FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 2015 FOR MORE INFORMATION Joanne GreenNicole Mullet Executive Director | Summit ArtspaceExecutive Director | ArtsNow 330.376.8480 | joanne@akronareaarts.org330-410-3362 or nicole@ArtsNow.org ARTSNOW AND SUMMIT ARTSPACE TO HOST AKRON MAYORAL CANDIDATES AT A FORUM ON ARTS AND CULTURE Akron, OH – Topics relevant to the community’s arts and culture sector will be at the forefront of the Akron Mayoral Forum on Artsand Culture at the end of August. 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. The forum will be moderated by Brenda Cummins and is open to the public. "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 discussion as we approach the election,” said Nicole Mullet, Executive Director of ArtsNow. “It supports recruitment and retention of the best and brightest, and is vital the vibrancy and health of the city." This forum is open to all candidates that have filed to run in Akron’s September 8th mayoral primary. Participating candidates include Summit County Clerk of Courts Dan Horrigan, Akron Councilman Mike Williams and defense attorney Eddie Sipplen. “We are proud to have the opportunity to host 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 and a small group of dedicated artists to provide a place to bring our community together to discuss issues relevant to Akron’s artists, arts organizations and arts supporters.” A task force comprised of area artists and arts advocates are spearheading the Akron Forum on Arts and Culture in conjunction with ArtsNow and Summit Artspace. Questions will be derived in advance from results related to the recent Summit County Arts Assessment, as well as online submissions from interested community members. Online questions will be collected via the Akron Forum on Arts and Culture Facebook event page( https://www.facebook.com/events/1617957288464632/ - short link: http://on.fb.me/1Tm4b20) and on Eventbrite ( https://www.eventbrite.com/e/akron-mayoral-forum-on-arts-culture-tickets-180... - short link: http://bit.ly/1TptJeF). The Akron Mayoral Forum on Arts thanks hosts ArtsNow and Summit Artspace, as well as community partners and sponsors Akronist.com, which will record and rebroadcast the forum, and Main Street Muffins and Angel Falls Coffee, which will provide light refreshments for candidates and attendees. The Akron Mayoral Forum on Arts and Culture is free to attend and open to the public. For additional information and updates, please visit the Akron Mayoral Forum on Arts Facebook page, or contact Joanne Green at Summit Artspace ( 330-376-8480 or joanne@akronareaarts.org) or Nicole Mullet at ArtsNow (330- <330-410-3362>410-3362 <330-410-3362> or nicole@ArtsNow.org). # # #