Good afternoon, everyone! I’m Nicole Mullet, Executive Director of ArtsNow and I’m thrilled to welcome you to this year’s State of the Arts! This afternoon, we gather to celebrate the profound impact of the arts, culture, and environmental sectors in Summit County.

Together, we’ll reflect on our accomplishments, honor our champions, and look toward the bright future of this vibrant and creative community.

Before we dive in, I want to take a moment to acknowledge some of the dedicated individuals who have made this work possible—the current and former members of the ArtsNow Board of Directors. Could I please ask all current and former board members to stand?

Let’s give them a round of applause for their outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment.

It’s through their vision and dedication that ArtsNow continues to thrive and make a meaningful impact across Summit County.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Grace Carter, Associate Director of Community Impact. Your dedication, hard work, and passion for making a difference in our community have been invaluable, Grace. Your leadership continues to inspire us all, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to creating lasting, positive change. Thank you for everything you do!

The arts, culture, and environmental sectors are at the heart of what makes Summit County a vibrant and thriving community. These interconnected areas enrich our lives through creativity and expression, shape our shared identity, foster a sense of belonging, and drive economic growth. From local artists and cultural institutions to environmental stewards, we see a collective commitment to preserving our heritage, celebrating diversity, and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Together, these sectors fuel innovation, inspire collaboration, and build a stronger, more resilient Summit County—a place where people want to live and businesses want to settle.

As we explore these essential components of our community, it’s important to recognize how they interconnect and how organizations like ArtsNow support and amplify their impact.

ArtsNow is one of over 7000 local arts and culture agencies in the US dedicated to fostering creativity, collaboration, and community engagement. As a backbone organization, we play a critical role in strengthening the arts, culture, and environmental sectors by providing strategic support, resources, and advocacy for artists and cultural organizations. Our work is essential in promoting inclusive access to the arts, preserving our cultural heritage, and enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

But we are only as successful as our partnership- and for that I am enormously grateful to all of you in this room. By facilitating partnerships among various stakeholders—including artists, nonprofits, businesses, and local government—we help cultivate a vibrant and resilient arts ecosystem that drives economic growth, inspires innovation, and enriches the community. Through initiatives like the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan, we ensure that the voices of diverse communities are heard, fostering a shared commitment to building a thriving cultural landscape where everyone can participate, celebrate, and contribute. This vibrant cultural environment not only enriches our community but also serves as a catalyst for economic growth.

The arts are not only essential to our cultural identity; they are also a powerful economic engine. In the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the creative economy generates $4.1 million annually in economic activity. This revenue supports local businesses, creates jobs, enhances the quality of life for residents, and contributes to cultural tourism.

For every gallery opening, performance, or festival, our local restaurants, hotels, and shops see increased foot traffic. Hundreds of people are employed in various capacities throughout the arts ecosystem. This economic ripple effect shows us that investing in the arts is not just a cultural investment; it’s a smart economic strategy.

While the arts have a profound local impact here in Summit County, we are also part of a larger national movement that reflects significant trends in the arts and culture sector. Across the nation, we are witnessing a renewed recognition of the arts as essential to community well-being and economic vitality. Many cities are increasingly prioritizing cultural initiatives as key components of their economic development strategies, recognizing that a vibrant arts scene attracts talent, tourism, and business investment.

Furthermore, there is a heightened focus on equity and inclusion within the arts, with organizations striving to amplify underrepresented voices and ensure access for all. This national movement toward inclusivity is inspiring local initiatives, urging us to examine our own practices and embrace diverse perspectives. As we navigate these trends, it is crucial for Summit County to align itself with these broader shifts, leveraging the momentum to enhance our own cultural landscape and foster a thriving, engaged community.

I want to thank Jocelyn Grant, Chair of the Summit County Arts and Culture Inclusion Council as well as all of the members who make up this group of leaders dedicated to advancing equity in the Summit County arts and culture sector.  Please join me in thanking the Arts and Culture Inclusion Council for all of their hard work in this space.

In greater Akron, we are uniquely positioned to thrive, thanks to the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan, which outlines ten key priorities and serves as a guiding framework for the future of our sector and our impact on the community.

Akron/Summit Cultural Plan

Approved in 2020 by Akron City Council and expanded countywide in 2021, the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan serves not only as a blueprint for the future of arts and culture in Summit County but also as a roadmap for all of us committed to positively impacting our communities.

While our strategies may evolve over the course of this 15-year plan, we have been determined to ensure it never becomes a document collecting dust on a shelf. The community has entrusted us with ten priorities to advance, and we take that responsibility very seriously. It is an honor to collaborate daily with artists, arts and culture nonprofits, venues, philanthropists, local government, and businesses dedicated to these key priorities.

Over the past five years, I have frequently received inquiries from communities across the nation seeking insights into our cultural planning process and how to navigate their own. I’m always happy to share our experiences—the successes, challenges, and lessons learned. However, it’s important to note that ArtsNow serves as a steward of this plan alongside our partners both inside and outside of the sector.

