Our focus in arts grantmaking is to support a vibrant and enriching society by increasing awareness and engagement by the general public in the arts. The Foundation restricts its arts grantmaking to Summit County, Ohio, considering funding for programs, special projects/performances, and operations. We do not fund capital (building or general fundraising) campaigns.
Value-added characteristics include:
• Offers diversity of audience and/or diversity of participants
• Educational element
• Equips, grows, sustains, or transforms the arts community
• Promotes and instills creativity in those who participate
• Serves children, seniors, underserved
• Increases attendance/participation in the arts
• Promotes MCMF mission and vision
Arts Grant Spotlight:
In very special circumstances, The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation engages in proactive grantmaking. Such is the case with the 2012 Akron Art Prize. Inspired by the hugely successful (and just plain huge) ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Foundation sought and found a partner, Downtown Akron Partnership, to bring a version of that visual arts competition in which prize money is determined by the text-voting public to Summit County.
The Art Prize opened in the downtown Akron arts district on Saturday, September 1, during the monthly Art Walk with entries exhibited at five venues: Akron Art Museum, Millworks Gallery, Redlight Gallery, Summit ArtSpace and We Gallery. More than 130 artists entered the competition for a $5,000 first prize and five runner-up $1,000 prizes, all to be determined by public voting.
Art Prize continued through October 6 with the eleven (there was a tie for 10th) finalists moved to Summit ArtSpace for the final round of voting, winners were announced at the October 6 Art Walk. To see videos of the finalists and a list of the winners
click here.
Congratulations to grand prize winner Ron White (shown below hearing the announcement) and runners up winners: Kevin Smalley, Lisa Demagall, Bernadette Glorioso, Michael Marras and Elise Gaffney.
Congratulations and thanks, also, to all the artists, venues and volunteers who made the 2012 Akron Art Prize an exciting and successful endeavor.