Akron Soul Train (AST) has announced its seven-artist 2026 Artists in Residence cohort as the organization marks its 10th anniversary. Founded in 2016, the Akron-based nonprofit has supported more than 100 artists through residencies, exhibitions, and community programming over the past decade. Executive Director Colleen Suich said the milestone represents both a celebration and a renewal of the organization’s purpose.

The 2026 residents are Óskar Þór Arngrímsson (musician and composer, Akron), CJ Carter (sculpture and ceramics, Cuyahoga Falls), Ron Copeland (painting, illustration, and installation, Newton Falls), Jeff France (musician and video artist, Akron), Kim Kapera (photography and mixed media, Kent), Josh Maxwell (multimedia sculptor, Cleveland), and Kristen Mimms Scavnicky (design and installation, Akron). The cohort’s projects explore themes of identity, heritage, environmental awareness, and shared memory.

Akron Soul Train offers residencies, public exhibitions, and artist support programming for Northeast Ohio creatives. The 2026 cohort represents a geographic reach across the broader Akron-Cleveland metro corridor, including artists from Kent, Cuyahoga Falls, and Newton Falls as well as Akron itself. Further information on exhibitions and public events tied to the residency is available at akronsoultrain.org.

Source: Akron.com