<p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><img src="x-apple-ql-id://EC1E45DE-AFAE-4A8A-85F7-B3B4178DFF9C/x-apple-ql-magic/D362C7B5-B834-4998-A9FB-DCB459C4C005.jpg" class="s3" style="width: 503px; height: 189px;"><span style="padding-left:36px">​</span><span style="padding-left:252px">​</span></span></font></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span class="s5"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font size="2">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</font></span></span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font size="2">August 12, 2015</font></span></span></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span class="s7"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font size="2">FOR MORE INFORMATION</font></span></span></p><p class="s9" style="text-indent:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:108px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s8"><span class="bumpedFont15">Joanne Green</span></span><span style="padding-left:122px">​</span><span style="padding-left:36px">​</span><span class="s8"><span class="bumpedFont15">Nicole Mullet</span></span></span></font></p><p class="s9" style="text-indent:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:108px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s8"><span class="bumpedFont15">Executive Director  |  Summit Artspace</span></span><span style="padding-left:66px">​</span><span class="s8"><span class="bumpedFont15">Executive Director  |  ArtsNow</span></span></span></font></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span style="padding-left:144px">​</span><span class="s8"><span class="bumpedFont15"><a href="tel:330.376.8480">330.376.8480</a>  |  </span></span><a href="mailto:joanne@akronareaarts.org"><span class="s10" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont15">joanne@akronareaarts.org</span></span></a><span style="padding-left:72px">​</span><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"><a href="tel:330-410-3362">330-410-3362</a> or </span></span><a href="mailto:nicole@ArtsNow.org"><span class="s11" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont20">nicole@ArtsNow.org</span></span></a><span class="s6"><span class="bumpedFont20"></span></span></span></font></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s12">ARTSNOW AND SUMMIT ARTSPACE TO HOST AKRON MAYORAL CANDIDATE</span><span class="s12">S AT A</span><span class="s12"> FORUM ON ARTS AND CULTURE </span></span></font></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">Akron, OH </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">–</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">Topics relevant to the community’s arts and culture sector will be at the forefront of the Akron Mayoral Forum on Arts</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"></span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">and Culture </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">at the end of August</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">. Hosted by ArtsNow and Summit Artspace, the candidate forum will take place from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Monday, August 31, 2015 at Summit Artspace located at 140 E. Market Street in Akron.</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> The forum will be mod</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">erated by Brenda Cummins and is open to the public.</span></span></span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">"The City of Akron has historically been extremely supportive of arts and culture and we look forward to working with Summit ArtSpace to keep this topic at the forefront of discuss</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">ion as we approach the election,” said Nicole Mullet, Executive Director of ArtsNow.</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">“</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">It supports recruitment and retention of the </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">best and brightest, and is vital the vibrancy and health of the city."</span></span></span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s14"><span class="bumpedFont15">This forum is open to all candidates that have filed to run in Akron’s September 8th mayoral primary.</span></span><span class="s14"><span class="bumpedFont15"> Participating candidates include Summit County Clerk of Courts Dan Horrigan, Akron Councilman Mike Williams and defense attorney Eddie Sipplen. </span></span></span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">“</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">We are</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">proud</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> to have the opportunity to hos</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">t the Akron mayoral candidates and our community at Summit Artspace,” said Joanne Green, Executive Director of Summit Artspace. “There is a momentum in Akron and Summit County around arts and culture, and we are thrilled to partner with ArtsNow</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> and a </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">small </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">group of dedicated artists</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> to provide a place </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">to bring</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> our community together to discuss issues relevant to Akron’s artists, arts organizations and arts supporters.”</span></span></span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">A task force comprised of area artists and arts advoc</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">ates are spearheading the Akron Forum on Arts and Culture</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> in conjunction with ArtsNow and Summit Art</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">space. Questions will be derived </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">in advance from</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">results related to</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> the </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">recent S</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">ummit County Arts Assessment, as well as</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> online submissions from</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> interested community members. Online q</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">uestions will be collected </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">via</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> the Akron Forum on Arts and Culture Facebook </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">event page</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">(</span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1617957288464632/"><span class="s15" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont15">https://www.facebook.com/events/1617957288464632/</span></span></a><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> - short link: </span></span><a href="http://on.fb.me/1Tm4b20"><span class="s15" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont15">http://on.fb.me/1Tm4b20</span></span></a><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">) and on Eventbrite (</span></span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/akron-mayoral-forum-on-arts-culture-tickets-18060153405"><span class="s15" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont15">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/akron-mayoral-forum-on-arts-culture-tickets-18060153405</span></span></a><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> - short link: </span></span><a href="http://bit.ly/1TptJeF"><span class="s15" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont15">http://bit.ly/1TptJeF</span></span></a><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">). </span></span></span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">The Akron Mayoral Forum on Arts </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">thanks hosts</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> Arts</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">Now and </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">Summit Artspace, </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">as well as community partners and sponsors </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">Akronist.com, which </span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">will record and rebroadcast the forum</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">, and Main Street Muffins and Angel Falls Coffee, which will provide light refreshments for candidates and attendees.</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"> The Akron Mayoral Forum on Arts and Culture is free to attend and open to the public.</span></span></span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">For additional information and updates, please visit the Akron Mayoral Forum on Arts Facebook page, or contact Joanne Green at Summit Artspace (<a href="tel:330-376-8480">330-376-8480</a> or </span></span><a href="mailto:joanne@akronareaarts.org"><span class="s15" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont15">joanne@akronareaarts.org</span></span></a><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">) or Nicole Mullet at ArtsNow (<a href="tel:330-410-3362">330-</a></span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"><a href="tel:330-410-3362">410-3362</a> or </span></span><a href="mailto:nicole@ArtsNow.org"><span class="s15" style="text-decoration:underline"><span class="bumpedFont15">nicole@ArtsNow.org</span></span></a><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15">).</span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"></span></span><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15"></span></span></span></font></p><p class="s4" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="2"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"> </span></font></p><p class="s16" style="text-align:start;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span class="s13"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font size="2"># # #</font></span></span></p><div><span class="s13" style="line-height:13px;font-size:11px;font-family:Arial"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height:20px;font-size:1.5em"><br></span></span></div>