Research & Studies

Northeast Indiana’s Creative Economy Strategic Plan (2025)

Northeast Indiana’s Creative Economy Strategic Plan is a comprehensive initiative to leverage arts and culture for regional growth, supported by the state’s READI 2.0 and Lilly Endowment Inc.. The plan aims to foster a vibrant and inclusive region by boosting creative industries, improving quality of place, and attracting talent.

Fort Wayne / Allen County Tourism Master Plan (2024)

The Tourism Master Plan for Fort Wayne / Allen County is a comprehensive and strategic framework that sets forth the vision, goals, and strategies for the sustainable development of the tourism sector in Fort Wayne / Allen County. It was commissioned to serve as a roadmap to guide the growth and management of tourism activities, ensuring that economic, social, cultural, and environmental factors are balanced for the benefit of both visitors and the local communities.

All in Allen Comprehensive Plan (2023)

The All In Allen Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint to guide growth and development and other community initiatives. This plan serves the communities of Allen County, Fort Wayne, Grabill, Huntertown, Monroeville, and Woodburn. Topic areas of the plan include: Land Use and Development, Agriculture and Food Systems, Housing and Neighborhoods, Economic Development, Transportation and Mobility, Public Facilities and Infrastructure, Community Services and Education, Parks and Environment, and Implementation. Plan development was guided by feedback obtained from community outreach, analysis of existing conditions, and community visioning from 2020 to 2022 to ensure the comprehensive plan is reflective of the communities it will serve.

Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (2023)

Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is the most comprehensive economic and social impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever conducted, taking place in 373 study regions representing all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Arts United served as a community research partner to Americans for the Arts for the local implementation and data collection requirements for both Arts Campus Fort Wayne and the Greater Fort Wayne region. This study could not have been completed without the cooperation and participation of the following nonprofit arts and culture organizations, listed below, that provided the financial and attendance information necessary for the analysis.

Arts Campus Fort Wayne: Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne; Fort Wayne Ballet; Fort Wayne Civic Theatre; Fort Wayne Dance Collective; Fort Wayne Museum of Art; Fort Wayne Youtheatre; Foundation for Art and Music in Elementary Education

Greater Fort Wayne: all for One Productions; Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust; Allen County Master Gardener Association; Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne; Audiences Unlimited; Bach Collegium Fort Wayne; Children’s Choir of Huntington County; Classic Arts Programs; Creative Arts Council of Wells County; Downtown Wabash; Embassy Theatre Foundation; Fire & Light Productions; Fort Wayne Ballet; Fort Wayne Children’s Choir; Fort Wayne Civic Theatre; Fort Wayne Dance Collective; Fort Wayne Museum of Art; Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra; Fort Wayne Youtheatre; Fort-4-Fitness; Foundation for Art and Music in Elementary Education; Indiana Musical Theatre Foundation; Ligonier Marshmallow Festival; Mon Language Preservation Organization; North Adams Arts Council; Science Central; The Festival Choir; Unity Performing Arts Foundation; Veterans National Memorial Shrine & Museum; Wabash County Historical Museum; Wabash Valley Dance Theatre

Allen County Together Plan (2021)

Greater Fort Wayne Inc’s Allen County Together (ACT) Economic Development Action Plan is an ambitious, forward-thinking roadmap designed to ignite the economic future of our community. The ACT plan is a bold strategy to raise the bar and propel the region’s growth. With the help of expert consultants TIP Strategies, the plan takes a deep dive into the region’s strengths, opportunities, and untapped potential, drawing on insights from over 200 local leaders, elected officials, community champions, and more.

Through collaboration, strategic investments, and a shared vision for the future, the ACT plan is set to fuel business expansion, job creation, and vibrant real estate development over the next decade. Together, we’re building a dynamic, thriving economy that will benefit generations to come!

Art for All: Fort Wayne Public Art Master Plan (2020)

The Art for All: Fort Wayne Public Art Master Plan is a strategic framework designed to enhance the city’s visual identity through intentional, community-driven public art. It aims to integrate art into neighborhoods, improve public spaces, and foster culture, guiding the Public Art Commission in managing installations.

Downtown Fort Wayne Public Realm Action Plan (2019)

Gehl, in collaboration with Fort Wayne City Planning and Policy, conducted a Public Space + Public Life Study of downtown in Spring 2018. This study sets a baseline understanding of life and space in the city. This baseline allows the City to identify challenges and opportunities for growing public life. It also allows the City to set target public life outcomes and measure progress during interim activation events and future phases of physical improvements.

Creative Economy (2016)

With support from the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. commissioned the Community Research Institute at Purdue Fort Wayne (then Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne) to conduct a review of the Creative Economy for the state of Indiana.