AKRON, Ohio - Akron Art Prize, which awarded cash prizes to visual artists, has morphed into the High Arts Festival, opening the event to musicians and filmmakers.

"The arts community isn't just visual art," said Kelli Fetter, Downtown Akron Partnership's director of engagement & events. "This is getting people to see music is art and film is art and all these things make up the fabric of the community. This encourages artists to put their work out there and have people hear it and see it and watch it."

Downtown Akron Partnership won a $154,000 Knight Arts Challenge grant over two years to expand the art prize to elevate the Akron arts community and connect new audiences to local art. The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, which helped create Akron Art Prize, and the Burton D. Morgan Foundation are also supporting the event.

The High Arts Festival will run Sept. 15 to Oct. 7. Entries will be accepted from artists over 18 until 11:59 p.m. on July 10. The fee for an application in each genre is $25 and available here. Artists will receive acceptance notification by July 17.

The University of Akron will underwrite the entry fee for any UA student or group. The Kent State University School of Art will also sponsor the application fee for current art students and art school alumni who graduated between June 2015 and June 2017.

Festival attendees will be able to vote for entries at a kiosk inside each of the participating venues or through the new High Arts Festival app, available from the Google Play Store/iTunes Store in September. Through the app you can register to vote, explore the entries and vote on art, music and film throughout the event. Voting closes Oct. 7 at 4 p.m.

Works will be showcased in several downtown Akron venues. Public and juried votes will determine $24,000 in cash prizes. First place in each discipline receives a grand prize of $5,000, with runners up and juried selections each receiving $1,000.

During the High Arts Festival, visual art entries will be showcased at Summit Artspace.

Visual Art

Up to 200 visual art entries will be showcased at Summit Artspace, and will be viewable on the High Arts Festival app and website. Summit Artspace will be open Thursdays through Saturdays from noon to 7 p.m. In addition to the cash prize, the visual art grand prize winner can display the winning piece in the Akron Art Museum for one month following the festival.

Music

Music entries must be an original song and can be submitted by solo and duo artists or groups. Up to 50 musical acts will have the opportunity to perform a live 25-minute showcase at Jilly's Music Room, Musica and Uncorked Wine Bar on Thursdays through Saturdays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., during the festival. Songs will also be available on the app and website. The grand prize winner will be featured in a cabaret-style performance at Jilly's Music Room, and the winning song will be broadcast on 91.3 The Summit in October.

Film

Film entries must be original films of 60 seconds or less. Up to 60 films will be shown at The Nightlight on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and will be viewable on the app and website. The grand prize winner in film also will showcase the film during a party at The Nightlight in October or November.

Winners from each genre also will take part in a two-day bus tour to a to-be-determined city to learn from, be inspired by and network with the local arts community. The finale reception and awards presentation will be held at the Akron Art Museum on Oct. 7.

For more information on the High Arts Festival, visit the website, call 330-374-7676 or follow #HighArtsFest17 on Twitter and Instagram.

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