We offer a variety of noncredit, cultural enrichment programs in the areas of arts, culture, music, history, science, literature, languages, and personal/professional skills. Reservations are required for all programs unless noted otherwise. Programs are only open to adults age 18 and older.

Programs and Courses

Art, Music, Hobbies

Date

Tuesday, December 9, 2-3:30 p.m.
Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • cost – $10
  • reservations required - limited to 40 guests
  • REGISTER ONLINE (under Art)  

We’ll begin our afternoon on the 3rd floor, discovering fascinating insights into the art of needlepoint. Then, we’ll make our way down to the first floor to savor a delightful afternoon tea in the elegant Ball Family mansion. Along the way, guests can explore all three floors adorned in festive holiday décor and admire the stunning collection of needlepoint pieces showcased in the living room.

Date

Wednesday, January 21, 2026; 1-3 p.m.
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • Cost: $45
  • REGISTER ONLINE
  • Limited to 10 students
  • Instructor: Ann Johnson, local artist and former owner of F.B. Fogg

Claude Monet (1840-1926) helped to shift the emphasis of art from realistic representation to subjective experience. He made subjectivity a central element of art, paving the way for future movements that emphasized individual expression. Artists like Jackson Pollack and Mark Rothko were influenced by Monet’s emphasis on light, color and expression over realism. His techniques encouraged future generations of artists to explore their perceptions and emotions, leading to development of new artist language and styles. Join Ann Johnson for a watercolor journey inspired by Monet. Explore light, color, and brushwork as you capture your own subjective experience. Open to all skills levels.

 

Date

Tuesday, February 24, 2026; 1-4 p.m.
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • Cost: $55
  • REGISTER ONLINE
  • Limited to 10 students
  • Instructor: Ann Johnson, local artist and former owner of F.B. Fogg

Apply lessons learned from painting marbles to a glass still life painting and create the illusion of transparent glass. You’ll use layering, overlay, and reflection techniques to give your masterpiece a marble glass sparkle and shine. Open to all skill levels.

Date

Tuesday, March 3, 2026; 1-4 p.m. 
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • Cost: $55
  • REGISTER ONLINE
  • Limited to 10 students
  • Instructor: Ann Johnson, local artist and former owner of F.B. Fogg

Ann guides artists in crafting a truly unique world of creative expression. You’ll explore a blend of drawing, painting, stamp-making, printing, and collage to create imaginative and refined portraits. Your artwork will show off your creativity. Open to all skill levels.

 

 

Date

Wednesday, April 15, 2026; 1-3 p.m.
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • Cost: $45
  • REGISTER ONLINE
  • Limited to 10 students
  • Instructor: Ann Johnson, local artist and former owner of F.B. Fogg

Learn how using opposites or complementary elements can make your painting more dramatic and complete. In this class, you’ll explore contrast while using a goose—or a gaggle of geese—as your subject. Discover how to effectively handle a strong foreground subject when you’re unsure what to do with the background, and uncover your own “golden egg” for successful painting. Open to all skill levels.

Date

Friday, April 24, 2026; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • cost – $30, includes project
  • REGISTER ONLINE
  • Limited to 15 students
  • Instructor –Linda Burkhardt, owner, Elegant Needleworks, Inc.

Looking for a creative, hands-on hobby with a modern twist? Try needlepointing! This isn’t your grandmother’s needlepoint. Today’s version is vibrant, customizable, and full of personality. In each class, you'll design a one-of-a-kind piece by choosing your own thread colors and selecting from a variety of stitches using a helpful stitch guide. Every session features a new project, so there's always something fresh and inspiring to create. Whether you're just starting out or have years of stitching under your belt, this class welcomes all skill levels—beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

 

Date

Friday, June 6, 2026; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • cost – $30, includes project
  • REGISTER ONLINE
  • Limited to 15 students
  • Instructor –Linda Burkhardt, owner, Elegant Needleworks, Inc.

Looking for a creative, hands-on hobby with a modern twist? Try needlepointing! This isn’t your grandmother’s needlepoint. Today’s version is vibrant, customizable, and full of personality. In each class, you'll design a one-of-a-kind piece by choosing your own thread colors and selecting from a variety of stitches using a helpful stitch guide. Every session features a new project, so there's always something fresh and inspiring to create. Whether you're just starting out or have years of stitching under your belt, this class welcomes all skill levels—beginner, intermediate, or advanced.


Date

Friday, April 3, 2026; 2-4 p.m.
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

  • Cost $25, includes supplies for making five cards/envelopes
  • REGISTER ONLINE (under Art, Music, Hobbies)
  • Limited to 12 students
  • Instructor: Krista Flynn, Program Coordinator, Office of Community Engagement, Ball State University

Join us for this special occasion card-making class featuring different styles of stamps and a variety of supplies. In addition to learning helpful tips and tricks for making your cards stunning, you’ll also receive all the supplies you need to make five one-of-a-kind cards for your family and friends during class. 

