AKRON, OH (Feb. 22, 2023) – ArtsNow, a nonprofit organization that supports and strengthens arts and culture in Summit County, is excited to announce the grant recipients of the 2022 Summit County Creative Investment Program. 

The inaugural year of this program is made possible through the support of the Ian Patrick Schwarber Foundation and is designed to provide direct investment in the professional learning of local artists and creatives residing in Summit County.

Seven talented individuals were awarded grants totaling $15,590 to advance their careers and invest in their professional growth. The recipients are:

• Lizzi Aronhalt
• Katie Beck
• Meryl Engler 
• Josy Jones
• Micah Kraus
• Dominic Moore-Dunson
• Stephanie Stewart

“The Creative Investment Program provides opportunities for artists and creatives to expand their knowledge, gain new skills, and grow their businesses. We’re thrilled with our award winners and are proud to support the professional development of these talented individuals and to contribute to a thriving arts ecosystem in our community,” said Nicole Mullet, Executive Director of ArtsNow.

The grant awards, which are capped at $2,500, can be used to cover the cost of registration or admission, as well as travel reimbursement for professional development opportunities. 

The grant recipients of the Summit County Creative Investment Program have been hard at work investing in their professional development. Lizzi Aronhalt and Katie Beck have chosen to use their grants to take courses to enhance their digital marketing and executive leadership skills, respectively, with programs offered by Duke Continuing Studies and the National Arts Strategies and University of Pennsylvania. Meryl Engler will be attending the Penland Winter residency, while Josy Jones is taking ETC Lighting Software Training. Micah Kraus will be attending the Society of Photographic Education Conference, and Dominic Moore-Dunson is attending the -Association of Performing Arts Professionals Conference. Stephanie Stewart has decided to enroll in the Teaching Artist Project, a division of the Community-Word Project.

Creatives will pay-it-forward in 2023 by sharing what they learned in their respective programs with other professionals in the arts and culture industry. 

For more information on ArtsNow and the vital role its team plays in the community, or to donate to this year’s Creative Investment Program, visit ArtsNow.org.

ArtsNow works to leverage the arts and culture in Summit County to support and strengthen the region’s economic and social vibrancy. Learn more at ArtsNow.org