Community Fund Grants: Arts & Culture is sponsored by Akron Community Foundation. Provides funding for arts and culture initiatives that enrich the community's quality of life in Summit County.

Arts & Culture Grants - Akron Community Foundation VIEW A COMPLETE HISTORY OF ARTS & CULTURE GRANTS In 2025, Akron Community Foundation awarded $693,300* in Arts & Culture cycle grants.

Akron Art Museum , for general operating support, including exhibits, hands-on artmaking, community events and free performances, $51,200 Akron Civic Theatre , to support non-commercial arts programming and expand access to vibrant, community-centered experiences for all, $37,500 Akron Dream Center , to help expand the Creative Labs program, focusing on music production, dance, and a future print shop, serving local junior and senior high school students, $5,000 Akron Municipal Court , to support the installation of artwork to help create a calm and welcoming environment for visitors, particularly those facing mental health challenges and addiction, $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 2025-2026 season, $18,200 Apollo's Fire , to support the 2025-26 Summit County concert series and Community Access Initiative, which aims to serve 4,500 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, and for the ArtsForward program, which provides grants to artists and projects that align with the Cultural Plan, $35,000 Assuage HER (FS: Summit Artspace) , to support the Assuage Her Youth Initiative, a 10-week arts and entrepreneurship program empowering young women ages 14–19 through creative expression, confidence-building, and community connection, $1,200 Ballet Excel Ohio , to support the 2025-26 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 Buchtel Community Learning Center PTA , to support the West Akron Community Parade and Juneteenth celebration, honoring a long-standing tradition while deepening community pride and historical awareness through arts, culture, and intergenerational connection, $1,500 The Bath Church, United Church of Christ , to attract new audiences for the Bath fall concert series, $3,000 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 18th 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 2025-26 performance season, $7,000 Cleveland International Film Festival , to support Summit County student participation in CIFF's Youth Education Programs, including FilmSlam and FilmSlam Streams in-person and online educational programs for students in grades 5-12, $6,000 Cleveland Orchestra , to support the 2025 Blossom Music Festival, including 18 concerts of classical performances, family friendly movie nights and popular music, $18,000 Crooked River Musical Arts , to support the promotion and performance of free relevant choral programs at no cost to the public, $3,000 Curated Storefront , to support public art programming that commissions and exhibits contemporary art by regional, national, and international artists to activate underused spaces in downtown Akron, $12,500 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, $2,000 DANCECleveland , to support dance programming with visiting artists in Summit County, providing education at local schools and Firestone and Kenmore community centers, $10,000 Dancing Classrooms Northeast Ohio , to teach ballroom dance to fifth- and eighth-grade students, $7,000 Empowering Queens , for The Art of Empowerment, a six-month creative healing program for single mothers in Akron, covering visual arts, writing, movement, and storytelling, $1,500 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, $16,500 Hearts for Music Inc. , to expand its services to Summit County, offering a music ensemble for people of all ages with special needs, $2,500 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 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 , for a digital photography program designed to introduce Akron youth to career exploration, health, national and international social issues, $1,750 Magical Theatre Company , for operating support, including student matinees, touring programs, student scriptwriting and educational programs, $13,500 Makeshift Theatre , for a theater series featuring plays with themes of interest to older adults, $3,000 Master Singers Chorale of Northeast Ohio , for classical choral concerts in Summit County, $5,000 MooreDunsonCo, LLC , to support the world premiere of The Remember Balloons Live!

, an intergenerational performance blending dance, live music, and multimedia storytelling, designed to engage families ranging from grandparents to children, $7,000 The Movement Project , to support a dance concert series and in-school residencies to connect Akron Public Schools students in grades 4–12 with professional dance opportunities which foster creativity and career readiness, $5,000 Music from The Western Reserve , to support the 43rd concert season which expands classical music's reach by featuring underrepresented artists and engaging more diverse and inclusive audiences, $2,500 National Center for Choreography , to support innovative dance residencies and programs that bring nationally recognized artists to Akron while deepening local engagement with dance as a transformative art form, $8,500 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, $17,000 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 Open Tone Music , to support the 10th Annual Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, $6,000 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, $6,500 Phoenix Performing Arts , to support a youth-led musical theater season that offers free, accessible performances and expands arts opportunities for local students and families, $2,000 Project RISE-Akron Public Schools , for the Arts Can Teach program, which provides live performing arts experiences for local families facing homelessness, $11,450 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 elementary students in Akron Public Schools, $5,000 Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens , for 2025 general operating support, including exhibits and tours along with education, community events, and historic preservation, $35,000 Summit Artspace , to support education, art exhibits and programming, along with resources for local artists, including studio space and workshops, $25,000 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 2025-26 season, $17,500 Wandering Aesthetics , to support theatrical educational opportunities and youth performances during the 2025-26 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 ticket prices for the 2025 season, $5,000 Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop (YEPAW) , to support youth and families through a summer workshop, masterclasses in dance, photography, spoken word, visual art, step and drumline and other avenues, $20,000 *Includes contributions through Akron Community Foundation's co-investment program, which enables donor-advised fundholders to review the board's competitive grant applications and support initiatives that align with their charitable interests.