These offerings are made accessible to convention attendees through coordinated efforts. “We have fantastic partnerships with the ASCVB and airport who help push out information to visitors,” explains Mullet.“We also have Summit Live 365.com, an event website and directory for arts and culture in Summit County where visitors can find unique galleries, artists, and hidden jazz hotspots.” POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY The convention and performing arts sectors have experienced notably different recovery trajectories following the pandemic, with Akron’s cultural scene showing particularly strong resilience compared to national trends in audience attendance. “Unlike some other communities, we’ve seen a significant uptick in live performance attendance since the pandemic,” reports Mullet. “The Akron Civic Theatre and Live Akron are programming over 300 nights a year. On any given night through the Live Akron Collaborative, you can find multiple experiences within walking distance of the JSK Center and most downtown hotels. We’ve been remarkably lucky to have very smart arts administrators who are paying attention to both national trends and what our local community wants to see.” This cultural vibrancy complements the convention center’s own recovery, which has returned to prepandemic levels while adapting to evolved attendee expectations.“The trajectory continues to be upward and onward. We are matching and slightly ahead of pre-covid levels,” says Mervis.“The key differentiator 57 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 05 JOHN S. KNIGHT CENTER
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