Summit Artspace

SUMMIT ARTSPACE IS A COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER THAT PROVIDES A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR ARTISTS AT ALL PHASES OF THEIR CREATIVE JOURNEYS. VITAL RESOURCES INCLUDE PHYSICAL SPACE, PROGRAMMING AND EXPOSURE. SUMMIT ARTSPACE PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY OF SUMMIT, WHICH OWNS ITS AKRON LOCATION, TO OFFER ARTIST STUDIOS FOR RENT, GALLERIES FOR EXHIBITIONS, CLASSROOMS FOR WORKSHOPS, OFFICES FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND PERFORMANCE AND MEETING SPACE. A.STUDIO AND OFFICE SPACE ENABLES VISUAL, SCULPTURE, LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND PERFORMANCE ARTISTS TO INTERACT IN A SUPPORTIVE, GROWING COMMUNITY. B.SUMMIT ARTSPACE OFFERS EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS, AS WELL AS CREATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR ALL AGES. THE ARTISTS AS ENTREPRENEUR INSTITUTE-A COHORT BASED MULTI-WEEK PROGRAM TO ASSIST CREATIVES IN LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS -IS A SIGNATURE PROGRAM. WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC EVENTS ARE OFFERED AT FREE OR REDUCED FEES TO ENCOURAGE BROAD COMMUNITY A

SUMMIT ARTSPACE IS HOME TO THE MAIN GALLERY, TRANSITION GALLERY, WELCOME GALLERY, 3GGALLERY AND 2ND FLOOR GALLERY. THESE FIVE GALLERIES HOST OVER 25 EXHIBITIONS A YEAR, FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS AND ENGAGING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. QUARTERLY EXHIBITION CYCLES FEATURE A WIDE VARIETY OF VISUAL MEDIUMS, WITH SHOWS THAT ARE EITHER OPEN-THEME, SUBMISSION-JURIED EXHIBITIONS, OR SOLO AND GROUP ARTIST EXHIBITIONS. SUMMIT ARTSPACE MAINTAINS PUBLIC HOURS ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. SUMMIT ARTSPACE ALSO CURATES SPACES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WHICH DISPLAY ART THAT TOUCHES OVER 30,000 INDIVIDUALS DURING THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES.

PROGRAMS TO ASSIST CREATIVES ALONG THEIR JOURNEY ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO SUMMIT ARTSPACE'S MISSION. THE SIGNATURE OFFERING IS ARTIST AS AN ENTREPRENEUR INSTITUTE (AEI) THAT PROVIDES BUSINESS SKILL BUILDING SESSIONS FROM LOCAL CONTENT EXPERTS TO TRAIN CREATIVES FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY. ARTISTS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM REPRESENT MULTIPLE MEDIUMS INCLUDING THEATRE, DANCE AND VISUAL ARTISTS. CONDUCTED IN A MULTI-WEEK COHORT MODEL, THIS ALLOWS ARTISTS THE SUPPORT AND SUPPORT SYSTEM TO GROW. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING CENTERS AROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ESTABLISHED ARTISTS OR SKILL BUILDING TECHNIQUES FOR EMERGING ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT A REASONABLE AND AFFORDABLE COST AND MOST OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO PARTICIPANTS THAT CANNOT AFFORD THE PROGRAM. SUMMIT ARTSPACE COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER MEETING AND INSTRUCTION SPACE AT AN IN-KIND OR REDUCED RATE.

AS A COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER SUMMIT ARTSPACE IS HOME TO NEARLY 30 ARTISTS AND ARTIST-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS FOR WORKING STUDIO SPACE THAT ALLOW ARTISTS TO CREATE WORK AND ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC. THE BUILDING, FORMALLY THE FIRST SITE OF THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF SUMMIT AND IS A VALUED PARTNER IN ENSURING FREE AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ARTS. SA PRODUCES PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE A ROBUST AND SUSTAINED "EXCHANGE" BETWEEN THE NORTHEAST OHIO RESIDENTS AND SUMMIT COUNTY ARTISTS. OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED ARTS ENGAGEMENT, DIRECT CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, AND ARTWORK SALES. EVENTS INCLUDE ARTWALK, ARTIST SUNDAY, THE ARTS ALIVE AWARDS, AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS JUNIOR LEADERSHIP AKRON AND THE STATE OF OHIO POET LAUREATE.