Jul 14, 2021 — What is the value of a mural? How public art projects are driving growth in Fort Wayne

Alexandra “Alex” Hall has long understood the value of public art in cities. As a professional artist based in Fort Wayne, she sells work across the U.S. and runs public spaces consulting business in cities small and large.

“Public art is an essential building block in economic development and making our region a place with a high quality of life—a place where people want to establish themselves,” she says.

Yet, communicating art’s ability to catalyze growth in cities can be challenging. That’s one of Hall’s main roles as the Manager and Consultant of Art This Way in Fort Wayne, a program of the Downtown Improvement District (DID).

Since launching in 2016 under Hall’s leadership, Art This Way has commissioned and conducted 21 grand-scale, public art projects on private property downtown. Rather than relying on taxpayer dollars to fund these projects, the program is a volunteer-based organizat...