Join us on September 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. for The Art of Recovery: Supporting Community Through Healing Akron ArtWalk! Experience a quarterly celebration of the arts featuring artist vendors, creative activities, music, food, and more throughout the Historic Arts District. ArtWalk is always free and open to the public, with donations gladly accepted. Due to renovations taking place throughout our building, this event is fully outside, rain or shine!
“Through Summit Artspace, I’ve learned how to appreciate and interact with art,” notes Board Member and United States Airforce Veteran Brandon Waithe. “My experiences with art have in turn helped me work through my own struggles and emotions in a healthier way.”
Visitors to Summit Artspace will find a host of activities revolving around the theme of rest, recovery, supporting our Veteran and military community and their families, and more:
- Summit County Public Health will have a table of resources and Narcan available.
- Local artist Meaghan Reed will lead an art and healing activity inspired by her piece, Unsaid, which we had on view earlier this summer in the Overdose Awareness Exhibition, which invites participants to write a note to themselves or a loved one who has struggled with substance use disorder and to honor those we’ve lost.
- Akron-Summit County Public Library will be on-site with the Bookmobile.
- Friends of the Main Library will have a wide selection of art books for sale, ranging from $10 to $20 per book.
- Stoned on Happiness will have a community resource table.
- Warriors Journey Home will have resources available for our Veteran community.
- Musician Chris Reynolds will perform two musical sets focused on healing and recovery, one at 6:30 p.m. and another at 7:30 p.m.
- A Sensory Friendly Accessibility Tent will provide a calming space and highlight accessibility resources from the Akron-Summit County Public Library’s Accessibility Library.
- People of all ages are invited to create chalk masterpieces on our sidewalk inspired by healing and recovery.
- Visitors can decorate a construction cone to celebrate the building renovations!
As always, we will have vendors from Akron Bazaar and our participating Resident Artists selling handmade art and handcrafted goods in our parking lot and along Summit St.
- Food will be available from Best Damn Smoked Meats.
- Stay tuned for additional programming information announced leading up to the event on our website and social media pages!
Nearby ArtWalk-related activities in and near the Main-Market Historic District also include:
Akron Art Museum will be open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during their free Thursday extended hours. They will host the American Red Cross for a blood drive from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Museum is located at 1 S High St.
The Nightlight Cinema: For current movies and showtimes visit www.NightLightCinema.com. The Cinema is located at 30 N High St.
Join Akron Soul Train during Art Walk’s TheArt of Recovery: Supporting Community through Healing. They will be open late until 9:00 p.m., inviting visitors of all ages to slow down, breathe, and explore the calming practice of Zentangles—a meditative drawing method that transforms simple patterns into beautiful works of art. No experience needed—just drop in, pick up a pen, and let your creativity guide you toward relaxation and renewal. Akron Soul Train is located at 121 S. Main Street.
Join Curated Storefront at Outside the Box, the organization’s site of upcycled shipping containers, located in downtown Akron’s Northside District. The team will be celebrating the latest installation of murals, including several by Akron-affiliated artists: Alex Couch, Between Us Two, 2025; Avery Duff, Dreaming after the Demolition, 2025; Emily Bartolone, Untitled, 2025; Kwamé Gomez, Oath, 2025; Swoon, Siren and the Torrent, 2024; Liane Engstrom, The connection of Spaces, 2021; Peeta, The Sweet Spot, 2021; Aise Born, Grace of Akron, 2020.
The event is free and open to all. Light refreshments and snacks will be served. Guests are welcome to bring beverages from the nearby DORA district establishments: Courtyard Marriott Northside, Jilly’s Music Room, and NOMZ.
Northside District offers many unique places to dine, shop, and experience local art! To see everything the district has to offer, please visit their website.
General parking for ArtWalk is available on surrounding streets, in nearby parking decks, and at participating locations. Downtown restaurants welcome patrons during the evening. An introduction to the Akron ArtWalk participating businesses is available on Downtown Akron Partnership. A virtual guide and maps can be found on Summit Artspace’s website.
ArtWalk at Summit Artspace is supported annually, in part, by a grant from The Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation.
