DRAFT:
CULTURAL PLAN
Introduction
With innovation as a pillar of our past and a community today that teems with creative potential, a vibrant arts and culture sector is essential to our city’s future.
Opportunities to experience arts, culture, and environment are the keys to creating places where residents want to live, work, shop, create, and contribute. Plus, the creative sector itself is a critical economic engine locally and nationally. The arts and cultural sector contributed $804.2 billion or 4.3 percent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016. In Greater Akron, the creative economy generates $1.4 billion in the Akron MSA (metropolitan statistical area) and supports 17,608 jobs.
In 2019, for the first time in its history, Akron engaged in a city-wide cultural planning process with goals to strengthen our city, advance our cultural diversity, increase our opportunities to create culture, and provide vibrant experiences for us all.
ArtsNow, an independent nonprofit organization, received private resources from GAR Foundation and Knight Foundation to work with the City of Akron, artists, cultural organizations, local, regional and national experts, and most importantly community residents from across Akron’s 24 neighborhoods to craft the collective cultural plan.
Together, we set a new standard for inclusive, collaborative planning. Together, we evaluated existing resources and examined the needs and desires of Akron community members—with hundreds of opportunities for residents across Akron neighborhoods to give ideas, perspectives, and feedback.
The following cultural planning document—imagined by Akron residents—presents a vision and recommendations on how the City of Akron, partner organizations, and community members can build upon our storied history and create the path forward.
Our collective roadmap to the future is strong—thanks to your shared truths and ideas.
Akron, this is your plan. This is your voice.
Cultural Planning Foundations
Cultural Plan Goals
CULTURAL PLAN (NOUN:) A cultural plan is a living document intended to examine and strengthen a community through the exploration of arts, humanities, culture, natural resources, and heritage.
The collective cultural planning process was designed to promote an equitable, world-class cultural environment that strengthens the city, advances cultural diversity, increases opportunities to create culture, and provides vibrant experiences for all residents.
Akron’s Cultural Plan, developed by Akron residents, presents a vision and recommendations on how the City of Akron and all of its partners can build upon our collective history and create the path to our future.
Guiding Principles
The plan was created—and will be implemented—with the commitment of many interdisciplinary partners as resources are established. The following principles were used to develop the ten priorities identified in this plan and will continue as common threads in their implementation.
Celebrate the cultural practices, histories, artists, and institutions that are vital to Akron’s cultural scene.
Support programs that invest in individual artists and culture creators.
Include all people in the creation and consumption of culture.
Promote the vibrant cultural scene of the city.
Provide opportunities for all people to experience culture in environments in which they are comfortable
Develop an audience of proud champions of the arts and culture scene.
Strengthen Akron’s reputation as a city that values arts and culture.
Equity Statement
Introduction from the Steering Committee
Those who read the Akron Cultural Plan may notice that a clear thread has been woven throughout. An emphasis on equity rose to the forefront in this process and that is reflective of what we have been hearing from you, the community. In fact, 97% of you who were interviewed or engaged with in some way mentioned the importance of true equity as a part of Akron’s future.
Although Akron has a rich, diverse, and welcoming community, as with other communities across the nation, our historically marginalized residents have not always had access to, been highlighted in, or reaped the benefits of investments in the cultural sector. This is a truth we know and one that sets the tone for the action that is necessary to make changes. Akron can only grow when all its residents have equitable opportunities and access to engage in every aspect of our community.
To drive the point home, we have included a “Statement on Cultural Equity” that we hope that you read and reflect on. This statement was developed by an inclusive group of committee members and refined by the larger committee and community leaders. We believe that it is just as vital as the plan that follows.
It is our hope that all residents see themselves in this plan, and that it inspires our community to continue working toward true equity in the cultural sector and beyond.
