Akron on Deck II is a playing card set featuring art by 54 local artists.
Akron on Deck II is a playing card set featuring art by 54 local artists. To date, Akron on Deck and Akron on Deck II have raised $55,000 for local artists. (Photo courtesy Art x Love)

2024 will be a big year for Akron as the city counts down to its bicentennial in December. To celebrate the big 2-0-0, local creative agency Art x Love will release Akron on Deck III, the third iteration of its card deck featuring work by local artists.

Mac Love, co-founder of Art x Love along with his wife Allyse, said via email, “Submissions should feature or reference a historic Akron person, place, event, or theme.” Past submissions depict the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Pav’s Creamery, Highland Square, Balch Street Theatre and the Goodyear Blimp, among others. 

Artists can submit as many entries as they want, but only one entry will be selected per artist. Artists featured in Akron on Deck and Akron on Deck II are welcome to submit proposals as well. There is no charge to submit an entry. Art x Love is accepting submissions for Akron on Deck III until Friday, March 29.

Akron artist Christina Turner displays the card she designed for Akron on Deck.
Akron artist Christina Turner displays the card she designed for Akron on Deck. (Photo courtesy Art x Love)

“Allyse and I choose the winning designs and have a careful consideration process. It includes ensuring equal representation across all geographic regions of Akron, inclusion of non-featured artists (when possible), and quality/relevance of submission. We do not want to duplicate any entry from past decks,” Love said.

In an effort to include local landmarks from across the city, each card suit will represent a different region of Akron: North, South, East and West.

“Typically, we get an abundance of submissions for 2-3 geographic regions of Akron and have to follow up with the artists to see if they have alternates that could help us balance out the deck,” Love said. 

As with the previous editions, the 54 artists selected will receive payments from the sales of Akron on Deck III. The royalties from 40% of the gross sales will be split equally among the artists and paid annually. 

Love said final selections will be made in the weeks after the March 29 submission deadline. Once notified, selected artists have 30 days to submit a signed contract and W-9. Akron on Deck III will be released next fall.

To date, Akron on Deck and Akron on Deck II have raised $55,000 for local artists. The card decks are available online and at local retailers, including Gypsy Grace and the Vintage Goat, The Peanut Shoppe and Rubber City Comics.

Culture & Arts Reporter (she/her)
Brittany is an accomplished journalist who’s passionate about the arts, civic engagement and great storytelling. She has more than a decade of experience covering culture and arts, both in Ohio and nationally. She previously served as the associate editor of Columbus Monthly, where she wrote community-focused stories about Central Ohio’s movers and shakers. A lifelong Ohioan, she grew up in Springfield and graduated from Kent State University.