Downtown Wabash to celebrate Cultural District designation

Wabash County, IN  – Grow Wabash County and Downtown Wabash, Inc. are excited to join the Wabash Cultural District Committee in celebrating its newly established Cultural District with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 3. Celebrate the newest state-wide designation from Indiana Arts Commission–only 12 in Indiana.

The Wabash Cultural District spans the Wabash River to Hill Street and Honeywell Center to Paradise Spring. The District will be headed up by Downtown Wabash, Inc. with a committee of representatives from City of Wabash, Wabash County Museum, Honeywell Arts, artist panel, Visit Wabash County, Grow Wabash County, area schools and district residents.

Within Wabash’s cultural district there resides cultural assets including a world-class performing arts center, miles of community biking and walking trails, numerous public art installations, as well as new housing developments and boutiques. Downtown Wabash boasts the successful preservation of historic buildings and owns a 1986 designation by the National Register of Historic Places.

"Wabash has much to be proud of, especially its abundance of artistic and cultural offerings that make our community an exciting place to be for both the citizens who live here and the people that seek out Wabash for adventure and entertainment,” Wabash Mayor Scott Long, said. “We are thrilled about the opportunities this cultural district designation will offer Wabash to further spotlight the creativity and vibrancy that makes this community so special."

Wabash City Council passed a resolution in 2016 to begin the process and Wabash applied in 2016, 2018 and 2020. In December 2020, Wabash and three other communities received the “Spotlight Designation” out of more than a dozen applications. The Wabash Cultural District Committee applied for the full Cultural District Designation with an 86-page application in March 2021. Four communities were vying for the title: Wabash, Goshen, Kokomo, and Fort Wayne. In June 2021, Wabash received news the application was successful alongside Arts Campus Fort Wayne.

“Instead of Wabash being a hidden gem, we hope the Cultural District will make people even more proactively interested in visiting or starting a business here,” Wabash Cultural District Committee member Cathy Gatchel said. “It helps us shine that light just that much more to let people know we have a whole ecosystem of opportunity.”

The Wabash Cultural District ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. on Miami Street as part of the First Friday theme: Downtown Wabash pARTy. During June’s First Friday, all aspects of the Wabash Cultural District will be highlighted including live demonstrations by local artists, live music and the annual Paint the Plow event on Miami Street. Staple events and activities for First Friday-goers to experience will also include local vendors, food trucks, outdoor recreation and boutique shopping.

For more information about the Wabash Cultural District, visit DowntownWabash.org. For all media inquiries about the Wabash Cultural District, contact Morgan Ellis via morgan@downtownwabash.org or 260.610.6247.