In 2015, the one-time Akron Area Arts Alliance was reborn as Summit Artspace – an organization that connects artists and artist-serving organizations to the community and to the resources they need to thrive.

On Friday, September 1, Summit Artspace will bring a mini-market to Kenmore Blvd. featuring local artists showing and selling their art from 6 – 9 p.m. during Kenmore First Friday.

We caught up with Heather Meeker, Summit Artspace executive director, to learn more about the organization and what Kenmore First Friday attendees can expect.

What kinds of artists will Summit Artspace feature at its mini market on Sept. 1?

Our mini-market includes local artists that create artwork in all types of media! From painting to photography to ceramics to fiber arts – you’ll find all kinds of creatives at Kenmore First Friday, just as you would when you visit Summit Artspace.

What sparked your interest in bringing artists to Kenmore Blvd.?

This is a great chance to show Kenmore and Akron the wonderful local artist community we have in Summit County. Anytime we can spread the work outside of our historic downtown Akron building, we are thrilled! The stronger our local artist community is across all of our neighborhoods, the more vibrant our local community will become. We want to facilitate that vision.

Summit Artspace’s mission includes connecting artists and artist-serving organizations to the community and to the resources they need to thrive professionally, creatively, and financially. Can you expand a bit on how Summit Artspace does some of these things?

In addition to our 35 resident artist studios and arts organizations at 140 East Market Street, we provide five nonprofit galleries for visual artists and rehearsal and class space for small performing arts companies. We hold numerous community events at our building like our quarterly ArtWalks and Artists Sunday, a national event that takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving every year. 2023 is the fourth annual and it is a great chance to support local artists while picking up one-of-a-kind gifts for friends, family, and yourself! We also provide artist-centered professional development for artists, who we believe are already highly successful entrepreneurs.

How does Summit Artspace select the artists it works with/showcases/supports? Can artists reach out?

If you are an artist in Summit and surrounding counties, we are here to help. Our programs and events are affordable and designed to help you grow your practice. While we have a wait list for our studios, our events and community are a true resource for creatives, and open to all genres, ages, and stages in your artistic journey. Just visit our website or social media – and contact us via email, phone or in-person. We always post our opportunities across lots of platforms.

What should visitors to Summit Artspace’s physical location in downtown Akron expect? What do you think makes Summit Artspace unique?

Just like Kenmore First Friday, our public hours on Fridays and Saturdays are always FREE, as is our parking! A significant difference between Summit Artspace and other institutions is that local artists come to Summit Artspace specifically to sell their artwork and make connections. Almost everything in our galleries and our studios is for sale, with prices that fit anyone who walks through the door. We are a hub for artists to meet other artists, and for the community to meet and support them as well.

Anything else people should know?

There is always something amazing to see and someone terrific to meet at Summit Artspace! Mark your calendars: our next downtown Akron ArtWalk is on Friday, September 8th, and Artists Sunday is on November 26. And each quarter we change out all the galleries and walls in our building: our summer exhibitions close September 16 and our Fall exhibitions open October 6.

Be sure to Summit Artspace’s mini market during the next Kenmore First Friday on Friday, September 1, from 6 – 9 p.m. RSVP and check out the full event lineup on Facebook!

Summit Artspace welcomes visitors to its historic art-deco building located at 140 E. Market St. in downtown Akron on Fridays from noon – 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, visit summitartspace.org.

720 Community Markets & Events was founded in 2015 by Lynn and Dave Shimko – lifetime North Cantonians and creative folks by nature. 720 specializes in creating unique, curated, vibrant market-style events at various venues in and around Stark County. Recently, they’ve expanded into hosting events in Summit County, and Kenmore First Friday will be 720’s first-ever night market.

We caught up with Lynn Shimko – one half of 720 and owner Shimko Design where she’s been creating award-winning marketing materials locally and nationally since 1994 to find out more about what 720 is bringing to The BLVD on July 7.

When did you and Dave start 720 Community Markets & Events? What inspired you to start it?

The idea for creating our dream artisan event began during a weekend visit to see our son in Cincinnati — Fall 2015. Our best brainstorming happens on road trips! Our inspiration was wanting to create and sell at arts & crafts events. We realized there was really nothing in our area that felt like what we might want to attend as a vendor and that’s when the concepts began! Once we returned home, we fine tuned the idea and started pitching it to our city.

You’ve hosted a number of events in Stark County – when did you start expanding into Summit County and how many events have you done in Akron? Do you have plans to keep expanding?

