Oklahoma Arts Council News
February 2016
Oklahoma Arts Council announces members of its 2016 Leadership Arts class
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 10, 2016) – The Oklahoma Arts Council has announced the names of individuals selected to participate in its 2016 Leadership Arts program. The list includes 33 individuals from 23 Oklahoma communities who will gather throughout the spring to learn how to impact their communities through the arts and arts education.
State Legislature convenes for 2016 session
Members of the Oklahoma State Legislature began the 2016 legislative session on Monday, February 1, and among the issues they will confront before adjourning in May is a predicted revenue shortfall for the next state budget. Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said that Council grantee organizations should be prepared as the agency prepares for a reduction to its budget for the 2017 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2016.
"We want organizations to be as prepared as possible as they begin planning for the next fiscal year." Sharples said. "As we anticipate budget cuts, it is important for organizations to put forth their best efforts in their grant applications. Our program staff members are available to assist grantees with their applications."
Help measure the economic impact of nonprofit arts in Oklahoma
Organizations across Oklahoma are encouraged to take part in a yearlong effort to gather data to measure the economic impact of Oklahoma's nonprofit arts and cultural industry.
Organized by Oklahomans for the Arts as part of the Americans for the Arts project Arts & Economic Prosperity® V, the effort will measure spending by organizations and their audiences during 2016.
View the 2008-09 economic impact report >>
Results of the study will be released in spring of 2017 and will include a report on the statewide economic impact, reports specific to participating communities, and more.
Oklahoma loses a Cultural Treasure
Yvonne Chouteau, one of Oklahoma's five internationally acclaimed American Indian ballerinas, passed away on January 24 at the age of 86.
An Oklahoma Cultural Treasure, Chouteau and her four American Indian ballerina contemporaries are immortalized in Mike Larsen's "Flight of Spirit" mural at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Chouteau was raised in Vinita, Oklahoma, and, at 14 became one of the youngest dancerts accepted to the renowned Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She later returned to Oklahoma where she founded the University of Oklahoma's School of Dance and the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet, the forerunner of what is today the Oklahoma City Ballet.
In a New York Times article about her death, Chouteau is described as, "Always proud of being an Oklahoman."
Nominations sought for State Superintendent awards
Nominations are being accepted through March 1 for the 26th Annual State Superintendent Awards for Arts Excellence.
Organized by the Oklahoma State Department of Education in partnership with the Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education and the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma, the awards recognize school board members, administrators, fine arts educators who have exhibited leadership in schools and communities throughout the state. The awards also recognize high school juniors and seniors who have achieved artistic and academic excellent.
Visual artists and writers can apply for 2016 Tulsa Artist Fellowship
For 2016, the Tulsa Artist Fellowship is expanding to include opportunities for creative writers. Artists selected for the program will begin their fellowships in January of 2017.
Fellows receive unrestricted $20,000 stipends, and, in most cases, free housing and work space. Terms are one year for visual artists and two years for writers.
Established by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, the program was created to enhance the local art scene by retaining and recruiting artists to Tulsa.
Learn how the program is cultivating Tulsa's art scene >>
Deadline to apply for a visual arts or writing fellowship is March 4.
Take advantage of upcoming Humanities Council grants
The application deadline is approaching for two grant programs of the Oklahoma Humanities Council. If your arts program includes a humanities-related component, consider applying for a Major Grant of up to $8,500 or a Challenge Grant of $15,000.
Eligible projects may include discussion programs, lectures, panel discussions, websites, audio and video productions, and exhibitions.
A mandatory draft for applications in either category is due by March 1.
Book one of these Latin American performing artists
Fee support is available to nonprofit organizations wishing to present Latin American performing artists through Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America. The program provides assistance to presenters for booking artists that are on Southern Exposure's curated roster, which changes annually.
Grants are available now for programs taking place between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Native artist fellowship opportunity
Native artists who are citizens of a federally or state recognized tribe are eligible to apply for the 2016 Native Arts & Cultures Foundation's National Artist Fellowship. The fellowship awards $20,000 to individual artists who demonstrate exemplary skill and exceptional quality of work in traditional arts, music, visual arts, artistic innovation, and literature.
The call for entries is open until Monday, March 21.
Related >> First Peoples Fund names Holdenville's Leslie Deer (Muscogee) as a 2016 Artist in Business Leadership Fellow