Cornerstone Center for the Arts

What Cornerstone Center for the Arts does

Cornerstone Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2006 through the merger of Muncie Center for the Arts with the Community Arts and Building Foundation, the owner of the historic Masonic Temple at 520 E. Main Street, Muncie, Indiana. The organization operates from a six-story Gothic Revival building constructed between 1920-1926 (designed by architect Cuno Kibele with murals by Gustave Brand), which is celebrating its centennial in 2026. Cornerstone serves the East Central Indiana region, particularly Muncie and Delaware County, with a mission to provide accessible arts education, community programming, and historic event venue space.

The organization's product portfolio spans three core categories: arts education (dance, martial arts, ceramics, visual arts, performing arts/theatre, music and voice, fitness, workshops, and summer camps across all skill levels), venue rentals (six event spaces ranging from 50 to 1,100 guests including the E.B. Ball Auditorium, Colonnade Room, Grand Hall, Great Room, and Heritage/Legacy/Majestic Rooms), and community programming (Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery, Public Domain Theatre monthly screenings, First Thursday events, Young Artist Exhibition, and the 6X6 annual fundraiser). Cornerstone also houses tenant organizations Masterworks Chorale and Orchestra Indiana, and operates ancillary services including food truck commissary storage and a scholarship program offering up to 75% tuition discounts. The technology stack is entirely non-proprietary, relying on Squarespace (website), Amilia (class registration and gift cards), Zeffy (donations, payments, and email newsletter), and SmartRec (vendor table bookings); no AI, ML, or proprietary software capabilities are disclosed.

Cornerstone's revenue model blends earned and contributed income. Earned revenue derives from venue rentals (priced $550-$2,000 per event with weekday/weekend and nonprofit tiers), class and workshop fees, gallery sales (artists receive 75% of Judith Barnes Gallery purchases and 40% of 6X6 fundraiser proceeds), commissary subscriptions, and event add-ons (linens, AV equipment, security). Contributed revenue comprises donations, sponsorships, and grants from at least eight foundation partners including the National Endowment for the Arts, Indiana Arts Commission, Ball Brothers Foundation, Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Shafer Foundation, Girl Friends Ball Foundation, Central Fundraising Committee, and the Edmund and Virginia Thomas Foundation. The organization is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors (all providing 100% financial support) and operates with a staff of 11-50 employees plus contracted teaching artists across disciplines.

Name

Cornerstone Center for the Arts

Legal name

Cornerstone Center for the Arts

Website

https://cornerstonearts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cornerstone Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating from a historic 1926 Masonic Temple in Muncie, Indiana, delivering arts education, community programming, and venue rentals across East Central Indiana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Education and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Public Bldg & Related Furniture (2531)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Arts education classes
• Event venue rentals
• Community arts programming
• Visual arts workshops
• Historic event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Muncie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Venue and Event Rentals: Room and venue rentals for weddings, receptions, birthday parties, fundraisers, proms, corporate events, and performances. Rental revenue from multiple venues including E.B. Ball Auditorium (1000+ seat), Colonnade Room (450 capacity), Grand Hall (200), Great Room (200), and Heritage/Legacy/Majestic Rooms (150). Event liability insurance ($1,000,000 coverage required) and security ($25/hour) are additional event-related revenue items. Linens and AV equipment (piano, mic, projector) available as add-on rentals.
2. Arts Education Classes and Workshops: Semester-based arts programming including dance, visual arts, music, theatre, fitness, martial arts, ceramics, workshops, and camps. Class fees due upon registration. Scholarships available (up to 75% tuition discount for qualifying individuals). Private music lessons offered. Summer camps (ArtVenture, June 8 - July 10, 2026). New martial arts clubs (Jujutsu, Fencing) available via monthly membership.
3. Donations and Fundraising: 501(c)(3) nonprofit relying on donations, sponsorships, and grants. 2026 fundraising goal of $100,000 to celebrate 100th anniversary of the historic Masonic Temple building. EIN: 35-1804398. Multiple giving vehicles: one-time/mail donations, in-kind gifts, endowment at Community Foundation, program sponsorship, gift matching, checkout donations. Board members provide 100% financial support. 2025 fundraising campaign 'Stand Up for Cornerstone'.
4. Gallery Sales and Art Fundraisers: Judith Barnes Gallery sells artwork with 75% of purchase price going to the artist and 25% supporting Cornerstone's educational programming. 6X6 Fundraiser sells 6x6 inch artworks at $20 each, with artists receiving 40% ($8) and Cornerstone retaining 60% ($12). Gift cards available for purchase toward classes and workshops.
5. Commissary and Ancillary Services: Commissary services providing secure dry and cold storage for food truck operators with monthly payments. First Thursday vendor table fees ($10 per table, $20 for two tables, $5 for students). Event add-ons including linens, AV equipment, furniture, and decorations.
6. Performance Ticketing (Third-Party): Cornerstone serves as venue host for ticketed performances (e.g., A Taste of Ireland 2026). Ticket sales and inquiries managed entirely by event organizers via external platforms (e.g., Eventbrite). Cornerstone does not retain ticketing revenue but benefits from venue rental and community exposure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cornerstone Center for the Arts is a nonprofit arts organization that delivers multi-disciplinary arts education (dance, music, theatre, visual arts, ceramics, martial arts) and rents historic event venue spaces (E.B. Ball Auditorium, Colonnade Room, Grand Hall, and other rooms) for weddings, proms, corporate events, and community gatherings. It also operates community programs including the Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery, Public Domain Theatre film screenings, Young Artist Exhibition, and the annual 6X6 art fundraiser.

