MuncieArts Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Transform 19 Utility Boxes into Public Art

Hoosiers and other MuncieArts friends have the opportunity to help transform Muncie's State Road 32 corridor into a vibrant outdoor art gallery by supporting the Muncie Arts and Culture Council's (MuncieArts) Box!Box! crowdfunding campaign. If the campaign reaches its $19,000 fundraising goal by September 24, 2026, it will unlock an additional $19,000 matching grant through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority's (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program, bringing the total project funding to $38,000. 

The Box!Box! campaign at Patronicity.com/MuncieBoxBox seeks to raise $19,000 to commission artists to transform 19 traffic control boxes along State Road 32 into colorful, durable works of public art. Once complete, the project will expand Muncie's nationally recognized utility box public art collection to more than 90 painted boxes, creating a more welcoming gateway into the community while celebrating local creativity. 

Funds raised through the campaign will provide artist stipends, materials, protective coatings, and project coordination for the installation of the artwork. Any funds raised beyond the campaign goal will support future Box!Box! installations and establish a  maintenance fund to preserve the artwork for years to come. 

"Public art transforms ordinary spaces into places that inspire pride, spark conversation, and strengthen community identity," shared Tania Said, Executive Director of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council. 

"The Box!Box! program gives local artists the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on our city while creating a more beautiful and welcoming corridor for residents and visitors alike. Thanks to IHCDA's matching funds, every contribution has twice the impact." 

The utility boxes selected for this phase are located along State Road 32, one of Muncie's busiest transportation corridors. The project supports MuncieArts' mission to champion arts experiences, public art, and a thriving community of artists and allies while advancing economic development, placemaking, and neighborhood vitality. 

Since the CreatINg Places program began in 2016, projects across Indiana have raised more than $12 million in public contributions and received an additional $10 million in matching funds from IHCDA. The program empowers Indiana communities to complete quality-of-place projects through crowdfunding and matching grants. 

Community members can support the campaign by making a donation through the Patronicity crowdfunding platform before the campaign deadline of September 24, 2026. 

To see the Box! Box! Gallery, visit MuncieArts.org/publicart.