are remnants from the Gas Boom days, both are Rust Belt relics trying to find their way into a post-industrial future.

Each tries to use the arts to improve, enhance their communities. They do have their differences.

The Muncie Arts and Culture Council has no analog in Anderson. There is the The Anderson Museum of Art.

Muncie's Mayor’s has an Arts Awards. Apparently, Anderson's mayor has no such program.

The Muncie Council helps fund the Muncie Events page - which, in turn, promotes the downtown's First Thursdays. Those are open houses for artists meant to draw people to downtown Muncie. 

Anderson has A Town Center. Which appears to be attempting to do the same for Anderson but on Fridays. Anderson may one thing missing from Muncie's program - an open mic night for writers.

What I did not see with Anderson is anything for the upcoming Friday.

Promoting the arts promotes a better quality of life for the community. They can also have a practical, economic purpose. I wonder how many in each city knows about these programs. From my perspective in Muncie, it seems Muncie may have the advantage in its implementation having started earlier and having political support. Would I have time to see either or both in action.

sch