Asian Services in Action
"Dreams of My Homeland" Pilot Project
$12,000

A pilot arts-based behavioral health program for members of refugee communities. We believe that using group-based artistic programs with trained facilitators can give members of our communities a means of expressing and processing what they have been through. At the same time, working in traditional art forms gives refugees a way of staying in touch with their home cultures as they adjust to new lives here.

Autumn Bland
Pandemic Postscripts
$15,778

The final series of the multi-year Portraits of a Pandemic project is designed to extend to the greater Akron community a sense of collective closure as we reflect on the incredible resilience Akronites displayed throughout the pandemic and look ahead to what’s next. More than 750 community members have participated in this project over the course of 300+ photoshoots from 2020 onward. Pandemic Postscripts will feature approximately 50 stories of 100+ of these diverse members, continuing the narrative arc of their pandemic experience.

Ballet in the City
Silver Steps: Ballet for Seniors
$12,500

In 2023, Ballet in the City traveled to Scotland to experience Scottish Ballet's ELEVATE, which is a fully developed ballet and movement program designed specifically for older adults. Ballet in the City is learning from the experts in the UK and bringing this groundbreaking approach to creative movement for physical and mental health for seniors to the United States. This is a way to feed the mental, emotional, and physical needs of senior citizens, who should be revered, valued, and cared for in our society.

Black Excellence Arts Collective
BE Arts Festival
$10,000

The BE (Black Excellence) Arts Festival is a community-driven event curated to bring awareness to Black artists, showcasing talent, building networks, and cultural experiences in an annual festival. The BE Arts Festival was first launched in 2023 by artists Stephanie Stewart and Randi Mull with the mission of establishing a permanent footprint to provide opportunities and resources for marginalized artists. We believe that a vibrant economy depends on a vibrant arts and culture community- thus, the BE Arts Festival not only celebrates an expansion of diverse cultural engagement and programming but also looks to aid in the “stability of and viability for artists” by way of an annual arts festival held late spring, kicking off the outdoor festival season at Hardesty Park.

City of Barberton
Barberton's Art Master Plan
$9,999

Over the last several years, many organizations have made significant investments into the local downtown arts district, transforming the neighborhood into a regional arts and culture destination. The ArtsForward grant will help Barberton set a strategy in motion to use the arts as an economic driver while increasing the overall vibrancy of the community for its residents, artists, and visitors. The investment from ArtsForward for moveable art stands will allow Barberton to complete a proof of  concept piece from the Master Art Plan, allowing the City to illustrate that this will be a plan that is followed and used.

City of Green
Green Art and Culture Plan
$25,000

The City of Green desires to strengthen its identity as a community that values arts, culture and history through the creation of a cultural plan. This cultural plan will identify visions and goals to integrate arts, culture and history into the daily life of the city with an initial focus on public art. Prioritizing public art goals, policies and installations, the first phase of this cultural plan will help to deepen Green's civic identity and create a lasting legacy of creativity, inclusion and sense of belonging for residents and future generations.

City of Stow
City of Stow Public Arts Master Plan
$25,000

The City of Stow wishes to step into the next steps of encouraging public art within the City. Capitalizing on the successes of the City's Art Traffic Boxes and the opening of SKiP Playground, the City wants to strategize ways to utilize creative placemaking, while at the same time formalizing processes, procedures, and funding for public art. The City is thrilled to be working with ArtsNow on this project and looks forward to an open and community driven process to develop the Public Arts Master Plan for the City.

Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Complex Chords
$10,000

Complex Chords invites audiences to explore the history of Black-owned country clubs and places of leisure in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) and their documented connection to the burgeoning jazz scene in Akron on Howard Street in the mid-20th century. This rich history of Black entertainment venues in the Akron area is the inspiration for the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park to partner with Theron Brown and Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival to weave the past with the future and connect stories by fabricating a pop-up traveling jazz history exhibit. The project's signature cultural event in Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be a celebration of jazz history at the June 8, 2025, Rhythm on the River concert in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Curated Storefront
Artist Residency Program at The I Promise School
$25,000

Artist residencies at the I Promise School bring professional artists and engaging experiences to students in a school "dedicated to those students who are already falling behind and in danger of falling through the cracks.” Each experience creates opportunities for students to be exposed to high-quality art and also work together in ways where they draw inspiration from each other and gain confidence throughout a project. Experiential learning can help students discover talents and interests as students work with artists who represent the diversity of mediums and forms of art, as well as represent the students they work with. These artists are positive, real-world examples of the viability of art as a career. And although not every student will be interested in developing a creative practice, every student learns different forms of human expression and has the potential to become art supporters and advocates in the future.