  • No Charge
  • Registrations Required - REGISTER ONLINE (Under History)
  • Program held at the Ball State Alumni Center

For generations, holiday shopping in Muncie was more than a seasonal task—it was an experience filled with tradition, excitement, and community spirit. Downtown once sparkled with festive lights, and families crowded the sidewalks to admire elaborate window displays at Ball Stores and other local retail establishments. This program explores the history and experiences of holiday shopping in the “Magic City” through the combined resources of the Ball State University Libraries, Delaware County Historical Society, and the Muncie Public Library.

Presenters:

  • Melissa Gentry, Supervisor, Map Collection, Ball State University Libraries
  • Cody Sprunger, Archivist for Architectural and Design Records, Ball State Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning
  • Sara McKinley, Carnegie Library Manager and the Archivist for Muncie Public Library
  • Karen Vincent, Executive Director, Delaware County Historical Society and Delaware County Historian
  • Susan Smith, Archivist, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens

Date

Wednesday, December 3, 6 p.m.
Held at the Ball State Alumni Center
Refreshments served after program

Date and Details

Three Wednesdays, January 21, 28, and February 4, 2026; 2:30–4 p.m.

  • Cost: $55  
  • REGISTER ONLINE (Literature & Writing Section)
  • Limit of 12 students
  • Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center 

Description

This class is for anyone looking to preserve their memories, whether for personal reflection, to share with loved ones, or to publish. It's ideal whether you've already begun a memoir or are just starting to explore writing about your life.

You'll create a series of vignettes, short scenes or snapshots from your life, written in whatever style speaks to you: prose, poetry, dialogue, or even playwriting. No matter the form, the focus is on translating your thoughts into words, and this class will help you build that essential skill.

Over three sessions, you'll respond to writing prompts designed to help you “capture your life” on the page. You’ll also have the chance to share your writing, ask questions, and exchange feedback and discoveries with the group.

This class is best suited for beginning and intermediate writers. It’s also designed to be repeatable, offering new prompts and insights each time you take it.

REGISTER ONLINE. Open to ages 18 and older.

Instructor

Lylanne Musselman is an award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist. Her work has appeared in Pank, The New Verse News, Flying Island, Rose Quartz Magazine, Last Stanza Poetry Journal and The Ekphrastic Review, among others. Recently, one of her poems was selected as the featured poem in Tipton Poetry Journal, Issue # 48 Spring 2021. Musselman’s work has appeared in many anthologies, including The Indianapolis Anthology (Belt Publishing, 2021). She is the author of six chapbooks, including Paparazzi for the Birds (Red Mare 16, 2018) and is the co-author of Company of Women: New and Selected Poems (Chatter House Press, 2013), and is author of the full-length poetry collection, It’s Not Love, Unfortunately (Chatter House Press, 2018). Musselman is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and her poems are included in the Inverse Poetry Archive, a collection of Hoosier poets, housed at the Indiana State Library. Musselman is currently working on several chapbooks and a new manuscript.

Date and Details

Three Tuesdays, March 10, 17, and 24, 2026; 2:30–4 p.m.

  • Cost: $55  
  • REGISTER ONLINE (Literature & Writing Section)
  • Limit of 12 students
  • Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center 

Description

This class is for anyone looking to preserve their memories, whether for personal reflection, to share with loved ones, or to publish. It's ideal whether you've already begun a memoir or are just starting to explore writing about your life.

You'll create a series of vignettes, short scenes or snapshots from your life, written in whatever style speaks to you: prose, poetry, dialogue, or even playwriting. No matter the form, the focus is on translating your thoughts into words, and this class will help you build that essential skill.

Over three sessions, you'll respond to writing prompts designed to help you “capture your life” on the page. You’ll also have the chance to share your writing, ask questions, and exchange feedback and discoveries with the group.

This class is best suited for beginning and intermediate writers. It’s also designed to be repeatable, offering new prompts and insights each time you take it.

REGISTER ONLINE. Open to ages 18 and older.

Instructor

Lylanne Musselman is an award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist. Her work has appeared in Pank, The New Verse News, Flying Island, Rose Quartz Magazine, Last Stanza Poetry Journal and The Ekphrastic Review, among others. Recently, one of her poems was selected as the featured poem in Tipton Poetry Journal, Issue # 48 Spring 2021. Musselman’s work has appeared in many anthologies, including The Indianapolis Anthology (Belt Publishing, 2021). She is the author of six chapbooks, including Paparazzi for the Birds (Red Mare 16, 2018) and is the co-author of Company of Women: New and Selected Poems (Chatter House Press, 2013), and is author of the full-length poetry collection, It’s Not Love, Unfortunately (Chatter House Press, 2018). Musselman is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and her poems are included in the Inverse Poetry Archive, a collection of Hoosier poets, housed at the Indiana State Library. Musselman is currently working on several chapbooks and a new manuscript.

Date and Details

Three Tuesdays, May 12, 19, 26, 2026; 2:30-4 p.m.

  • Cost: $55  
  • REGISTER ONLINE (Literature & Writing Section)
  • Limit of 12 students
  • Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center 

Description

This class is for anyone looking to preserve their memories, whether for personal reflection, to share with loved ones, or to publish. It's ideal whether you've already begun a memoir or are just starting to explore writing about your life.