Authored by Steering Committee Members: Cristina González Alcalá, Doug Piekarz, and Bronlynn Thurman
Statement of Cultural Equity
The strength and future of Akron resides in our ability to be an inclusive community where all people are acknowledged, welcomed, and respected. Our arts and cultural assets are a tribute to our individuality and shared humanity. Together we will create a future where we inspire authentic learning, celebrate our uniqueness, and cultivate creativity.
Akron Landscape
Key Stats
City Facts:
● Founded: 1825
● Size: 62.03 sq miles
● Name Origin: From the Greek ἄκρον meaning summit or high point
● Demonym: Akronite
Population:
● Akron Population: 198,006 (2018)
● Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA): 704,845 (2018)
Demographics from 2017 American Community Survey:
● White: 60.3%
● Black: 30.5%
● Asian: 4.0%
● Two or more races: 4.3%
● Other: 0.9%
● Hispanic or Latino: 2.4%
Language Spoken at Home
● English: 92.8%
● Other: 7.2%
Creative Economy
Within the Akron metropolitan area, the creative economy:
● Generates $1.4 billion
● Supports 17,608 jobs
● Supplies more than $768 million in wages and proprietor income
● Is the largest employment block with 2.738, including independent artists, writers and performers:
○ Publishing-related industries are strong in Akron (Book publishing, internet publishing and periodical publishing have large output and employment impacts in Akron)
○ Akron also has a significant manufacturing presence with large impacts in sign manufacturing and ornamental and architectural metalwork manufacturing
Cultural Landscape Assessment
The Akron Cultural Plan is a natural next step in strong community efforts designed to understand and advance the arts and cultural sector.
Our city has been gathering data about what Akron wants and needs for many years. From Akron Community Foundation’s findings from “On the Table” and the Blue Ribbon Task Force’s 2016 assessment to the Greater Ohio Policy Center’s 62.4 Report and priorities from the Senior Citizens’ Commission and the Akron Civic Rights Commission, the cultural plan has been informed by a legacy of high-quality assessment and research.
In late 2012, the GAR Foundation and the Knight Foundation set out to understand the strengths, challenges, relevance, and opportunities for Summit County’s arts sector. Together they designed a research process—dubbed the Summit County Arts and Culture Initiative—that would arrive at this understanding by looking at multiple perspectives–not just that of arts organizations. This initiative marked the first time this type of work was done for or with the arts sector in the greater Akron area. A diverse, multi-sector, 19-member steering committee oversaw the research phase of the work. The final report told us:
● Summit County has many great assets upon which to build, but many assets are in jeopardy, with waning relevance to audiences and eroding financial stability;
● The business sector values a vibrant arts and culture scene as a key tool for talent attraction and retention, and yet businesses feel disconnected from the arts;
● Consumers have to work too hard to find arts and culture offerings;
● Many consumers want different kinds of arts experiences that are more relevant to their lives; and,
● There is no “glue” holding the arts together as a high-functioning sector.
Armed with this rich information, the Steering Committee embarked upon the engagement phase, which kicked off in January 2014. During this process over 250 people from all walks of life attended working group meetings and dug into the work of shoring up greater Akron’s arts and culture sector.
Outcomes and Success
As the work crystalized, it became evident an organization was needed to meet the needs of Summit County and to fill a noticeable gap in the sector. In July of 2015, ArtsNow was created as the means of addressing these findings and serving as the conduit to ensure the arts and culture sector is fully leveraged in identifying community opportunities and moving us forward as a region.
And today, ArtsNow has been asked to shepherd this cultural planning process for the Akron community.
Creating a cultural plan is a natural next step for Akron, and the strong work of past efforts has positioned the community to create an actionable plan, fueled by the voices of Akron residents, of what the future of the arts and culture sector will be.
Cultural Planning Process
The Akron Cultural Plan was envisioned by the residents of Akron. The process of creation was led by Akron Cultural Plan Steering Committee, facilitated by ArtsNow (Summit County’s backbone organization for arts, culture and environment) and Amp Strategy, and executed by third-party national experts at Designing Local.
