AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Community Foundation announced it’s distributing grants totaling $3.8 million and also approved $693,300 to help support culture and arts programs in Summit County.
The awards are part of quarterly grants the Akron Community Foundation gives out.
This round includes more than 60 programs, such as a $15,000 grant for Western Reserve PBS, which will be used to help strengthen local programming. The Akron Community Foundation said the funding comes at a critical time for Western Reserve PBS, as there are federal funds being cut for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
“We see it as part of our mission to ensure that we’re reflecting the stories and the art and culture that’s being created by our communities,” said Natalie Pillsbury, president and CEO of Western Reserve PBS.
Here are the other organizations receiving grants, according to the Akron Community Foundation:
- 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
- Center for Applied Theatre and Active Culture, for operating support for the 2025-26 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 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