You'll create a series of vignettes, short scenes or snapshots from your life, written in whatever style speaks to you: prose, poetry, dialogue, or even playwriting. No matter the form, the focus is on translating your thoughts into words, and this class will help you build that essential skill.

Over three sessions, you'll respond to writing prompts designed to help you “capture your life” on the page. You’ll also have the chance to share your writing, ask questions, and exchange feedback and discoveries with the group.

This class is best suited for beginning and intermediate writers. It’s also designed to be repeatable, offering new prompts and insights each time you take it.

REGISTER ONLINE. Open to ages 18 and older.

Instructor

Lylanne Musselman is an award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist. Her work has appeared in Pank, The New Verse News, Flying Island, Rose Quartz Magazine, Last Stanza Poetry Journal and The Ekphrastic Review, among others. Recently, one of her poems was selected as the featured poem in Tipton Poetry Journal, Issue # 48 Spring 2021. Musselman’s work has appeared in many anthologies, including The Indianapolis Anthology (Belt Publishing, 2021). She is the author of six chapbooks, including Paparazzi for the Birds (Red Mare 16, 2018) and is the co-author of Company of Women: New and Selected Poems (Chatter House Press, 2013), and is author of the full-length poetry collection, It’s Not Love, Unfortunately (Chatter House Press, 2018). Musselman is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and her poems are included in the Inverse Poetry Archive, a collection of Hoosier poets, housed at the Indiana State Library. Musselman is currently working on several chapbooks and a new manuscript.

Date and Details

Tuesday, April 21, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

  • Cost: $30
  • REGISTER ONLINE (Literature & Writing Section)
  • Limit of 15 students
  • Instructor: Lylanne Musselman, award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist
  • Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center 

Description

You have your manuscript (or even a grouping of poems or a short story) ready to send out, but you’re not sure how to take the plunge into publication. Do you need an agent? How do you find one? Can you send it to more places than one? What if I get rejected…am I a failure? Where do you find places that will accept your manuscript? Do I pay big money to get published or do I get paid for my work? How do I get blurbs for my cover? Is self-publishing an option? We will cover these questions, your questions, and so much more in this two-hour workshop on how you can get published – by a big publishing house, smaller presses, or even online journals for a poem or a short story. You will walk away with a lot of ideas, inspiration, and places to get your manuscript or your shorter works published. 

Instructor

Lylanne Musselman is an award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist. Her work has appeared in Pank, The New Verse News, Flying Island, Rose Quartz Magazine, Last Stanza Poetry Journal and The Ekphrastic Review, among others. Recently, one of her poems was selected as the featured poem in Tipton Poetry Journal, Issue # 48 Spring 2021. Musselman’s work has appeared in many anthologies, including The Indianapolis Anthology (Belt Publishing, 2021). She is the author of six chapbooks, including Paparazzi for the Birds (Red Mare 16, 2018) and is the co-author of Company of Women: New and Selected Poems (Chatter House Press, 2013), and is author of the full-length poetry collection, It’s Not Love, Unfortunately (Chatter House Press, 2018). Musselman is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and her poems are included in the Inverse Poetry Archive, a collection of Hoosier poets, housed at the Indiana State Library. Musselman is currently working on several chapbooks and a new manuscript.

 

 

Date and Details

Wednesday, June 17, 6-8 p.m.

  • No charge - reservations required
  • REGISTER ONLINE (Literature & Writing Section)
  • Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center 

Description

Join us for our inaugural poetry reading at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center. The program features the work of Lylanne Musselman—award-winning poet, playwright, visual artist, and writing instructor at the Center—alongside selections from her students. A reception will follow the readings.

Policies

question bubble iconMissed Sessions

If you are unable to attend one or more sessions, please discuss this absence with the instructor before the program begins. There are no make-up sessions.

beverage iconFood and Drinks

Please do not bring outside food or drinks to the Center. Coffee and water will be provided.

children iconChildren

Children under the age of 18 are not permitted in the classroom.

not allowed iconCancellations and Refunds

To cancel your registration, call 765-285-8975. If there is a charge for program, the following refund schedule applies, based on many times your program meets:

Four or more times:

  • 100-percent refund if notified before the first session
  • 50-percent refund if notified after the first session, but before the second session
  • no refund after the second session

Three times or fewer:

  • 100-percent refund if notified before the first session
  • no refund after the first session

rain cloud iconInclement Weather

As a general rule, if Ball State University offices are closed (versus classes being cancelled), the Center is closed. If there is a delay for employees, all morning programs are cancelled.

How to Register

Reservations are required for all programs unless noted otherwise. Programs are only open to adults age 18 and older.

  • If the class you want to take is full, ask to be placed on the waiting list. If an opening occurs, we will call you.
  • If a fee is required, payment is due in full before the first session. You may pay by credit card during the registration process.
  • Payment plans are not available.

Please complete our online form to sign up.

Register