Product overview

Cornerstone Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that operates as a multi-venue event and education center in a historic Masonic Temple building. The organization offers a unified portfolio consisting of arts education classes (dance, martial arts, ceramics, visual arts, performing arts/theatre, music & voice, and workshops), venue rental services across six distinct event spaces (E.B. Ball Auditorium, Colonnade Room, Grand Hall, Great Room, Legacy Room, Heritage Room), gallery exhibitions (Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery), community programming (Public Domain Theatre, 6 X 6 Fundraiser, Young Artist Exhibition, First Thursday events), and support services (scholarships, payment plans, volunteer opportunities, board membership). The organization also hosts corporate events, proms, and wedding receptions. Revenue streams include room rental fees, class fees, fundraising events, grants, and donor contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Public Domain Theatre: A free monthly movie program showing public domain films with post-film discussions
• Young Artist Exhibition (YAE)
• 6 X 6 Fundraiser & Exhibition
• Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery
• ArtVentures Summer Camps
• First Thursday

Products and services

• Arts Education Classes Comprehensive arts programming including dance, martial arts, ceramics, visual arts, performing arts/theatre, music and voice instruction, and workshops for all skill levels, offered to community members of all ages.
• Venue Rental Services Rental of six distinct event venues (E.B. Ball Auditorium 1,000+ capacity, Colonnade Room 450 capacity, Grand Hall 200, Great Room, Heritage/Legacy/Majestic Rooms 150) for weddings, proms, corporate events, fundraisers, and community gatherings.
• ArtVenture Summer Camps Annual summer camp program for children offering creative arts education and activities.
• Judith Barnes Memorial Gallery Rotating monthly art gallery on the second floor showcasing local artists of all ages, with 75% of purchases going to artists and 25% supporting educational programming.
• Public Domain Theatre Free monthly movie screening program featuring classic and cult films with post-screening discussions, hosted at E.B. Ball Auditorium.
• 6 X 6 Fundraiser & Exhibition Annual art fundraiser where artists of all ages create and donate 6x6 inch artworks sold for $20 each, with artists receiving 40% of proceeds and 60% supporting programming.
• Young Artist Exhibition (YAE) Annual curated exhibition celebrating creativity of Delaware County students in Kindergarten through 10th Grade in 2D and 3D media, including public and homeschooled students.
• First Thursday Monthly community arts event on the first Thursday of each month (5-8pm) as part of Muncie's downtown gallery crawl, with vendor tables available for local artists.
• Wedding & Event Hosting Full-service wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and special events hosting in historic venue spaces with event coordinator support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2026 fundraising goal of $100,000 for 100th anniversary sustainability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Old Town School of Folk Music: Chicago-based nonprofit arts education institution offering classes, concerts, and community programming across multiple disciplines. Comparable to Cornerstone's arts education and community-performance mission, though at a much larger scale; useful as an aspirational incumbent in the nonprofit community arts space.

Direct peers

• Carnegie Center for the Arts: Three Rivers, Michigan-based community arts center housed in a historic Carnegie library, offering classes, exhibitions, and events. Comparable to Cornerstone in occupying a historic civic building, running multi-disciplinary arts education, and serving as a regional cultural hub for a mid-size Midwestern community.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center: Alexandria, VA-based nonprofit arts center housed in a converted historic munitions factory, hosting artist studios, galleries, classes, and community events. Comparable to Cornerstone in its adaptive-reuse-of-historic-building model, multi-disciplinary arts programming, gallery sales, and nonprofit/educational mission.
• Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment: Huntsville, AL-based nonprofit arts and entertainment center operating out of a repurposed historic industrial building with artist studios, classes, galleries, events, and venue rentals. Highly comparable to Cornerstone's combination of a historic/adaptive-reuse building, multi-venue use, classes, galleries, and event hosting.
• Minnetonka Center for the Arts: Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) community arts center offering multi-disciplinary classes (visual arts, ceramics, fiber, jewelry), exhibitions, and community programming. Closely comparable to Cornerstone as a regional, single-site nonprofit arts education and exhibition hub with a similar mixed revenue model of tuition, memberships, and donations.
• Paramount Theatre (Cedar Rapids): Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based nonprofit performing arts and event venue in a historic building, offering ticketed performances, community events, and venue rentals. Comparable to Cornerstone in operating a historic venue, hosting touring performances (e.g., A Taste of Ireland at Cornerstone), and combining event rental with arts programming in the Midwest.

Others

• Orchestra Indiana: Muncie-based nonprofit symphony orchestra that is itself a tenant of Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Included as a peer because it is a direct beneficiary and co-tenant, sharing the same regional donor base, board networks, and Muncie arts ecosystem; helpful for understanding shared funder overlap and community positioning.

Regional players

• Indiana Repertory Theatre: Indianapolis-based regional nonprofit theater producing live performances and operating as a venue host. Comparable to Cornerstone's performing arts programming and as a fellow Indiana arts nonprofit, but serves a different (larger) market and focuses exclusively on theatrical production rather than multi-disciplinary education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/FirstThursdayMuncie
• Facebookfacebook.com/CornerstoneCenterfortheArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/first_thursday_muncie/?utm_source=ig_embed&hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cornerstone-center-for-the-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cornerstone Center for the Arts