ArtsNow Events

Thanks to a partnership with thought leaders across the nation, local experts, and Summit County organizations, ArtsNow is curating a calendar of 2023 events designed to enable more art in more places for more people.

UPCOMING EVENTS



May 18, 2023 | 4:00-5:30pm | Summit ArtSpace

Teaching Artists Workshop

Calling all teaching artists in Summit County! Get ready to take your career to the next level with the Teach Artist Workshop! This is your chance to join the Ohio Arts Council Teaching Artist Roster and showcase your artistic excellence to the world. With expert guidance and real-time support, you’ll learn how to apply for this prestigious roster, and gain the tools and resources you need to engage students and captivate audiences. 

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this workshop will help you stand out from the crowd and showcase your talent to the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the ranks of Ohio’s top teaching artists – sign up now!


June 21, 2023 | 4:00-6:00pm | Two-Part Event

Summer: Artist & Creatives Sector Update

Celebrate with us a special night in Barberton exploring the great work happening at Magical Theater Co. and White Rabbit Galleries. The evening begins with quarterly update at Magical Theater Co. for artists, organizations and community members and then we will head over to White Rabbit Galleries for a tour featuring the 2nd annual “Down the Rabbit Hole” show.


August 17, 2023 | 4:30-6:00pm | Summit County Main Library

Age Friendly Training: Developing Intergenerational Training

We invite your staff to learn and develop best practices within intergenerational programming across Summit County, led by Matt Reed with Direction Home on Thursday, August 17th. Alongside the presentation, we have Stephanie Stewart, owner of P31 Art & Design, who will lead attendees in an art-making project, demonstrating the integration of thoughtful programming.


September 27, 2023 | 4:00-5:00pm | Akron Zoo

Fall: Artists & Creatives Sector Update

Step right up for an exhilarating update on the vibrant arts, culture, and environment scene in Summit County! Join hands with sector leaders and community visionaries to ignite your imagination and set bold targets for unleashing the full potential of the Cultural Plan!


October 5, 2023 | 6:00-8:00pm | Emmanuel Christian Academy

Neighborhood Love Dinner

Join us on October 5th for dinner and conversations to share in the Neighborhood Love. The table is set for resident-led discussions about neighborhood arts and culture activation, available resources, and opportunities to build relationships with local CDCs, social and art organizations, and artists.


November 16, 2023 | 3:30-5:00pm | Online

DEIA ADVISORY BOARD PRESENTS PRIVILEGE AND IMPLICIT BIAS

Get ready for a transformative experience as the Arts & Culture DEIA Advisory Board presents an unforgettable workshop with the brilliant Fedearia Nicolson-Sweval PH.D. This is Part Two of a series that delves into the crucial work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and you won’t want to miss a minute of it. With Dr. Sweval as your guide, you’ll explore the complex lens of privilege and implicit bias, and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be authentic and empathetic in a rapidly changing world.


December 6, 2023 | 4:00-5:00pm | Cuyahoga Valley Art Center

Winter: Artists & Creatives Sector Update

Get ready for a pulse-pounding update on the thriving arts, culture, and environmental landscape of Summit County! Join forces with the brightest minds in the sector and community to unleash your creativity and set daring goals for making the Cultural Plan a reality!


PAST EVENT FEATURES: 2023

April 13, 2023 | 4:00-5:30pm | Online (*Note new location)

Arts & Culture Advocacy Training

R Strategy Group principals, Jeff Rusnak and Kathy Berta, bring unique insight to the needs of Summit County’s arts & culture sector, its stakeholders, and the broader ecosystem in which the sector operates. They have professional expertise in advocacy and communications, and have directed successful arts advocacy efforts in Ohio.

ArtsNow is excited to welcome advocacy firm, R Strategy Group, to offer an advocacy training specifically designed for Summit County’s Arts & Culture Sector organizations and community leaders. Learn why advocacy is important for artists and arts organizations, how to implement strategies and tactics for working with policymakers and fostering those relationships and produce ways to start proactively advocating for Summit County’s arts & culture sector.

