Media Kit

Summit Artspace Media Kit

About Us

Summit Artspace, located at the corner of Market and Summit in the Historic Arts District of downtown Akron, is a hub for local artists and creatives. The mission of the nonprofit organization is to support local artists professionally, creatively, and financially. Summit Artspace also engages the community with artists by providing exhibitions and public programs. 

Summit Artspace is home to artist studios, creative businesses, and five galleries with new exhibitions four times each year. It is the site of several local arts organizations, including the Akron Society of Artists and the Artists of Rubber City. There are offices, galleries, performance spaces, workshop areas, and meeting rooms available to mission-specific creative businesses. The building is owned by the County of Summit, which has been a significant and valued supporter of Summit Artspace. Summit Artspace attracts thousands of visitors each year both physically and virtually. 

Our Mission

Summit Artspace is a nonprofit arts organization connecting artists and artist-serving organizations to the resources they need to thrive professionally, creatively, and financially. It provides artist studios, exhibitions, and programs in Summit County, and serves as a vital place for the public to engage with the creative community.  

Our Building

Summit Artspace’s historic building has been an Akron landmark since 1927 when it was commissioned by John S. and James L. Knight as the new headquarters of the Akron Beacon Journal. Standing three stories tall and boasting a whopping 55,000 square feet, the building has been an epicenter of excitement and creativity for nearly a century.

On November 10, 1927, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge started the paper presses using a telegraph key in the White House. 20,000 visitors attended the three-day housewarming event that followed. The Knight brothers relocated the Beacon Journal in 1938 and the Akron Public Library purchased the building in 1940. It was used as the library’s main location until 1969. Small manufacturing companies used the building until 1976 when it was purchased by Summit County.

Summit County has previously leased the building to the Summit County Historical Society, the MRDD board, and the Akron Work Center. The building is now leased by Summit Artspace and is enjoyed by resident artists, creative organizations, and the public. The building retains many of its original features, including a manually-operated freight elevator, John S. Knight’s safe, and of course, the ornate art-deco façade. 

Our STAFF

Heather Meeker Executive Director Summit Artspace

Heather meeker

Executive Director
Heather Meeker (she/her) is a results-driven nonprofit leader with a passion for achieving organizational vision in the arts, culture, and education fields. Her expertise includes strategic planning, team building, partnerships, project management, relationship-based fundraising, external affairs, and financial oversight. Heather is a specialist in creating artist-centered, artist-led initiatives as well as arts education partnerships. Before joining Summit Artspace as Executive Director in 2021, she was Executive Director of The Musical Theater Project for twelve years. Previous directorships include positions at Hiram College, Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio, and National Inventors Hall of Fame. Heather has her B.A. from Hiram College and her M.F.A. in Theatre/Arts Administration from Virginia Tech, and is a member of Leadership Akron Signature Class 40.

Natalie Grieshammer Patrick

Director of Artist Resources
Natalie Grieshammer Patrick (she/he) is an artist, musician, and arts administrator from Akron, Ohio. She holds a B.F.A. in Fiber and Material Studies from the Cleveland Institute of Art and an M.A. in Arts Administration from The University of Akron. Past positions include Gallery Director at Praxis Fiber Workshop, Member Program Manager at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and numerous programming and fundraising responsibilities at Akron Soul Train. Natalie is also Strategic Planning Advisor and Partner at Akron Recording Company, a recording studio and record label founded in 2018.

Jaclyn Hale

Community Engagement Coordinator
Jaclyn Hale (she/her) is an artist and arts professional from Akron, Ohio. Areas of expertise include digital and print arts marketing; art business, sales & e-commerce; photography; design; public and customer relations; strategic planning; and project management. Previous employers include Zeber-Martell Gallery & Clay Studio, Akron Art Museum, Artists of Rubber City, and Don Drumm Studios & Gallery. She is also a creative entrepreneur of Jaclyn Hale Designs & Studio, through which she creates and sells her silver smithed art-jewelry line. Hale earned her B.F.A. at The University of Akron’s Myers School of Art, specializing in metalsmithing and jewelry design.

Antonio Rion

Coordinator, Development & Education Programs
Antonio Rion (he/him) joined Summit Artspace as Development Intern in August 2021. Antonio earned his undergraduate degree from Kent State University in Music Performance with a concentration in flute. He has always been interested in the arts, specifically music. Antonio is active in numerous ensembles, and operates a private flute studio.

Our Board

Executive Committee 

  • President
    Diane Lightner
    Clearsulting

  • Vice-President
    Michael Steel, Esq.
    Steel and Company Law Firm

  • Treasurer 

    Linda Diefendorf
    Brio Performance Solutions

  • Secretary
    Robert “Larry” Tucker Esq.
    Attorney at Law (Retired)

Directors

  • Gina Betti | Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
  • Lou Camerato | Artist
  • Kristen Nervo Dowey | CEO, OneKey Virtual Care
  • Kurt Kleidon | President, Kleidon and Associates
  • Nikki Marchmon-Boykin | Instructor, Kent Roosevelt High School
  • Nathan Maslyk | Director of Marketing & Development, Canton Symphony Orchestra
  • Catherine McKinley | Academic Advisor, Stark State College
  • Jill Oldham | CEO, Greenleaf Family Center
  • Roberta Rogers | Recreation Supervisor, City of Akron Recreation & Parks
  • Crystal Snyder | Office Manager, Central Graphics
  • Karen Starr | Founder & Co-Owner, Hazel Tree Interiors
  • Robert B. Trattner, Esq. | Attorney/Owner, Thomas Trattner and Malone LLC

     

Media

Please use this secure link to access digital media such as the Summit Artspace logo, supplemental photos, et cetera. Additional media assets are available upon request. Please contact Jaclyn Hale, Community Engagement Coordinator, to request additional media assets (jaclyn@summitartspace.org). 

Media Contact 

Media may contact Jaclyn Hale, Community Engagement Coordinator, with questions.  

Email: Jaclyn@summitartspace.org

Phone: 330-376-8480, ext. 3 

Social Media and Website 

Follow Summit Artspace on social media: InstagramFacebookTwitter, LinkedIn 

Website: https://www.summitartspace.org/ 

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