Engaging the Community

For this plan to be successful, we must move beyond trivializing the arts and recognize the investments necessary for our arts ecosystem to thrive. The arts and culture sector generates significant impact, and while we excel at maximizing limited resources, we need engagement from all corners of the community.

As my friend and board member Dominic Moore-Dunson aptly said, we readily express our support for a sports team—even those that can leave us feeling like we’re in an emotionally abusive relationship—without feeling the need to clarify our roles. In contrast, when it comes to the arts, many distance themselves by insisting they aren’t artists and therefore can’t be a part of the work. But the arts cannot thrive without all of us—from patrons and audiences to advocates and supporters. We all have a role in this sector, and we should proclaim this proudly because it is inspiring and impactful work to be a part of.

The Akron/Summit Cultural Plan was designed by the community for the community, and it is our collective responsibility to find our place within it and align our efforts meaningfully. I want to take a moment to thank everyone in this room for your commitment to advancing the ten priorities and making a positive impact in our community.

In 2023, the funding community—led by GAR Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, and Burton D. Morgan Foundation—came together to fuel the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan by providing resources for projects that align with this vision. In partnership with the Knight Foundation, a challenge grant was issued to ArtsNow and our community: if we raise $1 million locally over four years, Knight will match that investment dollar for dollar, resulting in a $2 million investment in the arts in Summit County.

To date, and thanks to many of you in this room, our community has successfully raised and distributed $852,000, supporting artists and nonprofits as part of our ongoing commitment to the Cultural Plan. Every dollar raised through ArtsForward helps bring this vision to life by creating opportunities for artists, strengthening our nonprofit organizations, and ensuring that arts and culture remain a vital part of our community.

Celebrating Successes

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the recent achievements of our 2023 ArtsForward grantees. In the first six months of 2024, they hosted over 560 performances, workshops, and classes, reaching more than 14,300 people in Summit County. These grantees employed 268 individuals in our community specifically for their ArtsForward work and secured an additional $186,850 in investments through grants, donations, and earned income. The hustle in our sector is real!

Looking to the Future

As we look ahead, we must remain committed to supporting and growing the arts. We have exciting opportunities, including our upcoming Creative Placemaking Conference on November 7th in partnership with the Summit County Land Bank, where we will explore how to sustain placemaking efforts while fostering creativity and inclusion in shared public spaces.

We also have a significant challenge to meet: raising the remaining funds to unlock the full Knight Foundation match for ArtsForward. In December, thanks to the dedication of a brilliant and thoughtful group of artists—including Tyron Hoisten, Jocelyn Grant, Micah Kraus, Althea Jones, J Travis, Josy Jones, Diane Johnson, and Yoly Miller, Assistant Superintendent of Summit DD, Drew Williams, and ArtsNow board members Harvey Nelson and Leila Griffiths—we will be hosting An Evening with Artists: A Fundraiser for ArtsForward. Get out your phones and mark your calendars for December 12th at House Three-Thirty! It promises to be an incredible evening in support of this work.

As we advance the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan, I encourage each of you to recognize your essential role in shaping the future of our arts and culture landscape. This responsibility extends beyond artists and organizations; it is a collective mission that requires the engagement of every community member. Whether you are a patron, a business leader, or a local government representative, your participation is crucial. Join us in intentionally and authentically championing the ten priorities of the plan, advocating for investment in our cultural ecosystem, and ensuring the continued flourishing of the arts. Together, we can transform our community, inspire creativity, and effect lasting change. Let’s harness our collective energy and commitment to elevate the arts and culture sector in Summit County—our community’s future depends on it!

As we gather here tonight, it is vital to recognize that our commitment to the arts, culture, and environmental sectors is not just a reflection of our past successes; it embodies a vision for the future we aspire to create. Imagine a Summit County where every child has access to quality arts education, every artist feels supported in their endeavors, and every community member can participate in cultural experiences that enrich their lives. This vision is achievable if we prioritize investments in the arts as integral to our community development strategy. By cultivating a vibrant and inclusive arts ecosystem, we enhance our cultural identity and establish the foundation for sustainable economic growth and social cohesion. This is our call to action; let us become champions of this vision, advocating for the resources and support needed to ensure that the arts thrive and inspire generations to come.

Closing

The state of the arts in Summit County is strong, but there is more work to be done. With leaders like Christine Amer Mayer, Olivia Demas, and all of you in this room, we have the passion, resources, and vision to continue growing and thriving. Together, we can ensure that Summit County remains a beacon of creativity, innovation, and cultural expression. As we reflect on the progress we’ve made and the exciting opportunities ahead, it’s important to recognize the individuals who have been instrumental in driving this work forward. Their leadership, passion, and unwavering commitment have shaped the arts community we celebrate today.

Both Christine and Olivia embody the spirit of leadership, generosity, and vision that drives the arts in Summit County. It is because of leaders like them that we have the momentum to keep pushing forward and making a lasting impact.

With that in mind, I’m honored to now acknowledge two remarkable individuals who embody the spirit of creativity and vision: our award winners for this evening. Let’s take a moment to honor their extraordinary contributions.

Photos by: The Green Photograph