ArtsinStark launches its annual communitywide fundraising campaign

“The arts aren’t just about creativity – they’re about community, competitiveness and economic growth,” said Maureen Ater, president and CEO of ArtsinStark.

The organization’s annual Campaign for the Arts kicked off in March and runs through May, with a goal of raising $1.45 million. Over the past 14 years, the campaign has raised more than $17 million to support Stark County’s arts ecosystem, including major organizations, public art, arts education and local programming.

“Funds from the Campaign for the Arts are reinvested across the entire arts ecosystem in Stark County,” Ater said. A significant portion supports major institutions such as the Canton Museum of Art, Massillon Museum, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Canton Palace Theatre, Sing Stark, Canton Ballet and the Bluecoats, helping ensure they remain strong and accessible.

At the same time, smaller organizations and individual artists benefit through the ArtsImpact grant program, which provides competitive grants of up to $7,500 for projects in arts education, well-being and community vitality.

The campaign also supports the Cultural Center for the Arts and outreach efforts such as the SmARTs program, which serves more than 10,000 students annually.

This year’s campaign chair is Lake Township resident Sue Grabowski, a business owner, township trustee and longtime arts volunteer. She emphasized the wide-reaching impact of ArtsinStark across communities like Hartville and Lake Township.

“One of the things I love most about ArtsinStark is that the impact doesn’t stop at downtown Canton – it reaches throughout the county,” Grabowski said. “When we support our major arts organizations, that investment helps fuel performances, exhibits and programs that touch people all across the county.”

She pointed to SmARTs programming at Lake Elementary as an example of that impact, where students have integrated art into subjects such as geometry while building confidence and creativity.

“We’re meeting people where they are and making the arts feel accessible and relevant in everyday life,” Grabowski said.

ArtsinStark has also made a concerted effort to engage the business community through its Business Case for the Arts initiative, launched in January 2026 with a CEO breakfast attended by more than 60 business leaders.

Ater said the initiative highlights how the arts contribute to economic development, workforce attraction and overall quality of life.

“Every time someone attends a performance or visits a museum, they’re also supporting restaurants, shops, hotels and other local businesses,” she said. “That ripple effect adds up quickly.”

She added that the arts play a critical role in making communities attractive places to live and work, giving Stark County a competitive advantage. In 2023, the county was ranked the eighth most arts-vibrant mid-size community in the United States by Southern Methodist University’s National Center for Arts Research.

Grabowski echoed that sentiment, noting the arts also drive innovation.

“As an entrepreneur, I see every business as an art,” she said. “Regardless of the type of business, there has to be creativity and risk-taking.”

A key component of ArtsinStark’s broader impact is its partnership with Visit Canton and the Stark County commissioners, which reinvests a portion of lodging tax revenue into arts and cultural tourism.

“When visitors stay overnight, a portion of that tax is used to support events and initiatives that attract even more visitors,” Ater said.

Through that partnership, about $500,000 is invested annually into projects across the county. Those efforts have supported initiatives such as a mural at the Hartville Welcome Center, new signage at Quail Hollow and other Stark Parks, live music performances at Hartville Kitchen and restoration of a Civil War-era flag at the Marlboro Township Historical Society.

In the most recent year, those investments generated more than $57 million in economic impact and attracted more than 200,000 visitors.

Grabowski said the partnership allows communities like Hartville to showcase their identity.

“It helps communities shine a little brighter, tell their stories louder and welcome people in a way that feels authentic,” she said.

ArtsinStark encourages individuals and businesses to contribute to the campaign through one-time or recurring donations, corporate giving or workplace campaigns.

“At the end of the day, it’s about making it easy to be part of something that strengthens our entire community,” Ater said.

Founded more than 50 years ago, ArtsinStark originally focused on operating the Cultural Center for the Arts. About two decades ago, it evolved into a countywide arts council with a broader mission to support arts and culture throughout Stark County.

Looking ahead, Ater said the organization remains focused on expanding access, strengthening partnerships and ensuring the arts continue to play a vital role in economic development, education and community life.

“For me, the arts have always been personal,” she said. “Whether it’s a student discovering their voice, a family attending a performance or a visitor experiencing our community for the first time, the arts shape how we connect, grow and thrive.”