Steering Committee Members:
● Dr. Leslie Barnes (YEPAW, Arlington Church of God)
● Theresa Boware (Akron Summit County Public Library, Odom Branch Director)
● Patrick Bravo (Summit County Landbank, Executive Director)
● Veronica Cook-Euell (Kent State University, Supplier Diversity Program Manager)
● Miss Shirley Finney (Summit Lake, Resident)
● Puspa Gajmer (Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy (HALCA), Executive/Artistic Director)
● John Garofalo (Akron Community Foundation)
● Cristina González Alcalá (Summit Education Initiative)
● Suzie Graham (Downtown Akron Partnership, President)
● James Hardy (City of Akron, Deputy Mayor for Integrated Development)
● Justin Hilton (Kent State University, Senior Associate VP for University Relations)
● Greta Johnson (County of Summit, Assistant Chief of Staff/PIO)
● Sean Joyce (Stan Hywet, President & Executive Director)
● Beth Knorr (Summit Food Coalition, Executive Director)
● Sandra Kurt (County of Summit, Clerk of Courts)
● Rob Lehr (GAR Foundation, Program Officer)
● Dave Lieberth (The Lieberth Consulting Group)
● Mark Masuoka (Akron Art Museum, John S. Knight Director & CEO)
● Carla Moore (Retired Judge, Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals)
● Dominic Moore-Dunson (Inlet Dance, Dancer and Choreographer)
● Eric Nelson (Students With A Goal)
● Doug Piekarz (Akron Zoo, President and CEO, Center for Applied Drama and Autism board member)
● Rick Rogers (Curated Storefronts)
● Brittany Schmoekel (City of Akron, Manager, Recreation Bureau)
● Jason Segedy (City of Akron, Director of Planning and Urban Development)
● Priya Sircar (Knight Foundation, Arts Director)
● Jim Slowiak (New World Performance Lab/The University of Akron Theatre and Arts Administration)
● Karen Starr (Hazel Tree Design)
● Bronlynn Thurman (GAR Foundation and Artist)
● Arnold Tunstall (The University of Akron)
● Pastor Deniela Williams (New Millennium Baptist Church, Pastor)
Staff:
● Nicole Mullet (ArtsNow, Executive Director)
● Grace Myers, Corporate and Community Liaison
● Amp Strategy
Thanks to the guidance of the 31-member Steering Committee, the cultural planning process consists of five key steps:
Phase One: Discovery
Understand the rich history and landscape of Akron’s arts and cultural assets while crafting an inclusive and equitable cultural planning process
Prior to the launch of the community planning process, over 150 stakeholders, representing hundreds of cultural organizations, artists, and residents throughout the city, were engaged to ensure the cultural planning process was equitable, engaged best practices, and ensured all voices were represented.
The significant and in-depth input from stakeholders formed the basis of the overall community engagement strategy.
