Tania Said named Executive Director of MuncieArts
MUNCIE — MuncieArts is proud to announce the appointment of Tania Said as its new Executive Director. With more than 30 years of experience in museums, higher education, and nonprofits, Said brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for the arts to the organization.
“I love Muncie, and I love the arts,” Said shared. “I have been aware of important conversations happening throughout the community about the future of the arts in Muncie. I knew that consultants had been hired to help develop a plan, and it seemed like this was the perfect moment for our city.”
Said has spent more than 20 years watching the city evolve, including the significant impact of MuncieArts. “I have been fortunate to serve on the Mayor’s Arts Awards committee and have been nominated for - and then won - the Mayor’s Arts Educator Award,” she said. “I have paid attention and supported MuncieArts throughout the years knowing it’s always been an engine of positive change for the community.”
As the new Executive Director, Said aims to be a bridge between “all the artists, makers, creatives and stakeholders, and the dream of what Muncie can be with a new direction.”
“My hope for MuncieArts is that it is secure in its future,” she added. “That it becomes a well of resources for understanding the arts and culture landscape and how it can be the change for the city that we are all looking for right now.”
MuncieArts Board President Kim Miller, owner of Tribune Showprint, emphasized the importance of this appointment: “The next year is a year of transition and defining who we are. Hiring an Executive Director at this moment who is excited about being a part of planning and paving the future for the organization was the key in making this next step successful.”
“Tania has the knowledge and skills to help move MuncieArts through the next steps as we transition into a bigger service organization,” Miller said. “Her experiences and enthusiasm for what the organization can be is going to make a significant impact on the future of MuncieArts.”
Before joining MuncieArts, Said served as Vice President of Exhibitions and Programs at Minnetrista Museum and Gardens (2023–2025) and founded Tania Said Consulting, an organization dedicated to strengthening communities through equity-driven strategies. She also spent 15 years as Director of
Education for the David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) at Ball State University and later served as Development Director for Ball State’s College of Communication, Information, and Media.
Her extensive background includes work in Washington, D.C., with the American Alliance of Museums, the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies, and other leading institutions. She is also an active advocate for literacy and the arts, volunteering with the Human Library and previously serving on board committees for the Ross Community Center.
Tania embraces her international background of being American, British, and Malaysian. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Media and Art History from Ball State University, where she also completed her post-graduate Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate, and studied abroad at the University of Malta. She earned a master’s degree in Museum Studies and Visual Culture, comprising of classes in American Studies, Anthropology, and Art History, from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
As MuncieArts embarks on this new chapter, the organization looks forward to continued growth and increased community engagement under Said’s leadership.
“Knowing who is on the board and who volunteers with MuncieArts, I am excited to roll up my sleeves and work together as a partner and collaborator,” Said noted.
MuncieArts (Muncie Arts and Culture Council) was formed in 2009. Its mission is to champion arts and culture experiences, public art, and a thriving community of artists and allies in Muncie, Indiana. For more information about MuncieArts and its programs, visit munciearts.org.