Another $1 million is available for local arts projects through the Knight Arts Challenge in Akron.
The challenge’s third round is open for submissions beginning March 29, offering a share of $1 million to “anyone with an idea for engaging and enriching Akron through arts and culture,” according to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The foundation, which wants to hear ideas from many neighborhoods, will host five “community conversations” to provide information and tips on applying. Former winners and Knight staff members will offer insights and take questions at the sessions.
Office hours also will be available, where applicants can get one-on-one feedback.
The first step in applying is filling out an application, including a 150-word summary of an idea, that will be available at www.knightarts.org from March 29 through April 28.
There are only three rules for submissions, according to the foundation: The idea must be about the arts; the project must take place in or benefit Akron; and the grant recipients must find funds to match Knight’s commitment.
Now in its third year in Akron, the challenge has so far awarded funds to 46 local ideas.
The Knight Arts Challenge began in 2008 in Miami. Since that year, $52 million has been awarded to support 822 ideas in the four Knight Challenge cities: Akron, Miami, St. Paul, Minn., and Detroit. The Knight family formerly ran newspapers in those four cities, as well as in others.
Here is information on the community conversations, and the previous winners who will be on hand at the sessions:
• 8:30-10 p.m. April 4, Versified Expressions Café, 2539 Romig Road, Akron, with Ismail Al-Amin of Keepers of the Art and Gospel singer Carla Davis of Were You There: An Interactive Experience in Spirituals.
• 6-7 p.m. April 5, Exchange House, 760 Elma St., Akron, with Katie Beck of Nepali Applause and Alison Caplan of the Akron Art Museum’s Art Library.
• 12-1 p.m. April 6, the University of Akron Myers School of Art, Folk Hall, 150 E. Exchange St., Room 165, with Elisa Gargarella of the Art Bomb Brigade and James “Jim” Slowiak, of the New World Performance Lab and The Devil’s Milk Trilogy.
• 5:30-7 p.m. April 6, Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., with former winners Theron Brown of the Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival and Manju Rastogi of DAWN, an arts project for and by Bhutanese women.
• 2:30-3:30 p.m. April 7, Kent State University, 325 Terrace Drive, parking in lot R19, with Suzie Graham of Downtown Akron Partnership and the Akron High Arts Festival and Chris Horne of the Devil Strip magazine and the Live at Lock 4 Series.
• Adam Ganuza, arts program officer for the Knight Foundation, will host by-appointment-only office hours noon to 2 p.m. April 4, at Artisan Coffee, 662 Canton Road and from noon to 2 p.m. April 5 at Highland Square Mustard Seed Market & Café, 867 W. Market St.
Go to http://knightfoundation.org/knight-arts-challenge for more information and to RSVP for any of the events. Go to www.akronartsinfo.eventbrite.com to go directly to the Eventbrite registration page for the information sessions and office hours.