Akron Stories Film Screenings
In 2025, Art x Love was awarded an ArtsForward grant to expand the Akron Stories project with the production of 100 new mini-documentary films and four free film screenings to coincide with the Akron Bicentennial. Our team reviewed past recordings, conducted more interviews, identified hundreds of new stories for production, and digitized hours of archival film and photographs to bring select stories to life.
We hosted free public film screenings at the historic Highland Theatre, Rialto Theatre, Linda Theatre, and Main Branch Library. Each screening featured a curated selection of Akron Stories videos with a runtime of 90-120 minutes. Hundreds of people came out from across northeast Ohio and beyond to see the films. A handful of people attended multiple screenings and brought different friends and family members to each. In the case of the Linda Screening, our event also served as a reunion for graduates of East High School, with many remarking that it was their “first time back in the theatre since graduating more than 30 years ago.”
The video below was shown at our downtown Akron film screening at the Main Branch Library. In our heart of hearts, we would love to see a time when families in Akron gather for the holidays and explore Akron Stories to learn about and reconnect with the amazing people who helped make Akron the “Rubber Capital of the World.”
The Akron Stories project began as a grassroots public art and oral history project in 2019. The City of Akron and local business community generously sponsored the rubber worker statue while the oral history project was funded by commemorative brick sales. We are deeply grateful to our collective network of civic leaders, organizations, and experts who continue to advise, support, and advocate for the preservation and sharing of these stories. Thank you!
