SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Summit County Executive Shapiro and Executive Director of ArtsNow Nicole Mullet are celebrating National Arts and Humanities Month for the month of October.
For the second year in a row, Executive Shapiro will host “Artistic Excellence” at the State of the County Address on Thursday, October 12, 2023, featuring artists among the best and the brightest in Summit County. The exhibit is coordinated by ArtsNow and highlights the following partners: the Akron Black Artist Guild, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, Peninsula Art Academy, Summit Artspace, 1474 Art Inc., Collide: Cuyahoga Falls, Summit DD, and the Summit County Land Bank. Residents will be able to scan a QR code at the event or visit the website hosted by Peninsula Art Academy at peninsulaartacademy.org/shop/summit-county-executive-art-2023/18. Four pieces are attached as a preview.
“Who we are is defined by a culture that is vibrant, changing, and connected,” said Executive Shapiro, “In Summit County, we are privileged to have local artists that dig deep into our community to produce works that amaze and confound, and I am proud to uplift these works at the State of the County.”
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, the arts economy accounted for 4.4% of GDP or over $1 trillion, and employed 4.9 million workers earning over $509 billion in total compensation in the United States. In the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area, arts and culture generates $1.4 billion. Arts and culture are economic drivers, and Summit County continues to see local artists, musicians, entertainers, historians, writers, poets, designers, and more build up the community and economy.
“In Summit County, we understand that the arts aren’t just a form of expression; they’re an essential part of our economy and community,” states Nicole Mullet. “As we celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month, we’re honored to recognize our local arts, culture, and environmental sectors that play a pivotal role in driving economic growth. Together, we’re building a future where creativity thrives and our community prospers.”
For more information on these Arts and Humanities Month, the exhibit “Artistic Excellence,” or ArtsNow, see artsnow.org.
