Oklahoma Arts Council News

Important Webinar: Learn to Connect with Your School Board to Promote Arts Education

The Oklahoma Arts Council is pleased to announce a free opportunity for arts education supporters. On Thursday January 17, 2013, an important webinar will offer creative and practical recommendations for how you can connect with your local school board to promote arts education in your district.

Read about the free webinar and how you can register.

Leadership Arts Applications Due December 14

December 14 is the deadline to apply for the 2013 Leadership Arts class. The program's purpose is to create a network of community arts leaders and advocates. Arts organization staff, artists, community development professionals, educators, civic and other non-arts leaders can benefit from the program.

Each year, 30 individuals from throughout the state are selected for the program. In order to graduate, participants must attend all four two-day sessions during the spring and the Oklahoma Arts Conference in the fall.

Click here to learn more about the program, including session dates, benefits, estimated cost and more.

Apply for the 2013 Leadership Arts class.

Grants for Creative Aging Programs

The National Guild for Community Arts Education is offering up to $12,500 in grants for programs geared for older adults. The grant is open to 501(c)3 organizations that are members of the guild. Programs must be conducted by professional teaching artists and serve a minimum of 25 adults aged 55 and above. Click here for complete application guidelines.

Organizations that wish to become members of the guild should submit a membership application by December 11 to be eligible to apply for the grant.

Major Grant Support Applications Due February 1

The FY2014 online application is now available for organizations eligible for Major Grant Support from the Oklahoma Arts Council. Be sure to submit your completed online application, with support materials, no later than February 1, 2013 for projects beginning July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. For questions, please contact Meleia Williamson at (405) 521-2040 or meleia.williamson@arts.ok.gov.

IMPORTANT: A new state law requires all grantees to be paid electronically by the state. Be sure you have provided the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services all necessary information for them to issue you payment. Click here to learn what information you need to provide and how to provide it.

NEA Awards Two Oklahoma Organizations

Congratulations to the Tulsa Ballet and the University of Oklahoma, recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts's (NEA) most recent round of Art Works grants.

Tulsa Ballet was awarded $10,000 to support the creation and presentation of premieres for its Off the Floor series. The University was awarded $15,000 under the Art Works category in support of the Image and Word issue of World Literature Today.

The Oklahoma Arts Council strongly encourages Oklahoma arts organizations to consider applying for NEA grant funding. Staff is available to assist where possible.

To learn more about the recent NEA grant awards, click here.

To learn about grants available from the NEA, click here.

Executive Director Kim Baker Named to NASAA Board

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), the organization that unites, represents and serves the nation's state arts agencies, has announced the election of Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Kim Baker to its board of directors. Baker will serve a three-year term.

NASAA CEO Jonathan Katz said, "The current political and economic climate calls for strong and engaged leadership. These new NASAA board members bring skills and experience that will advance NASAA, foster the best interests of state arts agencies and promote the value of public funding for the arts. We are excited to begin work with this new team and we welcome their expertise and guidance."

Baker said, "I am humbled to be elected to the NASAA board. It is truly an honor to represent Oklahoma and to be part of the national voice that recognizes the arts industry's value as an economic driver and as an essential part of our children’s education. "

To learn more about NASAA, click here.

Make a Holiday Visit to the Oklahoma Capitol

The holidays are a great time to visit the Oklahoma state Capitol. In addition to the towering Christmas tree on the south plaza, visitors can enjoy the Capitol's splendid architecture while exploring the history and culture of our state through the many works of art on display.

Free and open to the public weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Capitol features two art collections plus temporary exhibits of current Oklahoma artists.

The permanent works of the Capitol Art Collection are located throughout the building and grounds. Works by Oklahoma's most significant artists comprise the State Art Collection, with works featured in the Betty Price Gallery. A new State Art Collection exhibition will be unveiled December 14, including pieces by Frederick Becker, Charles Banks Wilson, Stephen Mopope, Greg Burns, and Sherrie McGraw. Works by some of Oklahoma's rising talent are on display in three rotating Capitol galleries - the East Gallery, North Gallery, and Governor's Gallery.

Hosting family and friends during the holiday season? The Capitol offers an impressive no-cost outing everyone can enjoy.