Stakeholder Organizations Included:
● 91.3 The Summit
● Acid Cats
● Akron Art Museum
● Akron Children's Museum
● Akron Children’s Hospital
● Akron City Council
● Akron Civic Commons
● Akron Civic Theatre
● Akron Community Foundation
● Akron Film Collective
● Akron Parks Collaborative
● Akron Public Schools
● Akron Soul Train
● Akron Summit County Public Library
● Akron Symphony Orchestra
● Akron Waterways Renewed
● Akron Zoo
● Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
● Akron/Summit County Convention & Visitors Bureau
● Alchemy, Inc
● Amber Cullen Art, LLC
● Arlington Church of God
● Art Bomb Brigade
● Art of Matt Miller
● Art Speaks Ohio
● ArtsCleveland
● ArtSparks
● ArtxLove
● Big Love Network
● Bluff Blue Door
● Build Corp
● City of Akron
● Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
● Corbin Foundation
● Countryside
● County of Summit
● Crafty Mart
● Crain's Cleveland Business
● Creative StartUps
● Curated Storefront
● Design Innovation Initiative, Kent State University
● Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities
● Don Drumm Studios
● Downtown Akron Partnership
● Dreams Academy
● East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation
● environmntl
● EY
● Friends of Metro Parks
● FRONT International
● GAINS
● GAR Foundation
● Goodyear
● Growing Mindz
● Hale Farm & Village
● Hands On Sustainability
● Harwick Standard Distribution
● Hazel Tree Design Studio
● Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival
● Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy (HALCA)
● House of Kung Fu
● Hower House
● Huntington Bank
● Inlet Dance Theatre
● Jaron LeGrair Studio
● Jewish Community Board of Akron
● Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance
● Kent State University
● Kent State University, School of Theatre and Dance
● Knight Foundation
● Krunchworks
● Leandra Drumm Designs
● Lieberth Consulting Group
● Love Akron Network
● Magical Theatre Company
● Akron’s Senior Citizen Commission
● Mural Arts Philadelphia
● Mustard Seed Market & Cafe
● National Center for Choreography at The University of Akron
● Neighborhood Network
● New Millennium Baptist Church
● New World Performance Lab
● Northeast Ohio Healing Alliance
● Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition
● Ohio Shakespeare Festival
● One View Communications
● Peg's Foundation
● QuTheatr
● Research Triangle Foundation
● Roetzel & Andress
● Rubber City Theatre
● Shane Wynn Photography
● South Street Ministries
● St. Sebastian Church
● Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
● Students with a Goal (SWAG)
● Summit Artspace
● Summit County ADM Board
● Summit County Historical Society
● Summit County Landbank
● Summit County Environmental Sustainability Task Force
● Summit DD
● Summit Education Initiative
● Summit Food Coalition
● Summit Metro Parks
● The Chameleon Village
● Tuesday Musical
● UDS
● University of Akron
● University of Akron Theater and Arts Administration
● University of Akron, Buchtel College of Art and Sciences
● University of Akron, Cummings Center for the History of Psychology
● University of Akron, EX[L] Center
● University of Akron, Myers School of Art
● VIBE Collective
● Weathervane Playhouse
● Well Community Development Corporation
● Woodrow Nash Studios
● YEPAW
The process also began with a deep analysis of Akron’s cultural landscape data, current resources, and an understanding of the historical context of Akron’s heritage.
In addition, understanding the cultural assets and their distribution throughout the city (referenced on PAGE XX) also provided context for community conversations and an understanding of the cultural ecosystem.
Phase Two: Community Engagement
Explore attitudes, perceptions, and future visions about Akron’s culture through inclusive and authentic engagement activities
Broad Listening Tour
Inclusive community engagement drove the cultural planning process in all stages. The broad listening tour spanned 639 total hours of community listening, including 210 hours in one-on-one listening sessions which were made available to every Akron resident, designed to inspire authentic and real-time community feedback.
Focus Groups
Community members engaged in 16 focus groups, including five artist-led focus groups that included visual and performance artists, educational partners, young leaders and emerging creators, local leaders of the faith community, and the accessibility community.
Facilitators Included:
● Shane Wynn (Shane Wynn Photography)
● Amber Cullen and Nikki Epps (VIBE Collective)
● Kimia Ghaderi (Development Manager, Akron Symphony Orchestra)
● ArtsNow
● Designing Local
Groups Included:
● Accessibility Focus Group (UDS, Center for Applied Drama and Autism)
● Educational Focus Group
● University of Akron students
● University of Akron staff
● Young Professional Organizations
● Age-Friendly Focus Group at Stan Hywet
● Faith Community Focus Group
● Akron Public Schools
● Economic Development Task Force
● Kent State University, faculty and students
Neighborhood Meetups
To encourage open discussion, the third-party planning team also hosted 11 neighborhood meetups throughout the city across Akron’s neighborhoods. The design of the meetups inspired Akron residents to dream about the future of arts and culture.
