Despite its 2005 designation as an Arts & Entertainment District, Wheaton continued to lack public art spaces until Wheaton Arts Parade's founding in 2017. It first brought art to Wheaton’s streets through an annual parade and festival, which has since grown to include over 2000 residents and 500 artists–initiating projects like Yarn Bomb that bring women together to crochet designs hung along the parade route. Throughout the year, professional and amateur artists incubate, show, and sell their work at the WAP Gallery, as well as host community events like artmaking, and puppet shows. WAP also commissions art projects like community mosaics and murals (now a defining town feature). Beyond activating Wheaton as an arts destination, WAP creates spaces for its diverse communities to celebrate Wheaton’s beauty in new ways.
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