AKRON — Free public film screenings from the “Akron Stories” project are coming to local theaters across the city, courtesy of Art x Love with support from ArtsNow’s ArtsForward grant program.

“In 2019, we started interviewing rubber workers and their descendants as part of a grassroots initiative to collect, preserve and share the stories of the everyday people who made Akron the Rubber Capital of the World,” said Mac Love, co-founder of Art x Love and leader of the “Akron Stories” project. “Since then, we’ve conducted more than 135 interviews, collecting thousands of stories and have produced more than 100 mini-documentary films bringing each story to life with archival film and family photographs.”

In 2024, Art x Love was awarded an ArtsForward grant to fund the installation of the “Akron Stories” touchscreen oral history kiosk in the Main Branch Library, to produce 100 new mini-documentary videos and to host free public screenings of “Akron Stories” at local theaters in celebration of the Akron Bicentennial.

“These films are so much more than local history,” Love said. “The people who came to Akron and worked in the rubber industry persevered through war, segregation and poverty to build a strong and resilient community. Their legacy stretches far beyond our city, state and country. I’m excited for people to hear their stories.”

The “Akron Stories” film screenings are free and open to the public. Reservations are accepted at artxlove.com/events to attend any or all of the events.

Screenings will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. as follows: Sept. 14 at the Highland Theatre, 826 W. Market St.; Oct. 18 at The Rialto Theatre, 1000 Kenmore Blvd.; Nov. 2 at the Linda Theatre, 1745 Goodyear Blvd.; and Nov. 23 at the Main Branch Library, 60 S. High St.

To learn more about the “Akron Stories” project, visit www.akronstories.com.