Our purpose is to promote interest in the fine arts, to further members' artistic knowledge, and to encourage fellowship among members of the Guild and the arts community at large.
I joined the Fort Wayne Artists Guild in the fall of 2010. I'm not a professionally trained artist, more self-taught. As a group, they have taken me in, befriended me, and accepted me as I am. The monthly meetings have helped immensely in teaching me skills as an artist, teaching me the business side of being an artist, and having an enjoyable time in the process. I went in thinking of myself as a beginner or a dabbler, and they have helped me see myself as an artist. I went in hoping to be able to have something show sometime in their Ventures in Creativity annual juried show after having seen it several times at the Allen County Public Library. I not only made it in, but all members have available to them many places around Fort Wayne to hang their works for public viewing, which is something I didn't know could be done. They also do outreach programs. For many years they helped with Kids' Create at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Now they have a nursing home they go into to help the residents make their own art. It's an awesome group to belong to.