Kimberly McMurray began her theatre company, Encore Dinner Theatre, in 2024 and is already making her mark on the performing arts scene in Terre Haute. She has worked to be a part of the 41|40 Arts & Cultural District through collaborations with Arts Illiana, the Vigo County Public Library, and the Vigo County History Center.

In 2023 and 2024, she created an immersive experience in visual art, poetry, and dance entitled Intentionally Black. Both events were held at Arts Illiana. She produced and directed two dinner theatre productions staged in the Vigo County History Center's auditorium.

She is working with the new owners of the Ohio Building with the intention of scheduling dinner theatre productions there in 2025. Her goal is to create an artists' hub in the cultural district and is actively working to secure a brick-and-mortar space located in or near the district.

Written by Todd Nation, Terre Haute City Council:

Our three year old son Theo has lived his whole life within walking distance of Terre Haute’s 41|40 Arts and Cultural District. In Theo’s young mind, downtown is where fun things happen. His mom Sarah and I talk often with Theo about what we did there last time we visited, and where we’ll go next.

At the top of Theo’s Favorites List is our Children’s Museum. The three story, ten year old facility is a regional destination for families, bringing them right to the heart of our downtown. As a fan of big machines, Theo loves the new "Under Construction" exhibit there. It has windows overlooking the two block long site of Terre Haute's new Convention Center, which is slated to open in 2021.

Our new Vigo County History Center at 929 Wabash is also a favorite of Theo's. Opened just last year in a former overall factory, the History Center has been a fantastic addition to our downtown. Some of Theo’s favorite exhibits include a ringing telephone that he rushes to answer, a real bobsled, and a replica to John Heinl’s tomb that we shine a flashlight into so we can see Heinl’s (stuffed) dog, Stiffy Green.

First Fridays downtown are special for Theo, Sarah and I. We walk to the our public library for programming that reflects that month’s First Friday theme. From there we head further up 7th street to the Swope Art Museum, which holds their exhibit openings on First Fridays. Interesting speakers, live music, art activities, snacks and seeing friends make these evenings at the Swope a hit with our family.

Other First Friday destinations include the gallery at Arts Illiana, headquarters of our Regional Arts Council. Arts Illiana stays open on First Fridays to welcome supporters and celebrate the great work for sale there. The last Crow Show at Arts Illiana made a big impression on our whole family. We watch our winter visitors fly over our home every evening during their annual visit, and we awaken each morning to their caws as they head back across the Wabash River in search of breakfast. Seeing the connection between art and his environment has heightened Theo’s awareness of both, which Sarah and I deeply appreciate.

Theo enjoys visiting these places regularly, and we also look forward to seasonal festivals, parades and other celebrations downtown. His life has been enriched by having such a wealth of community resources concentrated in our Arts and Cultural District, all within walking distance of our home.

Blues at the Crossroads started as an outdoor party for the Verve almost 20 years ago, and now has evolved into a Terre Haute tradition of a two-day music Festival.  Connie Wrin opened the downtown night spot Verve in 1999 and hosted a “little party” outside in 2000—a little party with well over a thousand people in attendance. So the “party” grew into a “fest” and brings together some of the best blues musicians from around the country, attracting around 8,000 visitors to the two-day with two stages event.  Past performers include: Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, The Leonard Washingtons, Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band, The Ragbirds, Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel, Blind Mississippi Morris, Guy Forsyth, David Mayfield Parade, and many more.

Held each year in the heart of downtown (Crossroads of America) Terre Haute, Blues at the Crossroads is a destination for blues-lovers.  The two-day festival brings visitors from throughout Indiana, Illinois, and beyond, bringing tourism dollars to downtown hotels, eateries, and other businesses.

Additionally, Blues at the Crossroads became a not-for-profit in 2005 and since has been a blues fest with a heart.  Proceeds from the festival have provided supplies to victims of Hurricane Katrina, monetary donations to the American Red Cross and the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club.  Collaborating with the ISU Community School of the Arts, the blues fest initiated the “Music is Key” program, providing new guitars and a year of free music lessons to at risk youth in the community.  In 2019 Blues at the Crossroads and the Terre Haute YMCA partnered with a plan for the “Music is Key” program to offer youth music classes at the YMCA in 2020.