Chalk Walk entertains, engages, and educates the 40,000 viewers who flock to see the spectacle unfold. The event is based on an Italian tradition of street painting that dates to the 16th century, known as i madonnari (street painters). Using pastels, artists may choose to reproduce existing artworks or create their own in their designated square. Held in conjunction with the Three Rivers Festival, Chalk Walk is truly a community event and draws on the amazing talents of area, regional and national artists. Individuals and families with no training in art are especially encouraged to participate.
This event draws thousands of people in the community to the heart of downtown Fort Wayne for artists and spectators alike to witness the transformation of Main Street into the colorful canvas of the city. Year after year, our goal is to draw the city's most creative citizens for one long weekend each summer to contribute to the largest community art project in the region, attracting families, friends, and supporters of a vibrant cultural life in downtown Fort Wayne.
Heads up: FWMoA will be charging admission to the museum July 13 and 14. Each Chalk Walk participant will receive a Family Admission pass for one-time use redeemable July 13 or 14, 2019, and FWMoA will offer free admission to the museum for anyone wearing a 3 Rivers Festival official 2019 button. There is no charge to visit the Chalk Walk event on Main Street.
Important dates:
First Week of April: Registration will begin at the link below.
July 12: Early check-in and square planning, 6-8pm
July 13: Chalking begins at 9am, public welcome 10am-sundown
July 14: Chalking continues from 11am-5pm, prizes awarded at 4pm*
*Prizes may be awarded sooner than 4pm Sunday, depending on the possibility of rain.
Square Prices and Details:
4'x4' square: $5, includes 12ct pastels, water, event bag, and $5 coupon for the 2019 Chalk Walk T-shirt
8'x8' square: $10, includes 24ct pastels, water, event bag, and 2019 Chalk Walk T-shirt
After all squares have been sold please call Emily Uphoff at 260-422-6467 to be put on a waitlist for any squares that become available.
Once a square is purchased, there will be no refunds if you can no longer attend. Any surrendered or unclaimed squares will be offered to individuals on the waiting list. Squares are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, and we do our best to place each chalker near friends and family, if desired, but cannot accommodate every placement request. Chalkers are not prioritized based on a preferred part of the street in the shade, for example, or away from cracks or manholes in the street.
Prizes:
$100 cash prizes are awarded to winners in each category. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges from FWMoA and the community, except for the People's Choice Award, which is chosen by the public. One square may be selected as the 2019 T-Shirt art, but this will not be a competitive category this year.
2019 Award Categories:
50th Anniversary of Sesame Street
Honor the beloved stories and characters of this quintessential American classic.
Interested in Volunteering for Chalk Walk?
The Chalk Walk Team is always looking for volunteers to help with the event! You'll get a free FWMoA membership, Chalk Walk T-shirt, and other goodies. Email Emily Uphoff at emily.uphoff@fwmoa.org today.
Thank you to our 2018 sponsors!
Water Bottle Sponsor
Activity Tent Sponsor Entertainment Sponsor Social Media Sponsor
Street Sponsors
Hand Washing Station Sponsors
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Dear prospective Chalk Walk artist,
Last year's Chalk Walk was a great success in many ways. The art, which each of your create on the difficult surface of our city's streets, is simply wonderful. Creative expression is, of course, the whole point of Chalk Walk. For the community, whether amateurs or full-time artists, this event celebrates the creativity that you choose to share with thousands of people. We encourage you to continue the legacy of inventive visual expression on the city streets.
We'd like to remind you that brand identifications, logos, and URLs in chalk are reserved for our supporting sponsors and that individual non-sponsored squares should focus on non-commercial or non-promotional artwork. For prize consideration, please note our special prize categories, and if you have any questions about acceptable presentations, please call us at 260.422.6467.
Rules of participation:
1. Only NON oil-based pastels are to be used. The use of any other material is prohibited except for diluted tempera paint, which may be used as a thin wash of undercoat. Tempera paint is the ONLY paint allowed to be used as an undercoat for your artwork.
2. The FWMoA reserves the right to deem any subject matter as inappropriate for this all-ages, non-commercial event. Inappropriate subject matter includes hateful political statements, political campaign/endorsement messages, commercial advertisement (statements or logos by non-sponsoring organizations) or subject matter not suitable for children.
Chalk Walk artists that create squares with any of the following subject matter may be asked to stop and/or paint over their square:
3. The FWMoA reserves the right to limit the number of people working on any space at any given time to two, with the exception of those who have registered for family spaces.
4. Inevitably, some Chalkers will be placed on a square with cracks or other street blemishes. This is a fact of the event, and we will most likely not be able to move you to another square. We suggest you make the most of it by entering your square into the "Best Use of a Street Blemish" category for a chance to win a cash prize.
5. Non-compliance with these rules may result in removal from the event.
6. Outdoor hand washing stations and restrooms will be on site – artists are asked to use these facilities in an effort to keep the interior of the Museum chalk-free.
Tips for a great Chalk Walk: