Programs & Events

The noise of fireworks exploding in the sky, the sound of the ice cream truck circulating the neighborhood and the infectious rhythm of the Wanda Hunt band emanating from the Akron Art Museum’s parking lot are sure to be some of the sounds that set the soundtrack for your summer. This year, the Akron Art Museum’s popular summer concert series, Downtown@Dusk, returns for its 25th season, offering a showcase of local music with a lineup of eight great bands.

Beyond offering its sculptural curves and cool steel edifice as a sleek outdoor concert venue, the Akron Art Museum provides a selection of additional activities to keep everyone in the family happy during Downtown@Dusk. Join museum educators for fun-filled evenings of art making inspired by artwork on view in the museum during Family Fun Nights. These activities are designed for children and an accompanying adult and are offered free of charge from 6 – 8:30pm on concert evenings.

If you’re looking to cool off while the musicians are taking a break in between sets, join area artists, museum staff and local experts for a free ArtTalk@Dusk in the museum’s Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium from 7:30 - 7:45 pm.

Tasty treats and liquid refreshments (both alcoholic and non) will be available for purchase on the terrace. Stop inside and browse the Museum Store. The galleries are also open until 9 pm with paid gallery admission.

Parking is free after 6 pm in the city deck adjacent to the library. No smoking, pets, bottles, cans, bikes, skateboards, sporting equipment or chalk allowed. In case of inclement weather, concerts will take place inside the museum’s Beatrice Knapp McDowell Grand Lobby.

Thursday, July 9 – Wanda Hunt Band, Old School Rhythm & Blues
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, Canine Appreciation 101: A Brief History of the Dog in Art, Laura Gelfand, University of Akron art history professor

Thursday, July 16 - Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band, Roots/Reggae
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, William Wegman's Studio, Deb Pinter, former Wegman studio assistant and Orange Art Center director

Thursday, July 23 – 15 60 75 The Numbers Band, Rock/Abstract Blues
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, The Pedigree of Photography, Andrew Borowiec, University of Akron photography professor

Thursday, July 30 – Alex Bevan, Original Singer-Songwriter
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, Furry Fandom, Barbara Tannenbaum, director of curatorial affairs

Thursday, August 6 – Horns & Things, Jazz
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, A Sneak Peek Into Art Storage: Recent Acquisitions, Arnold Tunstall, collections manager

Thursday, August 13 – The Roberto Ocasio Latin Jazz Project, Salsa
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, Greetings From...Artists on Vacation, Allison Tillinger Schmid, assistant to the director

Thursday, August 20 – T-Condo, Oldies Rock n' Roll
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, Oy Vey! Philip Guston's World View, Mitchell Kahan, director and CEO

Thursday, August 27 – Robin Stone, Neo Soul
•ArtTalk@Dusk, 7:30-7:45 pm, Charles and Jane Lehner Auditorium, Helen Levitt: Her True Subject Was Human Nature, Barbara Tannenbaum, director of curatorial affairs

D@D '09 is made possible by The City of Akron. It's presented in cooperation with 89.7 WKSU.

Family Fun Nights are made possible by a gift from Lexus of Akron-Canton.

ArtTalks@Dusk is presented by the Gertrude F. Orr Trust Advised Fund of the Akron Community Foundation.