Akron arts groups look toward more community engagement with help of Knight funding
The John S. and James L Knight Foundation has committed more than $11 million to build the arts in Akron through support of three local arts organizations and two local artist initiatives.
Receiving the largest arts grant is the Akron Art Museum, which received $7 million from the Knight Foundation to upgrade its technical infrastructure and create a gallery space dedicated to digital artwork.
Upgrades will include converting the museum's antiquated phone system to a digital system and updating its auditorium technology, including video conferencing technology and sound system enhancements. The museum also will upgrade its website, transfer its video collection to digital files, and upgrade technology in its current video box space on the second floor to show the works of emerging digital media artists.
The key is to create flexibility in the small black box space where films are shown, said museum Executive Director and CEO Jon Fiume, which could include a unique immersive experience with digital images shown on multiple sides of the box.
The goal is for the art museum to have the equipment needed to be on the "leading edge" of supporting digital artists and to use digital technology to enhance visitors' experience, he said.
"It's extremely important because museums need to be — especially modern contemporary art museums — need to be relevant to the current times. So certainly digital is the current times," Fiume said.
$20 million for Polsky:Knight Foundation gives UA $20M to renovate downtown Polsky Building
The new gallery for digital artworks will be in the museum's 1899 former post office building, whose renovation is expected to begin by fall 2024 at the earliest.
Technology upgrades will be a big part of the new digital gallery, with the digital collection including video technology and graphic arts. Fiume envisions creative, digital immersive experiences in the new gallery with the artists or featuring a commissioned artist.
The Knight funding also could be used for the museum to continue experimenting with QR codes for wall labels describing the art or for the purchase of iPads that guests can carry with them for an enhanced experience throughout the galleries. The museum could also broaden community accessibility by having digital wall labels for artwork that allow the viewer to choose what language they want to read them in.
"I'm very excited for this institution and I'm extremely grateful to Knight's generosity, and I think this is a great way to kick off the next 100 years in the history of the museum," Fiume said of the museum's $7 million in Knight support.
Artist open calls receive Knight Foundation funding
The Knight Foundation also announced funding for two open calls for artists. The first is a $1 million grant for Knight New Work Akron to commission technology-based works of art by Akron artists. The goal of Knight New Work, running currently in Miami, is to support artists' technology-based works that immerse and reach broader audiences.
Knight also announced the $750,000 Knight Digital Transformation Fund for operational technology support for artists and emerging arts organizations in Akron. More information about the open calls will come later.
National Center for Choreography in Akron gets $1.5 million
The National Center for Choreography (NCC Akron), based at the University of Akron received $1.5 million from the Knight Foundation to support the first five years of the new Knight Dance Award and support the organization's endowment to keep the award going in perpetuity.
NCC Akron's endowment fund was created by the Knight Foundation in 2015, the year the organization was founded, with an original investment of $5 million.
The Knight Dance Award will be a national prize honoring a choreographer's body of work that's distinguished for its artistry and originality. The annual winner will receive $30,000 as well as another $20,000 to co-design a residency activity with NCC Akron in the two years after they're selected.
The selection committee will be made up of NCC Akron team members, other leaders in the dance field and NCC Akron artist alumni. The first Knight Dance Award will be given in 2023.
"The investment as it goes into the endowment, yes, ensures the dance award in perpetuity, but the endowment is also what has put us in the unique and privileged position to be such a stable force here in Akron" as a dance arts organization, said Christy Bolingbroke, NCC Akron's executive and artistic director.
ArtsNow gets grant to help implement Akron Cultural Plan
ArtsNow, a nonprofit that works to build and strengthen Summit County's arts and culture scene, received a $1 million grant to match funds from other philanthropists to help implement the Akron Cultural Plan, adopted by Akron City Council in 2020. The grant also will provide $350,000 in technical support to the Akron Black Artist Guild, formed in 2021 to advocate for the work of Black artists.
ArtsNow will receive the $1 million over three years and work with the Knight team to develop a program to make grants to artists and organizations to support work that advances the cultural plan's priorities identified by the public. Those priorities are equity, access, education, talent, engagement, resources, placemaking, economic impact and public art.
"I am so grateful to Knight Foundation for their continued support of the arts in Akron," ArtsNow Executive Director Nicole Mullet said of Knight's grant announcement Sunday evening. "Last evening was a celebration of the past 75 years of Knight's work in Akron and an exciting look to the future of our communities. At ArtsNow, we're deeply appreciative of the investment of $1 million over three years, which will add considerable power to the ongoing implementation of the Cultural Plan."
Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: $11 million in Knight funding to help Akron arts groups engage more
