Oklahoma Arts Council News

Governor's Arts Awards ceremony November 8

Join us at the 37th Annual Governor's Arts Awards to honor 11 individuals and eight organizations whose efforts have impacted Oklahoma communities and education through the arts. Free and open to the public, the awards ceremony takes place Thursday, November 8, at 4 p.m. in the state Capitol's fourth floor rotunda. A reception with light refreshments will follow the ceremony.

Recipients of the prestigious Governor's Award include Charles Ward of Tulsa, Dr. Don Betz of Edmond and Christian Keesee of Oklahoma City.

Click here to view the complete list of winners and to learn more about the awards

More than 350 build bridges during 2012 Oklahoma Arts Conference

Thanks to all who made the 2012 Oklahoma Arts Conference a huge success! The conference has grown every year since it began in 2007, and this year was no different as there were over 350 people in attendance.

For those who attended, please share your thoughts by taking the brief conference survey. Tell us how we can serve you better through the conference. Let us know what you enjoyed about this year and what you'd like to see at future conferences.

Attendees: Share your thoughts here.

Click here to see conference photos.

Also, don't miss the conference video, Take it to the Bridge, by Romy Owens!
Click here to watch the video.

Leadership Arts applications now available

Apply online now through December 14 for the 2013 Leadership Arts class. Each year, the Leadership Arts program brings together 30 individuals from throughout the state and equips them to become leaders and advocates for the arts in their communities. The program requires attendance at four two-day sessions during the spring and the Oklahoma Arts Conference in the fall.

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

Apply for the 2013 Leadership Arts class.

Meet Visual Arts Director Clint Stone

You may know Clint Stone from his time as executive director of IAO Gallery or on staff at City Arts Center. This past summer Clint joined the Oklahoma Arts Council staff as our new Visual Arts Director. Get to know Clint, and learn how he will serve Oklahoma in his new role!

Q: When did you first become interested in the arts?
A: I have always been interested in art. Growing up in Oklahoma it is easy to be completely enthralled in the beauty of the setting sun’s light reflecting orange and pinks on the evening clouds. I think it was moments like this and a constant desire to figure out how things worked that drove my interest in art...Read more.

Q: Describe your job as Visual Arts Director. How do you serve the people of Oklahoma?
A: As Visual Arts Director I ensure we are doing all we can to share and preserve works in the State Art Collection and Capitol Art Collection...The role of the Visual Arts Director is important because it assists in the collection, care, and presentation of these works of art, which are not only items of stunning beauty, but also our stories...Read more.

Q: How does a piece get accepted into the State Art Collection?
A: Possible art donations can be brought to my attention. These offerings will then be taken to the Oklahoma State Art Collection Selection Committee where they will be reviewed by the Committee...Read more.

Read about Clint's goals as Visual Arts Director, and find out why he loves wiffle ball.

Nominate your mayor for a national arts award

Mayors in many communities throughout Oklahoma understand the arts' impact on quality of life and the local economy. If you live in a community with a mayor whose work has advanced the arts, consider nominating him or her for a national Public Leadership in the Arts Award, given by Americans for the Arts.

Awards are given in two categories:

• Mayor of a city with a population of 100,000 or more
  
• Mayor of a city with a population of less than 100,000

Bring your mayor, your community and Oklahoma national recognition in the arts!

Click here to learn more or submit a nomination.

NEA accepting Our Town grant applications

Grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 are available from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through its Our Town grant category. Grants are awarded for innovative projects that bring together the community, art and design organizations and artists. Projects may include arts engagement, cultural planning and design activities and should seek to enrich quality of life, aid economic development and/or foster community identity.

Tulsa is a recent recipient of an Our Town grant. In July the NEA announced a $50,000 award for performing arts programs at Tulsa's new Guthrie Green venue. The Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust and the George Kaiser Family Foundation partnered on the project, which provides free performing arts events for the public.

Deadline to apply is January 14. Webinars are being offered November 6 and 13.

Learn more about Our Town grants by clicking here.

Local Arts Classroom offers advanced training for arts leaders

The Local Arts Classroom is a five-month virtual leadership development series being offered by Americans for the Arts. The program aims to help arts leaders master foundational concepts, build important skills, and learn current practices in local arts development. Up to 40 individuals nationwide will be accepted into the 2013 program. Click here to learn more.

Deadline to submit application materials for the program is November 16, 2012.