Summit Artspace Executive Director, Natalie Grieshammer Patrick, has appointed Anna E. Young as Director of Artist Programs & Exhibitions, effective October 13. This selection follows the transition of Grieshammer Patrick to the role of Executive Director, who previously held the role. Young has served as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Summit Artspace since October 2024, in which she implemented a vital and inclusive storytelling strategy in support of Summit Artspace’s mission.
“Anna is perfectly positioned as Director of Artist Programs & Exhibitions at Summit Artspace, as she brings forward-thinking leadership and extensive experience supporting artists, as well as her own experience as an artist, to this new role. Through her previous work, Anna has cultivated a deep trust with emerging artists in Northeast Ohio, which is essential to ensuring local artists are connected to the resources they need to thrive. This role is essential to defining, leading, and implementing the programs that carry out our mission and I am thrilled to see how Anna directly influences the organization and community of artists we serve.”
Anna E. Young is an artist and arts advocate from Warren, OH. Over the past decade, Young has focused on empowering artists in her community by amplifying their voices and showcasing their artistic vision through professional collaboration.
Young is the co-founder of KINK Contemporary, an organization and gallery space founded in 2019 and which operated through 2024. KINK Contemporary is well-known for being dedicated to supporting the local arts community with a significant focus on emerging artists and curators. Alongside her co-founder, McKenzie Beynon, she collaborated with and showcased work from over 185 artists and curators at various stages of their careers.
“I am sincerely thankful for the chance to continue my service to our vibrant arts community,” states Anna E. Young, Director of Artist Programs and Exhibitions. “I am eager to enhance Summit Artspace’s impact by developing vital resources and opportunities that empower artists to thrive. Creators of all abilities, backgrounds, and career stages truly make the world a better place.”
Before transitioning to the role of Community Engagement Coordinator at Summit Artspace in November 2024, Young held the position of Administrative Assistant and Social Media Manager at the Massillon Museum for five years. While in the role, she helped to transform the museum’s online identity by leading successful digital media engagement initiatives that significantly heightened the organization’s visibility and community connections. In 2021, as communities continued to rely heavily on digital programming in response to the pandemic, Young created the museum’s first podcast, MassMusings, a series featuring contemporary conversations with artists and arts professionals. This long-format program provided a platform for exhibiting artists to discuss their process in a deep and meaningful way. Additionally, she worked closely with the Executive Director, Alexandra Nicholis Coon, to create two exhibitions in the Photography Gallery, including Collections Snapshot: Faces of Massillon Business, featuring photographs of Massillon’s historic businesses, and Precarious Legacies: Exposures of a Fleeting Landscape, which hosted a collection of images from landmark photographers Ansel Adams and Nell Dorr.
Young received her M.F.A. in Photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2018 and a B.F.A. from the University of Akron, with minors in Printmaking, Art History, and Professional Photography in 2014. In 2022, Young returned to The University of Akron, Myers School of Art as an assistant lecturer in the 2D Design and Photography departments. While acquiring her degree at Cranbrook Academy of Art, she was appointed as the Visiting Artist Department assistant, bringing in visual, performance, and literary artists such as Rodrigo Valenzuela, Em Rooney, Rashaad Newsome, and Simone Browne.
Young has served as a professional juror for exhibitions including the Groundhog Show and FAVA’s National Juried Biennial Photography Show in 2023, as well as The Sculpture Center’s Revealed Emerging Artist Series in 2025.
With over 16 years of experience as a practicing artist and collaborating with arts professionals, Young maintains invaluable connections from her work with artists nationally and internationally.
