Arts United is at the forefront of bolstering the arts and humanities that are unique to our region and vital to enhancing community life and spurring cultural and economic growth. In June of 2010, Arts United and our strategic partners, Downtown Improvement District, City of Fort Wayne, and Convention and Visitors Bureau, successfully lobbied for and attained the Fort Wayne Cultural District designation, made possible through a successful vote from the Fort Wayne City Council.
Anchored by Arts United’s arts campus, the Cultural District includes 15 historic sites, 6 museums, 6 theatres, 11 art galleries, 23 performing arts spaces, 4 libraries and archives, 8 arts education facilities, 18 public parks and gardens, and numerous restaurants, stores and local businesses. By harnessing the momentum of multiple arts and cultural organizations, the Cultural District serves as a physical landmark and logistical nucleus of cultural activities throughout the region – bringing increased visibility to the quality and diversity of arts and entertainment options that are uniquely available in downtown Fort Wayne and facilitating the movement of arts and audiences between our urban core and outlying communities.
As quality of life becomes increasingly important in the determination of our city’s value to its citizens and businesses, the Cultural District will play a central role in reinvigorating our urban core and strengthening its cultural identity.
The Cultural District Advisory Council
- Jim Sparrow, Executive Director, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne
- Rich Davis, Executive Director, Downtown Improvement District
- Dan O’Connell, President & CEO, Visit Fort Wayne
- Sharon Feasel, Community Development Manager, City of Fort Wayne
- Chuck O’Connor, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, IPFW
- Karl Bandemer, Senior Development Officer, The Alliance
- Kelly Updike, Executive Director, Embassy Theatre
Cultural District Goals
- Support downtown as a destination
- Develop, coordinate, and support diverse cultural district programming activities
- Develop a collaborative cultural district brand identity and marketing plan
- Promote connectivity and transportation to, from, and within downtown
- Encourage creative industry development
For more information about the Cultural District contact Dan Swartz, Cultural District Liaison, at dswartz@artsunited.org or 260.424.0646.
