The Akron Area Arts Alliance (AAAA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 advocacy organization promoting arts and cultural activities in Summit, Portage and Medina Counties.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Akron Area Arts Alliance is to promote the value of a strong, diverse and vibrant arts and culture community for Greater Akron.
Vision Statement
The Akron Area Arts Alliance is committed to being the leading advocacy organization for arts and culture in Greater Akron, representing the collaborative voice of the non-profit community.
The Akron Area Arts Alliance is committed to building public awareness of the value of arts and culture to our area’s economy and quality of life and to build a dynamic, thriving community where people want to live, work, play and stay.
The Akron Area Arts Alliance is committed to making Summit Artspace a highly visible destination and welcoming place where artists and the public interact and experience creative activities.
The Akron Area Arts Alliance is committed to being financially sustainable with the staff and infrastructure to adequately achieve its mission.
Activities
Summit Artspace Gallery, located at 140 E. Market Street in downtown Akron, is dedicated to displaying works by artists living, working or attending schools in Summit, Portage and Medina Counties. It is open Thursday-Saturday 12-5 pm. Admission and parking are free.
CLICK HERE to visit the Summit Artspace page.
Summit Artspace
Summit Artspace, a project of AAAA in cooperation with Summit County, is a community arts center at 140 E. Market Street. We provide inexpensive studio, rehearsal and classroom space plus offices and a conference room for non-profit arts organizations. For more information about availability and pricing contact AAAA at 330-376-8480 or via email at info@akronareaarts.org.
Arts Alive! Awards
This celebration of arts and culture is held every two years. It recognizes outstanding achievement in the visual, musical and performing arts plus volunteerism, leadership and support. The gala evening is filled with exciting entertainment, grand dining, arts auction and awards ceremony. It will be held again in 2011. The public can contact Rachael Hinton at 330-376-8480 or via email at rhinton@akronareaarts.org to be added to the invitation list. CLICK HERE to visit the Arts Alive! page and learn about past award recipients.
Arts Calendar
Arts Calendar
AAAA has an online Arts Calendar and sends out a weekly email blast of the week’s arts and culture event. Get weekly email updates by sending an email to Rachael Hinton at rhinton@akronareaarts.org or CLICK HERE to visit the online Arts Calendar.
Meetings
AAAA holds membership meetings in January, April, June and October. These meetings allow members to discuss and work on areas of common interest, i.e. media, funding, marketing, cultural diversity, collaboration building, advocacy, education, etc. It is also a great opportunity to network with colleagues with common goals.
AAAA Membership
Membership is open to not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organizations in Summit, Portage and Medina Counties that have as their primary mission promoting arts and culture. Individual artists or arts supporters are also welcomed as members. Current membership totals 46 arts and cultural organizations and 66 individuals. Organizational members include museums, visual and performing arts groups, theatres, university fine arts departments and environmental institutions. AAAA member organizations pay dues ranging from $100 to $700, based on budget size. Individual memberships are $40 and $65. For further information please contact AAAA at 330-376-8480 or download an application on-line.
CLICK HERE to download an AAAA application.
History
The Akron Area Arts Alliance (AAAA) was founded in 1991 by arts advocates Ann Amer Brennan and Mary Ann Jackson, who recognized that the area’s arts and cultural organizations were struggling with similar problems. They brought together 12 organizations to discuss and act upon common concerns. The AAAA was incorporated and received its not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) in 1998. Because of the organization’s growth and increasing services to its members and the community, the AAAA hired a director and opened a downtown Akron office in September 1999. It opened Summit Artspace Gallery in September 2002.
Funding
The organization’s funding includes yearly dues and personal contributions. Currently it receives support from Akron Community Foundation, Summit County, The Knight Foundation, GAR Foundation, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation, The Brennan Family Foundation, The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, The Corbin Foundation, The Welty Foundation, and Ohio Arts Council. AAAA holds its fundraiser – the Arts Alive! Awards – every two years. CLICK HERE for information on supporting AAAA.
