Community Fund Grants (Arts & Culture)

Community Fund Grants (Arts & Culture) is sponsored by Akron Community Foundation. Akron Community Foundation's Community Fund grants support nonprofits in Summit County addressing critical needs.

Arts & Culture Grants - Akron Community Foundation VIEW A COMPLETE HISTORY OF 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 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