Arts Patron: An individual or organization or business that has sustained and enhanced arts and culture in our community through generous support, leadership and financial resources.
Meg Stanton
Meg Harris Stanton (BA Smith College; MA John’s Hopkins University) began her study of art history at Old Trail School and continued through college and her years of living abroad in London from 1982-1988. Soon after her return to Akron, she was named Director of the Evelyne Shaffer Gallery. She subsequently bought the gallery in 1994, and served as its Managing Director, changing the name to Harris Stanton Gallery in 1998. In 2014 she opened a second location in downtown Cleveland. Although she closed her brick and mortar spaces in Akron in 2019 and Cleveland in 2022, she continues to work as a freelance art consultant and curator. Her now over 35 years of experience has afforded her the opportunity to curate and install numerous exhibitions, both on and offsite. She has also been responsible for the assembly and installation of many corporate collections, both locally and out of state, including BF Goodrich’s corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has lectured on collecting art, and has juried several museum shows. Meg has worked with Summa Health on various art projects since 2006. In 2018 she was named their Curator, and was responsible for the assembly of their Healing Arts Collection in both the Gary and Pamela Williams Tower, opened in May, 2019, and the Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion, opened in February, 2023. The collection was nominated for an award by the Americans for the Arts in 2019. Her commitment to and passion for the arts is also evident through her active participation in the non-profit sector, including serving as a member of the Akron Art Museum Board of Trustees and her appointment to their Accessions Committee; the Board and Advisory Board of the Cleveland Institute of Art; and the Boards of Cleveland Arts Prize (where she was just made an Emeritus Trustee) and Ohio Ballet. She is also a member of the Print Club of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Meg was named Old Trail School’s 2024 Lincoln Gries Distinguished Alumni Award winner. In May, 2024 she judged the OTS Student Art Show, selecting 3 pieces to be added to their permanent collection. In September, 2024 she also judged the Kaleidoscope exhibition at Summit Artspace. The same year Meg was asked by the Cuyahoga Valley Conservancy to join the committee charged with selecting the winner of the mural competition.
