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Experience Allen County’s Vibrant Arts & Culture Scene

Fort Wayne and Allen County boast a dynamic arts and culture scene that enriches the lives of residents and visitors alike. From world-class museums and historic theaters to a flourishing performing arts community and vibrant public art displays, creativity is at the heart of our city.At Arts Campus Fort Wayne, theatre, dance, fine art, and music come together in a lively cultural center, while the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, showcases exceptional American and glass art collections. Our public spaces transform into an open-air gallery with over 150 murals and sculptures, fostering exploration, creativity, and community pride.

Downtown Fort Wayne is a vibrant canvas, brought to life by over 150 murals and sculptures that transform the city into an open-air gallery. These striking works of art celebrate local culture, history, and creativity, adding color and character to streets, alleys, and public spaces. From large-scale murals on historic buildings to hidden gems waiting to be discovered, Fort Wayne’s public art scene fosters exploration, community pride, and a deeper connection to the city’s artistic spirit.

The performing arts stand out through institutions like Fort Wayne Ballet, the state’s only professional ballet company, and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, offering inspiring performances and educational opportunities. Historic venues like the Embassy Theatre bring Broadway productions and national acts to town, while events such as the Middle Waves Music Festival and Fort Wayne’s growing music economy highlight the city’s artistic energy.As home to Arts United, the nation’s second-oldest community-wide arts organization, Fort Wayne is deeply committed to supporting and growing its artistic culture. From the Fort Wayne Zoo, ranked a Top 10 Zoo by Parents Magazine, to Science Central, a year-round family-friendly destination, our city celebrates creativity in every form.

Music thrives in Fort Wayne, too—Sweetwater Sound, the world’s largest music technology and instrument retailer, attracts artists from all over the world.

Why do we embrace the arts? Because our vibrant arts scene and rich cultural history add depth, meaning, and inspiration to everyday life. Whether you’re a longtime resident, a newcomer, or a visitor, Fort Wayne’s arts and culture make our community a more connected, creative, and exciting place to call home.


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Arts UnitedFounded in 1955, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne exists to bring collective focus and support to the creative sector of northeast Indiana to elevate our community’s quality of life. Based at Arts Campus Fort Wayne featuring the Louis Khan-designed Arts United Center, this organization serves as a collective voice for the creative sector to increase community support of arts and culture.

The Clyde Theatre

By opening our stage to the greatest touring artists in every genre imaginable–and by presenting them to the masses with the latest sound and lighting technology around–The Clyde is staking our claim as the region’s first choice for live entertainment. The journey from historic movie house to hyper-modern music hall was long and winding, but it’s made The Clyde what it is today: a Fort Wayne gem committed to providing guests with an outstanding experience every time they walk through our doors.

Embassy Theatre

The historic Embassy Theatre features national productions from the Broadway stage, concerts of all musical formats, cinema, educational programming, and a continued commitment to young people.

Fort Wayne Ballet

Fort Wayne Ballet is personally and passionately invested in our dancers, community, and the art of dance. We are the longest-running professional ballet company and academy in Indiana.

Fort Wayne Children’s Choir

The Fort Wayne Children’s Choir teaches music literacy to children from diverse backgrounds through song and performance. We strive to be recognized as one of the finest choirs in the nation because of our excellence in musical education, the diversity of our membership, and the quality of our contributions to the community’s cultural life.

Fort Wayne Civic Theatre

The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre is one of the longest standing downtown entertainment destinations. Our vision is to be the regional leader in live theatre experiences through artistic excellence and innovation.

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art will collect, preserve, and present American and related art to engage and educate broad and diverse audiences throughout the region to add value to their lives.

Fort Wayne Philharmonic

The Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s mission is to inspire and foster a lifelong love of symphonic music through performance and education. All programming is made possible by the support of community individuals, businesses, corporations and foundations.

Grand Wayne Convention Center

The Grand Wayne Convention Center spans two city blocks and offers 225,000 square feet of luxuriously appointed, carpeted, and climate-controlled convention and meeting space with intuitive traffic flow and easy loading bays. Within the Center, planners find a beautifully appointed, 50,000 square foot exhibit and convention hall, 18 meeting rooms, and spacious pre-function areas ready to create the perfect creative backdrop for any event.

The History Center

The History Center is home to the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, its museum and collections. Today, it maintains a collection of more than 26,000 artifacts, photographs and documents representing the history of Fort Wayne and Allen County. The largest of these is the very building in which the society has resided since 1980–the 1893 City Hall building.

Science Central

Spark your imagination at Science Central! Explore 200+ permanent hands-on exhibits and national touring exhibitions, and get fun, educational items in our gift shop. Science Central is a catalyst for learning, and it’s a catalyst for learning the most important subjects that employers will need our kids to know to perform work in the future – science, technology, engineering and math, or as they are commonly called STEM.

Sweetwater

What started in a Volkswagen Bus has become America’s No. 1 online retailer of music instruments and pro audio gear–and they’re based right here in Fort Wayne. Whether you’re a polished musician or you just like a good concert, you can find it at Sweetwater. The company’s state-of-the-art campus features a retail store, recording studios, and event space including the Sweetwater Performance Pavilion concert venue. You can even get private lessons for musicians of all ages!

Sweetwater Academy of Music & Technology

When you arrive at the Sweetwater Academy of Music & Technology, you’ll find the finest music educators teaching lessons in everything from guitar and piano to band and orchestra instruments, digital recording, DJing, live sound, and beyond. You’ll also have a chance to participate in our popular music programs, such as Rock Camp, Drum Camp, and Build-a-Band. What began as a dream to open an on-site music school at Sweetwater has blossomed into a vibrant community of musicians and a wide variety of musical disciplines.

Sweetwater Performance Pavilion

The Sweetwater Performance Pavilion is a covered outdoor music venue, located on the south end of the Sweetwater campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A host to national touring artists and community events alike, the Sweetwater Performance Pavilion is the perfect place to catch a summer evening concert or host a local event.

The Clyde Theater

The Clyde Theatre is a premier live entertainment venue that blends history with modern performance. Originally built as a 1950s Art Deco movie theater, it has been transformed into a state-of-the-art concert hall, hosting national touring artists, live performances, and community events. With its stunning design, top-tier acoustics, and intimate yet energetic atmosphere, the Clyde has become a cornerstone of Fort Wayne’s thriving music and arts scene, attracting music lovers from across the region.