Akron Community Foundation distributes over $6 million in quarterly grants

Competitive grants support arts and culture programs in Summit County

Akron Community Foundation's board of directors recently announced grants totaling $6.2 million and approved $671,500 in arts and culture grants chosen by the foundation's Community Investment Committee. Akron Community Foundation's board approved 57 arts and culture grants in total.

Arts and culture grants included $7,500 for the Akron Black Artist Guild to provide an array of programs that offer exhibition opportunities and professional development for Akron artists from historically underrepresented communities.  

"That is our goal as an organization, to make sure it is always artist-led and (we're) pushing artists to the forefront," said Dara Harper, founder of the Akron Black Artist Guild. Programs will include community art awards, artist advocacy and a Creative Exchange program that brings artists under one roof. "There are so many things that you can do with art and using that as a tool to be the actual change that you want to see in your community."

Another arts and culture grant recipient was The National Center for Choreography - Akron, stationed at the University of Akron. The nonprofit is also celebrating its 10^th anniversary.

"Because we're a space for research and development in dance, we can be a place for artists to do the research and development, but we can also be a place for the community to experiment with dance," said Christy Bolingbroke, executive and artistic director for the National Center for Choreography-Akron. "And, so what we're really excited about is doing a year-long series of dance events, at locations all over town at least once a month through the '26-27 season."

A new grantee, Killer Video, received $5,000 for operating funds, including an Akron independent horror film festival, along with a program called Little Monsters, a family-friendly event series that pairs media literacy with hands-on creativity. The organization also operates a video museum located in downtown Akron that is a working video store with authentic original video store displays and memorabilia, lost and forgotten media, and an 8,500-video collection that members can "rent" for free. "So, our museum is truly a cultural history museum," said Jonathon Carmichael, executive director of Killer Video. "We preserve a time in history that no longer exists. There was a period in time where the video rental store was a third space for families."

In addition, ACF fundholders provided nearly $20,000 in funding to local arts organizations as part of the foundation's co-investment effort, aligning donor funding with board-led grants. Donor-advised fundholders providing additional funding this quarter include the Howard Atwood Family Fund, Charles E. & Mary K. Booth Family Fund, Mark Hilkert Fund, and Legacy of Grace Foundation Fund.

Board discretionary arts and culture grants will support the following programs:

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

About Akron Community Foundation
For 71 years, Akron Community Foundation has been our community's champion and generator of enduring philanthropy. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. It is a philanthropic endowment of $340 million with a growing family of more than 900 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation's funds have awarded $280 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit akroncf.org.