Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne

Cultural district - with 17 resident and presenting organizations, the Arts campus is becoming recognized as a major community amenity that engages more than 533,000 people per year and generates an economic impact of more than 28.6 million. In 2021, the Arts campus became officially designated as one of 12 cultural districts in the state of Indiana. Arts United manages four cultural facilities, including two performance venues. Tenant organizations receive highly subsidized full-service gross leases at a very low rate of 5-7 per square foot. With access to highly subsidized spaces in a vibrant downtown cultural district, Arts and culture partners are able to focus their resources on providing robust programming to engage the people of the community. During the 2021-2022 season, Arts United's performance venues hosted 860 events and 150 curtains presented by 24 organizations/renters.

Member services - Arts United mobilizes resources by facilitating administrative services on behalf of 46+ member organizations. In 2022, an 18-month effort to strategically reorganize the member services program was completed. The regional Arts council provided a total of 13 peer networking and professional development opportunities, covering topics including post-pandemic fundraising, accessible Arts programming, and audience development strategies. Twenty-one (21) members of the business services council take advantage of economies of scale and collective purchasing power to access affordable health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, annual health screenings and vaccinations, employee assistance program (a pilot in 2022-23), and payroll processing. Participants in the artstix community box office utilize a centralized physical and virtual one-stop-shop for ticket sales. In 2022, the artstix community box office sold 52,568 tickets on behalf of 15 organizations.

Community development - Arts United supports the growth of Arts and culture through advocacy and promotion, cultural planning and development of programs such as the Fort Wayne public art commission in partnership with the city of Fort Wayne, community events like taste of the Arts and Arts United awards, grant administration, and resource development. Arts United administered seven grant programs resulting in grants totaling 472,954. In addition, three capacity programs were administered, resulting in resource development plans for 10 organizations, audience development best practices for representatives of 6 organizations, and certifications to lead inclusion, diversity, equity and access initiatives for representatives of 6 organizations. Arts United also serves as a regional partner for the Indiana Arts commission representing 11 counties of northeast Indiana.