MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University will expand its fine arts programs through a gift from a local couple.

The David and Mary Jane Sursa Fine Arts Endowment, named for the benefactors, will benefit the College of Fine Arts. The endowment creates student scholarships, a fine arts exhibit series and a visiting artist program.

The endowed fund was established with a gift of $400,000. When fully funded, the endowment will be about $2.5 million. The Sursas, long-time Muncie residents, have also contributed a portion of their art collection to Ball State.

"My wife and I have always been interested in the fine arts at Ball State University," David Sursa said. "We already have established an endowed chair for fine arts. This is another opportunity to support the program in a major way. We plan to stick around and enjoy what our contribution does."

The Sursas have been generous supporters of the College of Fine Arts, as well as other area arts programs for many years. A private gift from the couple during Ball State’s last major campaign, Wings for the Future, endowed the Sursa Distinguished Professor in Fine Arts.

The Sursa Fine Arts Scholarships will be awarded to entering freshmen based on academics and performance in art, dance, theater or music. Initially, the scholarships will be $1,000 per year and renewable for three additional years. When the endowment is fully funded, a maximum of 20 scholarships will be available with priority given to students from the Department of Art.

The Sursa Art Exhibits will allow additional exhibits to be brought to the Museum of Art. The Sursa Visiting Artist Program will bring to the School of Music rising young stars, scholars and first-rate ensembles for short residencies to conduct master classes and to interact with faculty, students and the community.

Robert Kvam, interim dean of the College of Fine Arts, believes the endowment will have a profound and lasting effect.

"This philanthropic effort will support 20 scholarships, allowing us to recruit first-class students who are academically and creatively superior," he said. "It also will enable the Museum of Art to showcase nationally prominent exhibitions on the Ball State campus, sharing this experience with the entire Muncie community.

"Further, this gift will allow the School of Music to bring artists of the highest stature to the university, sharing performances and master classes with students, faculty, and townspeople," he said.

The Sursa’s gift is part of Above and Beyond: The Campaign to Advance Ball State University, a $90 million effort. Through the campaign, the university seeks support for projects with a far-reaching impact on the experience of students especially in the areas of student scholarship, innovative academic programs and capital projects. The campaign total stands at about $73.8 million.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about this story, contact Hudson Akin, executive director of university development, at hakin@bsu.edu or (765) 285-8261. )