Arts & Culture Grants

In 2026, Akron Community Foundation awarded $671,500 in Arts & Culture cycle grants to 57 nonprofit organizations.

• Akron Art Museum, for general operating support, including exhibits, hands-on artmaking, community events and free performances, $50,000
• Akron Black Artist Guild, for intergenerational arts programs like exhibits for underrepresented artists, professional development opportunities and a Creative Exchange event that brings area artists under one roof, $7,500
• Akron Civic Theatre, to support non-commercial arts programming and expand access to affordable, community-centered experiences for all, $37,500
• Akron Recording Company, to support a multicultural Akron-based concert series that offers professional experience for artists, food vendors, and other creatives, $2,500
• Akron Soul Train, to offer multi-disciplinary, experimental artists the opportunity to expand their creative expressions through paid residencies, $8,500
• Akron Symphonic Winds, to support free performances for the community, including concerts in the schools for area students, $6,500
• Akron Symphony Orchestra, to support the Akron Symphony's youth music and community outreach programming during the 2026-27 season, $17,000
• Apollo's Fire, to support the 2026-27 Summit County concert series and Community Access Initiative, which aims to serve people in Summit County through baroque concerts and educational initiatives, $12,500
• Art Sparks, for Dynamite Duos, a peer-based inclusive dance and music curriculum for Akron Public Schools students with developmental disabilities, $12,000
• ArtsNow, to help advance Summit County's arts and culture sector through events, partnerships and advocacy, $35,000
• Ballet Excel Ohio, to support the 2026-27 Reach Out and Dance (ROAD) program at Akron Public Schools (APS) and the Pre-professional Ballet Training Scholarship Program, which provides second graders with free in-school dance instruction with renowned choreographers, $7,000
• Ballet Theatre of Ohio, for the Akron schools outreach program "Take Me out to the Ballet," which includes students attending a performance of The Nutcracker, along with classroom educational activities, $7,000
• Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture, for operating support for the 2026-27 season at The Balch Street Theatre, including professional development, performances, and strategic planning, $12,500
• Children's Concert Society of Akron, for the Akron Public Schools In-School Concert Series, which brings free live concert experiences of culturally diverse music to students in an informal, hands-on setting, $10,000
• City of Akron, to support the 19th Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, a series of free outdoor dance performances in neighborhood parks, Lock 3 and the Akron Art Museum, $50,000
• City of New Franklin Tudor House Commission, to help the Tudor House Commission provide free family-friendly events to the greater Portage Lakes communities of southern Summit County at the historic Tudor House, $3,000
• Cleveland Ballet, to support immersive classroom-to-theater performance experiences and programming at the Akron Art Museum during the 2026-27 performance season, $7,000
• Cleveland International Film Festival, to support Summit County student participation in youth education programs, $5,000
• Cleveland Orchestra, to support the 2026 Blossom Music Festival, including classical performances, family-friendly movie nights and popular music, $18,000
• Curated Storefront, to support Curated Storefront's 2026 programming of contemporary art exhibitions, commissions, and community engagement in downtown Akron, $13,000
• Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, for operating expenses, including exhibits, events and workshops for artists and residents in the Cuyahoga Falls area, $7,500
• Cuyahoga Valley Community Chorus, to support the Cuyahoga Valley Children's Choir for children ages 8-12 who live in and around North Hill, $2,500
• DANCECleveland, to support the world premiere presentation of "Black by Nature" and dance engagement programming in Summit County, $10,000
• Developing Connections Northeast Ohio, for the Dancing Classrooms residency project, teaching ballroom dance to help improve 5th- and 8th-graders' educational experiences, $7,000
• Friends of The Summit, to support The Summit FM, Akron's independent radio station, advancing music-driven wellness, education, and community connection through community-based programming and partnerships, $18,000
• Hearts for Music Inc., to provide a performing music ensemble for people of all ages with special needs using adaptive music tools like iPads, $3,000
• Highland Square Neighborhood Association, to support the PorchRokr live music and arts festival, $5,000
• Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy (HALCA), to support culturally inclusive music and dance education that fosters creativity, connection, and well-being for youth and families in Akron's North Hill community, $8,000
• Jin Huo Community Inc., to support a co-generational magazine, created in partnership with ASIA Inc., $3,000
• Killer Video, for community programming, including the Akron Independent Horror Short Film Festival at the Akron Civic Theatre, and Little Monsters, a free monthly series at the Akron-Summit County Public Library that pairs media literacy with hands-on creativity for local families, $5,000
• Les Délices, to support Baroque-inspired concerts and educational outreach in Summit County and provide yearlong music mentorship for local students, $5,000
• The Links Inc. Kent, OH Chapter, to support "Illuminate," an Akron middle school youth arts-focused digital photography program designed to introduce students to career exploration, health, and national and international social issues, $2,500
• Magical Theatre Company, for operating support, including student matinees, touring programs, student scriptwriting and educational programs, $13,500
• Makeshift Theatre, to support Senior Matinees to bring live theater to seniors with plays that feature older adult performers at an affordable price, $3,500
• Master Singers Chorale of Northeast Ohio, for classical choral concerts in Summit County, $5,000
• MooreDunsonCo, LLC, to support ticket access for underserved families to a world premiere of The Remember Balloons Live!, $7,000
• The Movement Project, to support career readiness dance residencies at Firestone CLC and Miller South for Akron Public Schools students in grades 4 through 12, $5,000
• Music from The Western Reserve, to support the 44th concert season, which expands classical music's reach by featuring underrepresented artists and engaging more diverse and inclusive audiences, $3,000
• National Center for Choreography, for support of technical and creative dance residencies, including Dancing Labs and programs for the organization's 10^th anniversary, $10,000
• The Nightlight Cinema, to support Akron's only arthouse cinema as it expands access to independent film, deepens community partnerships, and creates an inclusive space for shared cultural experiences, $16,000
• Ohio Contemporary Ballet, to support Akron artistic and outreach activities, including concerts and related education/community engagement, $8,500
• OhioDance, to support community engagement for Summit County through educational resources, a four-day residency and documentation through the OhioDance Virtual Dance Collection, $2,500
• Peninsula Foundation, to support Voices in the Valley arts programming, a nationally recognized concert series promoting traditional roots music through live performances of local, national and international touring artists, $4,000
• Project RISE – Akron Public Schools, to support the ENRICH program for students facing homelessness and their families, including after-school activities, field trips and art workshops, $12,000
• Rubber City Theatre, for operating support, including theatrical performances, youth programming and educational outreach, $6,500
• Save the Music Foundation, to increase access to comprehensive school music education for students in Akron Public Schools, $7,500
• Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, for 2026 general operating support, including exhibits and tours along with education, community events, and historic preservation, $35,000
• Standing Rock Cultural Arts, to support the Tarot Cabaret musical theatre production, $2,500
• Summit Artspace, to support education, art exhibits and programming, along with resources for local artists, including studio space and workshops, $26,000
• Summit Choral Society, to provide musical training for children and adults, $16,000
• Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio, for general operating support, including educational programs and exhibits at the Perkins Stone Mansion, John Brown House and select areas in Summit County, $25,000
• Trust Drum Circles, to support community-based programming, including free drumming lessons and immersive drum circles for at-risk youth and adults with disabilities, $2,500
• Tuesday Musical Association, to support six concerts as well as related education and community engagement activities in the 2026-27 season, $17,500
• Wandering Aesthetics, to support theatrical educational opportunities and youth performances during the 2026-27 season, $5,000
• Western Reserve Historical Society, to support educational programs and general operating funds for Hale Farm and Village, $20,000
• Western Reserve PBS, for arts and culture broadcast programming, including locally and nationally produced content, $15,000
• Western Reserve Playhouse, to support the Western Reserve Playhouse's accessible MainStage show for the 2026 season, $5,000