The mission of the Arts LIFT apprenticeship program funded by the Lola K. Isroff Arts Assistance Endowed Fund is to give Akron Public high school students an opportunity to work with professional artists, while also participating in civic engagement that places value on environmental and ecological concerns.

Arts LIFT is a community based arts education program that brings together urban high school students, practicing artists and teachers, and non-profit community organizations with an interest in sustainability and civic engagement. Through this collaboration, students create an art installation in a public space. Prior community partners include Akron Zoological Park, Crown Point Ecology Center, the Corbin Conservatory in the gardens of the Stan Hywett estate, the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center, Keep Akron Beautiful, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association. In its several years of active programming, Arts-LIFT participants have created nine major installations that are functionally utilized or visited annually by over 20,000 people.

AWARDS
In 2013, Arts LIFT received the Best Business District Beautification Award for the Angel Falls Coffee Company Mural from West Hill Neighborhood Association.

In 2009, Arts LIFT received the Charley Harper Award for contributions to Ohio’s Eco Arts from the Environmental Education Council of Ohio.

2005 Arts LIFT received the Collaborative Project Award from the Akron Area Arts Alliance.