March 30, 2023 | 4:30-6:00pm | Summit ArtSpace

Arts & Culture Town Hall for Akron Mayoral Candidates

Join the Akron mayoral candidates on Thursday, March 30th at Summit Artspace for a town hall focused on arts and culture. With the arts and culture industry in the Akron metropolitan statistical area (MSA) being valued at $1.4 billion, investing in this sector can financially support local artists and contribute to overall economic growth. On March 30th, candidates will have the opportunity to engage with voters from the Akron arts and culture community and share their platform on the topic.

The town hall is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Don’t miss this chance to join the conversation!

March 15, 2023 | 4:00-5:00pm | Summit ArtSpace

Spring: Artist & Creatives Sector Update

Artist Hubs are vital for our sector! Wednesday, March 15th join us in building a stronger arts, culture and environment sector of Summit County through ArtsNow quarterly updates. Hosted by Summit ArtSpace this will be a time for artists, organizations and community members to collaborate and enjoy each other’s innovative input. All galleries available for touring in Summit ArtSpace after the meeting.

PAST EVENT FEATURES: 2022

December 15, 2022 | 5:00-7:00pm | Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S Main St., Akron OH

State of the Arts: Connecting Arts, Culture & Community in Summit County

We are thrilled with the opportunity to share highlights from the arts, culture, and environmental sector – from initiatives and accomplishments over the year to insights on what opportunities await us in the future.


November 30, 2022 | 4:00-5:00pm | Online

Teach Arts Ohio: Info Session

Join ArtsNow as we host Ohio Arts Council! This event is built to Expand Your Curricular Toolkit: Apply for a Grant to Work with a Teaching Artist!


November 3 | 3:00-4:30pm | Akron-Summit County Public Library Main Branch

DEIA Advisory Board Presents: Dementia Friendly Workshop

Presenter: Dementia Friends Ohio
The number of Ohioans diagnosed with dementia, and their care partners, projected for the coming years is staggering, and ensuring that our arts & culture organizations continue to engage this constituency is a critical component to maintaining the cultural richness and economic growth. Dynamic and thought-provoking, Dementia Friends shared information about the challenges of a dementia diagnosis and strategies for preparing arts & culture spaces—theaters, galleries, parks, and more–to ensure continued, active engagement post-diagnosis. Together we will make the commitment to transform our community, through inclusive communication and service adaptations, and make an abundant life possible for all.


October 27th | 9:00am – 10:30am | Online

Process and Progress: Akron/Summit Cultural Plan

On Thursday, October 27th at 9AM, ArtsNow and partners presented a deep-dive presentation and discussion on the planning and ongoing implementation of the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan. questions.


October 5-6 | 9:00am – 4:00pm | John S. Knight Center

Arts Impact Ohio

Presenter: Ohio Arts Council
Arts Impact Ohio (AIO) provided relevant, action-oriented, forward-looking content for members of the state’s arts and cultural sector. The 2022 conference featured two days of workshop sessions, keynotes, and plenaries; visits to nearby arts and cultural institutions; and opportunities to meet local and national thought leaders, with performances, arts experiences, networking opportunities, and plenty of other celebrations mixed in.


September 14, 2022 | 8:30 am – 1:30 pm | First Glance, 943 Kenmore Blvd., Akron

Arts, Culture, Community Series: Creative Placemaking and Public Art

Presenters: Joel Ratner and LandStudio
Highlighting the intersection of creative placemaking, the arts, and community development, this workshop will include a panel discussion of case studies and a neighborhood walk to find examples of projects. This in-depth talk about the process for how projects would be completed and why collaboration will identify the importance of all organizations and the city having a specific placemaking agenda. Registration coming soon!


September 7, 2022 | 11:30am-12:30pm | Virtual Event via Zoom

Arts, Culture, Community Series: Essential Experiences

Join ArtsNow and Cleveland Arts Education Consortium as we discuss arts and culture education in Akron Public Schools through the lens of Essential Experiences. This conversation will feature Bronlynn Thurman from GAR Foundation and Marcie Ebright from Akron Public Schools as they share outcomes of the first phase of Essential Experiences and discuss the expanded work ahead.