Cuyahoga Valley Art Center
Pantone of the Cuyahoga River Project
$25,000

The Pantone of the Cuyahoga River project will transform the urban landscape of Downtown Cuyahoga Falls by installing a vibrant mural on the east-facing exterior wall of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center. This mural, created by a regional artist, will celebrate the colors and textures of the Cuyahoga River, becoming a striking visual landmark for both pedestrians and the over 86,000 drivers traveling daily on Route 8.

Global Ties Akron
Global Threads Women Artrepreneurs
$14,000

The Women Artrepreneurs initiative is designed to empower immigrant and refugee women by providing education on small business engagement, connections with local art and business leaders, and space for the women artisans to market their items at the Northside Marketplace, a local venue that supports both the art and business worlds. Thanks to our many local stakeholders, Global Ties Akron will focus on reducing barriers (i.e., language, transportation) that might otherwise challenge participation. Look to shop at Global Threads (Northside Marketplace) over the holiday season to support our Women Artrepreneurs!

Hearts for Music, Inc.
Hearts for Music Special Needs Orchestra
$4,691

Hearts for Music Inc, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Ohio that provides underrepresented individuals with disabilities and special needs unique opportunities for ensemble music performance. Our unique special needs orchestra features individuals ages 5 all the way to 70, and the widest range of disabilities ever showcased on stage. From Autism and Down Syndrome to amputees, the blind and deaf, and many others, we aim to demonstrate that music combined with love can truly transform disabilities into abilities.

Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival/City of Akron
Pilobolus at Play - Reaching out in Akron
$14,999

Heinz Poll Summer Festival will expand its reach into Akron neighborhoods, including Summit Lake, with a weeklong residency program of workshops and classes presented by world-renowned Pilobolus. This residency program will develop relationships between community members, dance, and Pilobolus, and is designed to diversify and increase audiences for dance in the Akron area. Pilobolus teaches people how to connect through designed live experiences. They bring decades of expertise telling stories with the human form to show diverse communities, brands, and organizations how to maximize group creativity, solve problems, create surprise, and generate joy through the power of nonverbal communication.

Their workshops are based on a half century of techniques that playfully increase one’s body’s capacity for mobility, stability and expression - and improve wellbeing.

Himalayan Arts Language and Cultural Academy
World on Stage
$10,000

"World on Stage" is a project featuring a kids' fashion show, international music workshop, and panel discussion aimed at enhancing unity across cultures and diverse communities. It provides a platform for cultural exchange through fashion, music, and dialogue, encouraging collaboration among artists and new creative ideas. This initiative seeks to bridge cultural divides and foster a shared appreciation for diversity.

Hudson Inclusive Playground
Hudson Inclusive Playground
$10,000

The Hudson Inclusive Playground aims to create a universally accessible and welcoming space that fosters inclusivity, play, and community engagement for individuals of all abilities. We are building the first fully inclusive playground in Summit County, setting a benchmark for accessibility and providing a safe and enjoyable environment for children and families in Hudson, Ohio and surrounding communities.

MooreDunSon Co.
A Day To Remember
$14,000

A Day to Remember" aligns with The Akron/Summit Cultural Plan’s focus on storytelling, emphasizing the importance of preserving community histories and fostering cultural engagement. Through a limited podcast series and a performance of the nationally acclaimed production The Remember Balloons, by Dominic Moore-Dunson and Theron Brown, "A Day to Remember" calls on families to document and cherish their stories, ensuring that Akron’s rich heritage continues to thrive

Music at Bath Concert Series
To diversify and grow the Music at Bath Concert Series
$5,000

The Music at Bath Concert Series will add diverse performing ensembles and music genres to our free admission, accessible concert series. Concert attendees can learn about the music being performed, participate in post concert “meet and greets” with performers, and build community in a casual environment. This project will attract larger audiences to Bath that more closely reflect Summit County's demographics and will strengthen the Akron/Summit cultural infrastructure in western Summit County.

Northside Marketplace
Maker Sessions at Northside Marketplace
$24,500

With funding from ArtsForward, we are launching a pilot program that will support two full session cycles focused on revitalizing Maker and Art Entrepreneurial Education in the Akron community. Through these initial cohorts, we will support the Maker Community, fostering creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial growth while restoring the trust of previous supporters. This initiative is a crucial step in strengthening Akron’s arts and maker ecosystem.

