Arts Alive Awards
Funding Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Overview
Purpose: Summit Artspace's Arts Alive Awards celebrate and recognize contributions to local arts and culture, honoring gifted artists, art educators, and change-making advocates and volunteers.
Geographic Scope: Summit, Cuyahoga, Portage, Stark, and Medina counties in Ohio
Award Categories:
- Arts Alive Award (recognizes individuals or groups who give selflessly to advance arts and culture)
- Summit Artspace Champion (recognizes extraordinary and ongoing support for Summit Artspace's mission)
- Civic Leadership Award (recognizes long-term commitment to bringing arts and culture to citizens)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (recognizes individuals who strengthen arts and culture through decades of service)
- Outstanding Visual Artist Award (requires at least 5 years of professional or amateur work)
- Outstanding Artist in Dance (requires at least 5 years of professional or amateur work)
- Outstanding Artist in Theatre (requires at least 5 years of professional or amateur work)
- Outstanding Artist in Music (requires at least 5 years of professional or amateur work)
- Outstanding Literary Artist (requires at least 5 years of professional or amateur work)
- Emerging Artist Award (recognizes individuals with less than 5 years of experience showing outstanding potential)
- Arts Educator Award (recognizes elementary, middle school, high school, or university-level educators or private instructors)
- Collaborative Project Award (recognizes original projects illustrating collaboration to advance arts and culture)
- Community Outreach Award (recognizes individuals or groups helping bring voice to underrepresented artists)
- Diversity in the Arts Award (recognizes individuals, groups, organizations or projects honoring and showcasing diversity)
- Rising Arts Leader Award (recognizes individuals with less than 5 years of involvement in arts contribution, management, advocacy, or volunteering)
- IDEA Leader Award
- Arts Volunteer Award (recognizes individuals or groups who have volunteered significant time and skills)
- Special Service Award
Eligibility: Nominees must live in Summit, Cuyahoga, Portage, Stark, or Medina counties in Ohio. Different categories have specific requirements (e.g., 5+ years experience for most artist categories).
How to Apply
Application Process
- Nominations: Anyone can nominate individuals and organizations for awards
- Submit nomination form: Complete the Arts Alive Nomination Form with nominee information and supporting details
- Deadline: Nominations deadline is typically May 1 (varies by year)
- Award categories: Select from diverse categories listed in award criteria
- Criteria: Each category has specific criteria that must be met (see overview for category details)
Required Materials:
- Nomination form (available on Summit Artspace website)
- Nominee information
- Description of achievements and contributions
- Evidence of meeting category-specific criteria
Submission: Forms available online at summitartspace.org
What Summit Artspace actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 8
- Total given
- $161K
- Median grant
- $7,826
- Range
- $5,020–$71K
- By dollars: Ohio 100%. Top recipient cities: Akron, OH; Stow, OH.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Example grants
Moore-Dunson · Akron, OH
Fiscal sponsorship
$71K
Akron Black Artist Guild · Akron, OH
Fiscal sponsorship
$36K
Makikisart · Stow, OH
Fiscal sponsorship
$21K
Clapp for Art · Akron, OH
Fiscal sponsorship
$8,095
Art X Love · Akron, OH
Fiscal sponsorship
$7,557
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Arts
- Music
- Theater
- Dance
- Visual artists
- Creative writing
- Teachers
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
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WEF General Grants (Fall Cycle)
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Amount
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IMPACT Youth Grants
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Amount
Up to $25,000 total annually (distributed among multiple organizations)
Deadline
February 1, 2027
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