Summit Artspace

SUMMIT ARTSPACE IS A COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ARTS INCUBATOR THAT PROVIDES A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR ARTISTS AT ALL PHASES OF THEIR CREATIVE JOURNEYS. VITAL RESOURCES INCLUDE PHYSICAL SPACE, ARTIST-CENTERED PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC EVENTS. SUMMIT ARTSPACE PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY OF SUMMIT, WHICH OWNS ITS HISTORIC AKRON BUILDING, TO OFFER ARTIST STUDIOS FOR RENT, GALLERIES FOR EXHIBITIONS, CLASSROOMS FOR WORKSHOPS, OFFICES FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND PERFORMANCE AND EVENT SPACE. A.STUDIO AND OFFICE SPACE ENABLES VISUAL, PERFORMING AND LITERARY 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. C.WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC EVENTS ARE OFFERED AT FREE OR REDUCED FEES TO ENC

SUMMIT ARTSPACE IS HOME TO FIVE GALLERIES: THE TAYLOR MAIN GALLERY, INTERSECTIONS GALLERY, WELCOME GALLERY, HORIZONS GALLERY AND FORUM GALLERY. THESE 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 ARTISTS AND VISUAL MEDIUMS, AND A COMBINATION OF JURIED, SOLO AND GROUP ARTIST EXHIBITIONS. SUMMIT ARTSPACE MAINTAINS PUBLIC HOURS ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. SUMMIT ARTSPACE CURATE SPACES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO DISPLAY ART TO OVER 30,000 INDIVIDUALS DURING THEIR DAILY ACTIVITIES.

PROGRAMS TO ASSIST ARTISTS WITH WRAPAROUND CARE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS ARE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR SUMMIT ARTSPACE TO IMPLEMENT THE AKRON CULTURAL PLAN ACROSS MULTIPLE PRIORITIES, INCLUDING TALENT DEVELOPMENT. A SIGNATURE OFFERING IS ARTIST AS AN ENTREPRENEUR INSTITUTE (AEI), WHICH 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. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING CENTERS AROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ESTABLISHED ARTISTS OR SKILL-BUILDING TECHNIQUES FOR EMERGING ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT AN AFFORDABLE COST AND MOST OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO PARTICIPANTS THAT CANNOT AFFORD THE PROGRAM. SUMMIT ARTSPACE COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER REHEARSAL, EVENT AND MEETING AND INSTRUCTION SPACE AT AN IN-KIND OR REDUCED RATE.

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 HEADQUARTERS OF THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL AND THE AKRON PUBLIC LIBRARY, IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF SUMMIT, WHICH IS A VALUED PARTNER IN ENSURING FREE AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ARTS. SUMMIT ARTSPACE 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.