We are always open to expanding and trying new areas. There is a lot of interest in what we do and we are hearing from a lot of communities! We had a fun pop-up market in April 2019 at our vendor Whiskertin’s showroom to celebrate their anniversary (Saalfield Building/Akron). It was a hit and we loved it. We also dipped our toes into Summit County with holiday events (720 DEC MKT) at Akron/Canton Airport in 2020 and 2021. Most of our planning and venue selections come down to dates available and ability for a venue to support the amount of parking needed for a 720 Market event! (720 Markets are festival-like and feature 100+ vendors and food trucks!)

What types of vendors/makers should KFF attendees expect to find on July 7?

Because of the size available for Kenmore First Friday, we are bringing a “mini-market version” of the types of vendors we typically feature a.k.a. our “720 Makers Bakers Brewers and Growers.” Each event features a truly unique mix of these types of homemade and homegrown artisans. Look for foodies (wine infused jellies and fresh pickles!), bakers (cake pops!), plants, apparel and more! July 7 is your chance to sample 720 Market in your own neighborhood!

What makes 720’s market stand out from other maker-type market events?

The vibe and the venues! We always hear from vendors and attendees alike that the 720 is so much fun! With our excellent vendors, live music, Camp Creative (make your owns; demos) and craft brews as an integral part of the fun — its a great way to spend the day! 720 Market is fresh, unique and vibrant. Equally part of the fun is where we will go next! Keep watching!

What are you looking forward to the most about hosting an event on Kenmore Blvd?

As with all of our destinations, we love getting to know an area and find out what’s unique and special. We also love meeting new folks wherever we go! It will also be our first night market, so we are excited about that!

Anything else you want people to know?

Supporting small businesses, local artists and growers is a huge part of strengthening communities. We love what we do and how people have embraced and followed us along on our 720 Market journey. We meet the nicest people in our work! Keep up to date with all our events and happenings at eventsby720.com and on social @720market.

Don’t miss your chance to check all that 720 Community Markets & Events has to offer along with live music, standup comedy, food trucks, and more from 6-9 p.m. during our July 7 Kenmore First Friday on The BLVD!

Kenmore First Friday is back on The BLVD tomorrow, June 2, from 6 – 9 p.m. and returning to help us kick off the 2023 season is Oddmall to host “The Great Grassman Gathering” market – a block party celebrating Kenmore’s own cryptozoological marvel – The Kenmore Grassman.

Oddmall’s market features dozens of vendor booths showcasing the works and wonders of an abundance of artists, crafters, entertainers, and purveyors of games, toys, comics, and all things awesome and amazingly amazing to fascinate even the most jaded of curmudgeons.

June 2 marks Oddmall’s third appearance at Kenmore First Friday and the first of two appearances in 2023 (they’ll be back on The BLVD August 4 to host “The Rubber City Rumpus” market).

Oddmall began long ago in the ancient times of 2008 when Oddmall founder Andy Hopp and his wife attended Bizarre Bazaar in Cleveland – an event focusing on strange and unusual art.

“It was really, really cool,” Andy said, “but it was in a building that just wasn’t very family friendly. My wife and I thought we should do a similarly weird show, but wanted to make it more accessible for everybody.”

Oddmall hosted its first market in May 2009. It was a success, and they added a second show in November that year. Oddmall now hosts a dozen events throughout the year and has grown from an art show to a full blown market that includes people in costumes, reptile shows, dancers, live music, and other performers.

Andy says Oddmall wanted to host an event in Kenmore for a number of reasons, including the lore of the Kenmore Grassman – a bigfoot-like creature Kenmore residents first spotted inhabiting a swampy area off Manchester Road in the late 20th century.

“Kenmore’s a neat neighborhood,” Andy said. “It’s gotten a bad rap, but I think, especially because of the efforts of Better Kenmore CDC, that image is changing and there’s a lot of really interesting people and stores there. This is the third year [Oddmall has participated in First Friday] and the first year was our first show after quarantine so that was unique”

Kenmore First Friday and Oddmall’s Great Grassman Gathering kick off on The BLVD tomorrow, Friday, June 2, at 6 p.m. The event will feature over 40 vendors, speed dating, half a dozen live music stages – including performances by Detention and Funeral Proposals on the main stage –food trucks, a kid’s zone, the Magic City Brewing Company Beer Garden, and so much more!

And rumor has it that both the Kenmore Grassman and the Kenmore Cardinal will be in attendance.

For the complete lineup and more information, visit betterkenmore.org/first-friday and be sure to visit the Oddmall Outpost sometime!