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Oklahoma Arts Council News

November 2015

Dougherty, Barbour, Collins to Receive Governor's Awards

The Oklahoma Arts Council has announced the names of 20 individuals and organizations that will be honored during the 40th Annual Governor's Arts Awards ceremony on December 2, 2015. Gene Dougherty of Tonkawa, Jeannie Barbour of Ada, and Theresa Collins of Tulsa will be recognized with the presitigious Governor's Award, given for longtime leadership and significant contributions to the arts.

Awards will be presented in seven categories including business, community service, education, media, public service, and a special recognition category. Honorees represent communities across the state.

For the first since 2004, the Governor and the Oklahoma Arts Council will designate an Oklahoma Cultural Treasure during the awards ceremony. The distinction recognizes an individual who is considered to be a bearer of intangible cultural assets having outstanding artistic or historical worth.

Join us for the 40th Annual Governor's Arts Awards ceremony, December 2 at 4:00 p.m. in the fourth floor rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

View the list of 2015 Governor's Arts Awards recipients »

Deadline to Apply for 2016 Leadership Arts Program is November 16

Applications for the 2016 class of Leadership Arts are due Monday, November 16. Individuals from communities across the state are encouraged to apply.

View 2016 session locations, dates, and more »

Each year, approximately 30 individuals are selected to participate in the program. During four two-day spring sessions, class members learn how the arts benefit the economy, education, and quality of life in Oklahoma.

Participants travel to a different community for each session where they participate in group work, panel discussions, and tours of art spaces in the host community. Members will graduate during the 2016 Oklahoma Arts Conference, October 25-26 in Stillwater.

Apply for Leadership Arts »

Oklahoma Arts Council Releases Arts and the Military Survey Report

The Oklahoma Arts Council is pleased to release the results of a statewide survey highlighting ways the arts are currently serving Oklahoma veterans, service men and women, and military families.

During the spring of 2015, the Oklahoma Arts Council distributed the Oklahoma Arts and the Military Initiative 2015 Community Survey Report.

Reaching more than 4,600 individuals across the state, 400 surveys from 86 cities and 51 counties throughout Oklahoma were completed.

Survey results include:

  • Awareness of arts-based programs or activities servinvg Oklahoma's military population
  • Details about communities where programs are taking place
  • List of organizations participating in the Blue Star Museums initiative
  • Stay tuned for more announcements regarding the Oklahoma Arts and the Military Initiative.

View the results of the survey »

Seven Oklahoma Cultural Districts Receive Formal Certification

The first set of certified Oklahoma cultural districts was formally announced on October 22 during the general luncheon session of the 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference.

The following seven communities demonstrated evidence of a three year history of audience-based cultural programming, a recognized identity with boundaries, public and private support through funding and partnerships, collaborations with arts and non-arts organizations and artists, oversight from a healthy and diverse committtee, and support for a district coordinator:

  • Brady Arts District (Tulsa)
  • Downtown Enid
  • Guthrie Cultural District
  • Historic Downtown Norman
  • Kendall Whittier District (Tulsa)
  • Paseo Arts District (Oklahoma City)
  • The Plaza District (Oklahoma City)

Benefits of certification include technical assistance from the Oklahoma Arts Council and other state agencies, formal recognition, promotion, and more.

Learn how your district can apply for certification »

Apply for the Cultural District Development Program

Grants of up to $7,500 per year are available to successful applicants. Communities may participate in the program for up to five years and receive a maximum of $25,000 in funding.

The Cultural District Development Program and Cultural District Certification are components of the Oklahoma Arts Council's Cultural District Initiative.

Through the initiative, communities can receive funding, guidance, professional consultation, and formal certification. The initiative helps communities identify and leverage local arts and cultural assets to promote economic development.

View guidelines for the Cultural District Development Program »

National Endowment for the Arts Video Tells Oklahoma's Story

Former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh, former Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Suzanne Tate, and Oklahoma's Musical Ambassador Kyle Dillingham were recently interviewed for a special video that tells the story of the arts in Oklahoma.

Watch the video The United States of Arts: Oklahoma »

Produced by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council as part of the NEA's 50th anniversary celebration, the video highlights the role of public funding for the arts in our state since 1965.

The three-minute video premiered at the 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference in Tulsa with special guest NEA Chairman Jane Chu in the audience. It is now available for viewing on the NEA's website.

Share your own story of the arts with the NEA »

More than 470 People Attend 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference

The 2015 Oklaholma Arts Conference set a new attendance record for the nine year old event as more than 470 people from all parts of the state participated. This year's conference attendees were treated to a special luncheon keynote disucssion featuring the chairmen of the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.

See photos of the 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference »

In addition to two days of sessions and panel discussions led by national and local presenters, events included an evening reception at the Philbrook Museum of Art, tours of the Historic Kendall Whittier District and Greenwood Cultural District, performances by members of the Tulsa Symphony, Kyle Dillingham, the Paul Benjaman Band, and Cherokee storyteller Robert Lewis.

The annual Oklahoma Arts Conference is the state's largest convening of artists, nonprofit organizations, board members, community developers, educators, arts supporters, students, and others. The conference offers the most accessible opportunity for Oklahoma's arts and cultural industry to get high quality professional, organizational, and community development training, networking, and more.

Mark your calendars now for the 2016 Oklahoma Arts Conference, October 25-26 in Stillwater!

Community Arts Director Position Opens with Oklahoma Arts Council

Following an exciting opportunity for former Oklahoma Arts Council staff member Joshua Lunsford to join the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, the Oklahoma Arts Council is accepting applications for the position of Community Arts Director.

Learn more about the position »

The Community Arts Director is responsible for administering the agency's community arts grant program, which is designed to enhance Oklahoma's audience based arts programs such as festivals, exhibitions, and performances. The individual in this position also manages the Cultural District Initiative, Performing Artist Roster, Oklahoma's New and Emerging Arts Leaders (ONEAL) program, and the Oklahoma Presenters Network.

How to apply for the Community Arts Director position »