Locations in Akron’s Neighborhoods:
● Odom Boulevard Library Branch | Sherbondy Hill
● Coventry Oaks Lodge | Firestone Park, Coventry Crossing, South Akron
● Ellet Branch Library | Ellet
● Forest Lodge Community Center | Wallhaven, Fairlawn Heights, Northwest Akron
● North Hill Branch Library | North Hill, Merriman Hills, Merriman Valley, High Hamptons
● Reservoir Community Center | Goodyear Heights, Chapel Hill
● Kenmore Community Center | Kenmore
● Joy Park Community Center | East Akron
● REACH Opportunity Center | Summit Lake, Downtown
● The Well | University Park, Middlebury, Cascade Valley
● Buchtel Community Learning Center | West Akron, Highland Square, West Hill
Festival Engagement
Artists were hired to facilitate table discussions at ten festivals throughout the summer. Their presence allowed residents and visitors to provide insight into their perceptions on the cultural scene and the possible direction for future growth.
Festivals Included:
● Stage Fest at Highland Square: June 1, 2019
● Akron Zoo, Rhythm of Summer: June 1, 2019
● North Hill Music Festival: June 8, 2019
● Stan Hywet Father's Day Car Show: June 16, 2019
● AMHA Touch a Truck: June 25, 2019
● Summit Lake Farmers’ Market: July 9 and July 16, 2019
● Summit County Historical Society's Family Event: July 13, 2019
● Geek Fest and Comicon, Akron Summit County Public Library: July 20, 2019
● Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival: July 26, 2019
● Porch Rockr: August 17, 2019
● Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival: August 23-25, 2019
● Akron Pride Festival: August 24, 2019
These opportunities for engagement and input were shared publicly in traditional media channels (resulting in a reach of 5,034,522 in local print publications), through grassroots methods (like flyer distribution in neighbor gathering spots), and on social media (resulting in 753,045 organic social media impressions).
Survey Engagement
Other engagement opportunities included participating in a city-wide survey. The 28-question survey was available throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2019 in an online format at AkronCulturalPlan.com, and paper copies were available at all 19 Akron-Summit County Public Library locations. Community members and groups could complete the survey individually or hold their own focus group and return one paper copy completed by the group. A total of 483 surveys were completed.
Digital Engagement
In addition to the online survey, the website AkronCulturalPlan.com also offered a wide array of digital ways to engage including a form to leave feedback or request a one-on-one interview and an interactive cultural ecosystem map that encouraged users to share arts and culture experiences, existing public art in Akron, special stories in Akron, heroes from Akron (people of note and unsung heroes), historic landmarks in Akron, outdoor experiences, and seasonal events.
But the community engagement didn’t stop there.
Phase Three: Idea Synthesis and Public Review
Present the shared visions and public priorities back to the Akron community for additional input and review
Instead of distilling community ideas to fit traditional national examples of cultural planning, the public’s priorities and ideas were categorized into key, Akron-centric themes.
While national examples of success are referenced throughout (and will provide significant takeaways and learning opportunities), the priorities and strategies are intentionally Akron—for Akron and by Akron.
“In Akron, we don’t just use best practices. We make them.”
— Dr. David James, Superintendent Akron Public Schools
After synthesizing the priorities and ideas from the public, another four rounds of community review were organized with questions for the public like:
● What’s missing?
● Was your voice accurately captured here?
● Do you feel heard and understood within these priorities?
● How can we make these ideas more “Akron?”
● Do these priorities help move us forward, together, as a community?
● How could you plug into making one or more priorities happen?
● Who else should we talk to?
Seven priorities evolved into six priorities, and eventually into the ten priorities captured in this cultural planning document today.
Phase Four: Final Review and Recommendations
Share the final public priorities and recommendations for actions to Akron residents and our community leaders
The ten priorities were fully vetted publicly through four rounds of community feedback. The ideas were refined and edited by Akron and for Akron.