Ohio Shakespeare Festival
Free Student Matinee performances of ROMEO & JULIET
$8,000

Ohio Shakespeare Festival will produce a fully staged, professional production of ROMEO & JULIET in "original practices" style, mimicking closely how Shakespeare's own acting company may have staged the play. With the ArtsForward grant, Ohio Shakespeare is able to offer 400 free student tickets to the 2 weekday matinees, allowing teachers to more easily bring Shakespeare alive for their students. While this is the first year of the program, the long-term goal is to offer this production every year so teachers can count on it as part of their curriculum and build it into their state standard requirements.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
JazzFest
$12,000

Historically, Stan Hywet had a Jazz Concert on the property first taking place in 1959 and then again in 1965. We plan on reinventing this historic and significant event and educating the public about the history and importance of Jazz Music as the "only Original American music style." By highlighting and hosting local and state jazz musicians and talent we will be showcasing the varied qualities of jazz music.

The Movement Project
CDF | Akron Concert Series 2025
$13,000

The Movement Project will present the 2nd annual CDF | Akron Concert Series in partnership with Firestone CLC in May 2025. The series will feature two free dance concerts showcasing professional companies from northeast Ohio, award paid choreographic fellowships to Akron-based artists, and offer a free career readiness residency to high school students. This initiative aims to prepare APS students for careers in dance, focusing on education, mentorship, and production. Selected Choreographic Fellows will receive a space residency with NCCAkron, marketing support, mentorship, and the opportunity to present new work alongside other northeast Ohio dance artists.

Theresa Göttl Brightman
40 over 40: A Poetry Anthology
$8,617

Many writing awards and anthologies focus on rewarding first books or emerging poets, but this anthology will celebrate the best poets in Summit and adjacent counties who have experience, have had the time to excel at their craft, or who may have discovered their art form later in life and are outstanding emerging poets who have aged out of the recognition that focuses on “30 under 30” lists. Anthology submissions will be open to anyone in Summit County and adjacent counties, so this will provide a publication opportunity for local poets. Additionally, as part of the project, generative writing workshops will take place that will be free to attend, and give community members space to write their own work, whether or not they are interested in submitting to the anthology. Finally, I will host a launch event for the anthology, inviting contributors to read their work, while members of the community have the chance to hear some of the best poets in the area.

Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners
Art for Conservation: Student Rain Barrel Design and Community Space Beautification
$9,999

By engaging students in creating vibrant and educational artwork on rain barrels, the project introduces a unique form of public art. Student-painted rain barrels will be placed in community spaces, including parks, enhancing visual appeal and bringing cultural programming to outdoor spaces - incorporating art and environmental education. Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners will lead educational sessions to provide valuable knowledge about local watersheds and water conservation to complement and enhance the outreach efforts.

Tuesday Musical
The Concert Truck Rolls Into Town: redefining the concert experience for all
$25,000

Tuesday Musical will bring The Concert Truck to Greater Akron in late summer/early fall 2025 for a week-long residency featuring genre-bending piano concerts throughout our community — focusing on nontraditional locations and engaging underserved neighborhoods.

Since 2016, classically trained pianists Susan Zhang and Nick Luby and The Concert Truck have been traveling around the United States to redefine the concert experience, make music accessible, and collaborate with local musicians and organizations by presenting piano concerts in city streets, parking lots, festivals, schools and campuses, parks, and more. (Anywhere you can park a truck!)

The Concert Truck’s audiences throughout Greater Akron will be encouraged to interact with the visiting musicians and each other, as well as assist in the creative music-making process throughout the hour-long performances. Plus, local musicians and artists will be invited to collaborate and perform alongside the visiting musicians before and during some of The Concert Truck events — thus creating truly Akron-centric experiences.

Also during the residency, Tuesday Musical will offer a free, in-person and/or virtual workshop for members of Greater Akron’s arts/culture community. The Concert Truck creators/pianists Susan Zhang and Nick Luby will lead meaningful and inspiring conversations about how individual artists and community organizations can work together to incorporate arts and culture into Greater Akron's public spaces long after The Concert Truck leaves town

University of Akron Press
Finding a Shell: How to Care for Yourself as a Writer
$4,691

Inspired by A Mollusk Without a Shell: Essays on Self-Care for Writers, The University of Akron Press and Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre will present Finding a Shell: How to Care for Yourself as a Writer, a four-part series on self-care for writers. Through hour-long workshops, participants will create new work from generative prompts, explore approaches to writerly self-care, gain insight into content creation strategies, share thoughts and vulnerabilities, learn from the expertise of diverse writers from many backgrounds and career levels, and cultivate a spirit of self-care that will allow participants to reference what they learned to continue to produce work and sustain themselves as a writer for years to come.

White Rabbit Galleries
Creative Connections Courses
$14,000

White Rabbit Galleries is expanding their art class offerings from single-day workshops into multi-week courses covering a wide range of media for different ages and skill levels. Every class includes supplies to take home so the creativity doesn’t stop when class is over. This grant also includes scholarships for students 17 and under, and 65 and older.