Akron soul train (ast) is a startup arts organization that was formed as a result of being awarded a 2015 knight arts challenge award in march 2016. In 2017 ast used volunteers in three main areas; governance, fundraising and community outreach.

Arts & Culture , Arts, Culture & Humanities

Akron soul train is an artist residency village connecting and empowering the community and artists by granting fellowships that provide resources to all creative disciplines, thereby fostering a more vibrant downtown akron. Akron soul train provided fellowships to four artists in 2017; michelle droll, jenniffer omaitz, stephen tomasko, and danny volk. Each artist provided workshops and artist talks to the community and their artwork was exhibited at the end of their respective monthlong fellowships. Akron soul train provided 8 distinct workshops in 2017 with 275 attendees. In addition, ast hosted booths at akron arts expo, porchrokr, wooffest and high arts opening night festival. Ast provided make and take art activities and distributed art created by local artists through games and contests. Akron soul train continues to work toward identifying a permanent location where we will provide our fellows with a studio space, a gallery for an exhibition of their work at the end of their fellowship and a performance/workshops space for the education aspect of their time with ast. Ast accomplished this portion of its mission through detailed building plans through architect, gpd and the purchase of land from the city of akron. Ast acquired land from the city of akron in september 2017. Ast successfully collaborated with a number of local organizations including summit artspace, summit metroparks, akron art museum, downtown akron partnership, and compass coffee. ast provided fellowships to four artists in fall 2017; michelle droll, jenniffer omaitz, stephen tomasko, and danny volk. These artists created over 200 works throughout their respective monthlong fellowships and their work was exhibited at ast's inaugural winter soulstice exhibition on december 9, 2017 at summit artspace. The exhibition was attended by approximately 100 people. The artists provided positive feedback regarding their experience with akron soul train and continue to provide workshops to the community. Also, each artist provided workshops and artist talks to the community during their time with ast. These workshops were held at summit artspace and akron art musuem.