Fort Wayne officially launches Music Office following recommendations from Music Economy Strategy

Earlier this month, Visit Fort Wayne and a newly established seven-partner Music Board announced the launch of the Fort Wayne Music Office, a dedicated organisation created to support and grow the community's music ecosystem.

This was one of the key recommendations in the Fort Wayne/Allen County Music Economy Strategy, developed by Sound Diplomacy in partnership with Visit Fort Wayne, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and local stakeholders. We also created the Toolkit that gave the Music Board the framework to bring this role to life.

Serving as a central hub for the region's music ecosystem, the Music Office aims to nurture, celebrate and amplify music across Fort Wayne and Allen County. It plans to serve as a bridge between the public and private sectors, providing resources, advocacy and strategic guidance that supports artists and music-related businesses.

The launch follows a year-long strategy process that examined opportunities to strengthen the local music economy. The resulting Fort Wayne/Allen County Music Economy Strategy outlines 17 actionable recommendations designed to build on existing momentum, enhance infrastructure, promote local talent, attract visitor investment and further establish the community's reputation as a music-friendly destination.

The first outcome of the strategy is the creation of the Music Board, which is made up of seven partners: Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, the City of Fort Wayne, Embassy Theatre, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Surack Enterprises, Sweetwater and Visit Fort Wayne.

Alongside the Music Board, the Fort Wayne Music Office will engage additional partners and an advisory group identified through the strategy process to help support and lead future recommendations.

The organisation is currently recruiting its first Executive Director, who will help lead the Music Office and support the implementation of the strategy's recommendations.

The Fort Wayne/Allen County Music Economy Strategy was developed as part of broader ambitions identified in Visit Fort Wayne's 10-Year Tourism Master Plan and Greater Fort Wayne Inc.'s ACT Plan, both of which recognised the opportunity to grow the community's music economy.

Sound Diplomacy is proud to have supported the development of the Fort Wayne/Allen County Music Economy Strategy and congratulates everyone involved in bringing this recommendation to life.