Release Date: June 3,2026

Akron ArtWalk: Unapologetically Us

Akron, OHIO (June 3, 2026) — Summit Artspace welcomes summer with Unapologetically Us ArtWalk theme celebrating authenticity, creative expression, and community on Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. In collaboration with exhibiting artist Aaron D. Williams and Advocate Skateworks, the street will transform into a skate park alongside a live cipher for ‘Still Aawful 2: Skate Jam 2+ Block Party’ curated by Williams. Participants will have an opportunity to enter a trick contest and win prizes. Also experience art, creative activities, food, artist studios, and pop-up artist vendors in and outside our building! Admission is free and open to the public at Summit Artspace and other participating venues.

Visitors to Summit Artspace will find a host of activities to prompt their creative expression:

Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center will be onsite with a resource table
CANAPI and Akron Pride Festival will have a joint resource table where visitors can learn more about their services and support.
A Sensory/Quiet Room on Summit Artspace’s 1st floor will offer a calming atmosphere and feature various Accessibility Library items.
Akron-Summit County Public Library will be on-site with will have a resource table

As always, ArtWalk features opportunities for visitors to appreciate and purchase art and meet local vendors and artists:

2026 Spring Exhibitions will be on view.
Summit Artspace’s resident artists will open their studios to the public throughout the evening.
A variety of pop-up artist vendors will have tables set-up:

Resident Artist Althea Jones will be leading an expressive chalking activity on the sidewalk.
StarFall Creative Collective will be hosting affirmation card craft activity inside the building.
Exhibiting artists Aaron D. Williams is curating a live cipher on the loading docks of Summit Artspace. Hosted by Danny Gordon and Tim Lewis with live performances from:

Advocate Skateworks will be running a pop-up skate park outside the building.
See a one-of-a-kind skate sculpture built by Joey Strunk.
Food will be available from Southern Comfort Food and Heights Tropical Sno.

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 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during their free Thursday extended hours. The Museum is located at 1 S High St.

Visit Akron Soul Train; the gallery will be open until 7 p.m. on Thursday’s ArtWalk for their new exhibition featuring Artist-in-Residence Josh Maxwell, Artist-in-Residence Kristen Mimms Scavnicky, and CapSoul artist Nick Lee. The gallery is Located at 191 S. Main Street, Akron, OH 44308.

Curated Storefront welcomes public recent pop installations downtown Akron:

Clayton Bailey's World of Wonders, a free museum dedicated to the visionary artist, Clayton Bailey, whose imaginative ceramics and sculpture pushed the boundaries of traditional art, will be open for ArtWalk. It is located at 225 South Main Street in the Polsky Building, across the street from Lock 3.
NEW IMMERSIVE INSTALLATION -- Inflection: Special hours during ArtWalk on June 11, 5-9 PM. Inflection, which was made possible through a grant to Akron Soul Train from The John S. & James L. Knight Foundation, is a free, walk-in immersive audiovisual art experience that transports visitors through an ever-shifting world of light, depth, and sound. It was developed by Pittsburgh-based interactive/multisensory artist Ian Brill in collaboration with Akron artist, educator, and jazz musician Theron Brown. Curated Storefront is hosting the installation inside an Outside the Box shipping container — upcycled industrial containers transformed into mobile galleries and performance spaces — in TrueNorth in Akron's Northside District, 110 North Main Street, across the street from Luigi's.

Akron Society of Artists will have a Members' Show at the Akron Main Library, celebrating their 95th anniversary. The show will be up from May 29 - June 24 and the reception will be 5:30 - 7 p.m. during the Art Walk.

The Groundhog Show, a pop-up art exhibition will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. and invite visitors to bring their own items and participate in a free screenprint workshop. At 7:30 p.m., enjoy a Drag Show. The exhibition is located 21 N. Main St in Akron, Ohio.

There is free parking at Summit Artspace, and general parking for ArtWalk is available on surrounding streets, 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.

Follow Summit Artspace on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

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

About Summit Artspace: 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. Summit Artspace is located at 140 East Market Street in Akron, Ohio. Public hours are Fridays and Saturdays from noon – 5 p.m. Summit Artspace is supported by The County of Summit, Ohio Arts Council, GAR Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, Burton D. Morgan Foundation, and Peg’s Foundation. For more information, visit the Summit Artspace website or call (330) 376-8480.