The 2021 Taste of the Arts Festival, presented by 3Rivers Credit Union, is returning to an in-person event – and expanding to better serve the community. The annual festival celebrates the rich diversity of arts and culture in Northeast Indiana through live performances, kids activities, visual art, and food from local restaurants. 

This year, the festival comprises multiple block parties that will take place at Arts Campus Fort Wayne, The Landing, and Promenade Park. Each block party will host a performance stage and food and drink vendors, with additional activities throughout the festival footprint.

“As the festival has grown year over year, our committee has continued to innovate in the ways we serve our community,” said Thad Tegtmeyer, chair of the Taste of the Arts Festival. “Connecting Arts Campus Fort Wayne to other downtown attractions via an ‘arts trail’ allows us to expand the festival reach and to showcase the vibrancy of Downtown Fort Wayne.”

Taste of the Arts also has adapted the format of participation for food and drink vendors and performing artists to support local businesses and individuals whose industries have faced challenges for the last 15 months.

“The difficulties we faced as a community over the last year have greatly impacted our local restaurants and performing artists,” said Dan Ross, Vice President of Community Development at Arts United. “Taste of the Arts is intended to benefit our community as a whole, and these changes support our festival participants to whom we are incredibly grateful.” 

In 2021, participating food and drink vendors will retain their full revenue instead of sharing profits to benefit Arts United as in previous years. No food tickets will be sold, and vendors will be paid directly by attendees.

Additionally, Taste à la cARTe is a brand-new in-restaurant event happening from August 22 through August 31. Each participating restaurant will be offering a creative menu at their brick-and-mortar location throughout this period. Attendees can explore local culinary art by registering for a Taste à la cARTe passport. Registration provides an automatic entry for a chance to win a Passport to the Arts gift basket, valued at $1,000, filled with arts and culture experiences for the whole family–performance tickets, museum memberships, dance class passes, and more. No purchase is necessary to be entered to win.

All performing artists also will receive a stipend for their participation to support those who primarily earn income from gig-based work. In previous years, performers generously donated their services to benefit the community in this admission-free festival. Performances will continue to be free for attendees.

Arts United is committed to the safety of our artists, volunteers, staff, and public, and will continue to follow health and safety measures as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For updates about the festival, follow Taste of the Arts Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Taste of the Arts is sponsored in 2021 by 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, Arcpoint Productions, NIPSCO, Arts Campus Fort Wayne, The Landing, Riverfront Fort Wayne, Parrish Leasing, Franklin Electric, Ambassador Enterprises, PHP, Do It Best Corp., Current Mechanical, Indiana Michigan Power, Bradley Company, Ferguson Advertising, Fort Wayne Metals, Ivy Tech Community College, BKD, Strahm Building Solutions, WBOI, WANE TV, Downtown Improvement District, 1st Source Bank, Rea Magnet Wire, Pizza Hut, and Travel Leaders.