Mission

AKRON SOUL TRAIN (AST) STRIVES TO BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS PROGRAM THAT ATTRACTS AND SUPPORTS DIVERSE ARTISTS, FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE ARTS IN NORTHEAST OHIO, OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE ARTISTS AND ENGAGE THE GREATER AKRON COMMUNITY IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS. THROUGH COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS, AST SEEKS TO CULTIVATE A THRIVING ARTS ECOSYSTEM THAT ENRICHES THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR REGION. IN 2019, AST ESTABLISHED A PERMANENT GALLERY SPACE ON SOUTH MAIN STREET, LOCATED IN AKRON'S DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT. THIS CENTRAL LOCATION PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO VISUAL ART EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, AND WORKSHOPS LED BY OUR RESIDENT ARTISTS. ITS PROXIMITY TO OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON FACILITATES COLLABORATION AND CROSS-DISCIPLINARY INITIATIVES. AST HAS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED AND SHOWCASED THE WORK OF MANY ARTISTS ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING LITERARY, VISU