Decemebr 12, 2018 - Work on a Fort Wayne public art master plan is now underway.
Recently, the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission selected Columbus, Ohio-based planning firm Designing Local to develop a public arts master plan for the city. The plan is funded by a private gift from the Fort Wayne Chamber Foundation and a contribution from the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission. It is being developed in partnership with the City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division and Arts United.
The master plan will lay out a comprehensive vision for public art now and in the future and will help define locations and projects appropriate for Fort Wayne and its neighborhoods. The plan will identify guiding principles for creating an arts community that supports collaboration, diversity, economic vitality and the highest levels of creativity.
Representatives with Designing Local will meet with a subcommittee of the Public Art Commission tomorrow, December 13 to begin the process of creating the plan.
Public input will be a critical part of developing the master plan, and residents will be asked to share their vision for public art at various meetings and through an online survey. Bringing public art into the City’s neighborhoods is an essential component of the plan so neighborhood participation will be emphasized throughout the process. The master plan should be complete in fall 2019.
Designing Local is a woman-owned business based in Columbus, Ohio and has completed dozens of art and culture master plans for communities across the country. They also specialize in historic preservation, downtown and neighborhood planning.
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and the City Council created the Public Art Program and Public Art Commission in March of this year. The Public Art Program’s mission is to promote and integrate public art throughout the city while the Art Commission reviews and selects art to be displayed in public spaces. The goal is to enhance the visual environment and strengthen the positive reputation, brand and stature of Fort Wayne and its neighborhoods.