The final public review took place in February and March of 2020.
Phase Five: Ongoing Implementation
Craft an implementation strategy with residents, organizations, and community partners to move the plan into tangible action.
Together, we’re in Phase Five, Akron.
We know that Akron’s priorities cannot come to fruition without resources. Resources like YOU and the talent and passion you bring to our city, as well as financial investment.
Moving Forward: Implementation Strategy
The Akron Cultural Plan is a call to action for our community, and you have an important role to play in supporting the public priorities.
1. PLAN FOR ACTION
Throughout this cultural planning document, you will find specific strategies for each priority that our community can explore, implement, and promote.
Those strategies will be updated and evaluated in an annual action plan.
2. ENGAGE
Your voice is as important as ever—and so is your participation. Here’s a small sample of ideas about how you can engage in the sector:
● Attend cultural events across Akron, many of which can be found on SummitLive365.com
○ Invite your friends or neighbors
○ If you are able, take inventory of who might be missing from the room, and ask the event organizers, questions like “how can we work together to include more inclusive participation next time?”
○ Utilize cultural events as a way to honor and invest in your employees or as team building efforts
● Be a champion of the arts and culture in a way that fits your lifestyle. That could include:
○ Finding an farmers’ market
○ Engaging in outdoor recreation opportunities
○ Buying something from an artist, maker or crafter
○ Telling a friend about an event, artist, or organization you love
○ Seeking out and admiring public art
○ Trying a dish at a local restaurant
○ Finding an outlet for your own creativity (joining a choir, snapping photos, writing poetry)
○ Encouraging a child in your life to explore creative outlets that interest them
● Read about the ongoing implementation at AkronCulturalPlan.com and on the social media accounts @SummitArtsNow and @CityOfAkron
● Continue conversations about advancing Akron’s cultural identity and opportunities with your network
● Look at how you can bring the arts and culture into your home and place of work, or bring your work to arts and culture
● Contribute your time or resources to arts and cultural organizations
● Take ownership in your community or neighborhood in driving forward change
For ongoing implementation news and up-to-date details about how you can engage with the Akron Cultural Plan, visit AkronCulturalPlan.com.
3. WORK TOWARDS SPECIFIC PRIORITIES
For Akron’s public priorities to be put into action, we need your direct partnership, too. For each public priority, organizations and individuals have already stepped up to roles like:
Resource Leaders: Organizations or individuals in the community who have expertise connected to a specific priority
Key Change Makers: Organizations in the community who could work to implement the public priorities and strategies within their events, programs, and broad organizations
Supporters: Individuals or organizations who have passions or missions related to each priority
4. ADVOCATE
● Join Americans for the Arts
○ You can also find tips and resources at https://www.americansforthearts.org/advocate
● Join Ohio Citizens for the Arts
● Contact elected officials and urge them to support arts and culture in Ohio
● Bring art into your home and business
● Highlight successes of arts and culture within your networks
● Follow legislation policies that will influence policies related to arts and cultural, including arts education and funding for the arts
● Ask your civic leaders about their arts and culture platform
● Encourage others, including people and children of all ages, to join you in your advocacy efforts
● Familiarize yourself with facts and figures that speak to the arts and cultural sector
5. RESOURCE
We don’t see the painter’s brush in her finished work, but with without it, there’s no masterpiece.
Funding is the paintbrush crafting our arts and cultural story. To put the public priorities into action, our community needs resources. You can add to the resourcing conversation or share your time, resources, or talent with the arts and cultural sector.
● Fundraise
● Donate
● Volunteer
● Elevate the resourcing conversation within your network
● Cultural Leader? Make changes in your organization
● Business or Nonprofit? Consider — and budget for — arts, culture, and performances — at your events and in your office spaces
“The more voices we engage, the stronger our collective roadmap to the future will be.”
— AKRON MAYOR DAN HORRIGAN