Oklahoma Arts Council News
October 2015
Conference Registration Deadline Friday, October 9
Friday, October 9 is the deadline to register for the 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference. The conference will take place October 20-22 in Tulsa. Register online now for $135.
The conference features sessions led by national and local expert presenters and panelists, networking events, interactive activities, community tours, and more. The featured keynote presenters for the 2015 conference are National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu and National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman William Adams.
Each year, the conference draws more than 400 individuals from across the state who are involved in the arts, including artists, arts administrators, board members, community developers, city leaders, educators, art supporters, and others.
Reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency Tulsa (room availability is limited).
Apply Now for the 2016 Leadership Arts Program
Applications are now available for individuals interested in becoming a member of the 2016 class of Leadership Arts.
Each year, approximately 30 individuals from communities across the state 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. Class members travel to different communities throughout the state 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.
For information about Leadership Arts session locations, dates, and more, click here.
Informational Meeting for Rural Grants Set for October 15
Individuals whose organizations are interested in applying for grant funding for quality of life projects through the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation can attend an October 15 informational meeting to learn more about the program. The meeting will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
Through the foundation, grants of up to $10,000 are available to nonprofit organizations and entities of state and local government that serve select rural areas of Oklahoma. Grant applications are due December 15.
The October 15 meeting will cover grant guidelines and eligibility and allow time for questions about the program.
To RSVP for the October 15 meeting, contact Jana Steelman at j.steelman@occf.org or or (405) 606-2941.
For more information about the grant guidelines, click here.
Webcast Series Will Equip You for Accessibility and Inclusion
Comprised of 56 million Americans, individuals with disabilities make up the nation's largest minority group. With this in mind, equipping members your cultural organization's staff with the understanding and tools needed to serve people with disabilities is an important task.
Beginning October 7, a three-part webcast series titled Stories of Inclusion: Inclusive Practices at Cultural Institutions presented by the American Alliance of Museums will help your organization be prepared to provide services that meet the needs of all visitors or patrons.
Issues that will be discussed include identifying barriers to access and inclusion, collaborating to ensure access and inclusion across all programs and facilities, and advocating for accessible and inclusive practices in institutions and communities.
The three-part series will take place on October 7, 14, and 28. Visit the American Alliance of Museums website for details and registration.
Apply for 'The Big Read' Beginning in October
Beginning in October, eligible Oklahoma organizations can apply for The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts that offers grants to support innovative community-wide reading programs designed around a single book.
Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read receive grant funding, access to online training, and educational and promotional materials.
Community events often planned around the program include panel discussions, author readings, book discussions, and related film screenings.
Plan now to apply for The Big Read. Learn more about the program here.
Letters of Intent Due for Artistic Innovations Grants
Deadline to submit letters of intent for Mid-America Arts Alliance's Artistic Innovations grant program is October 30.
Artistic Innovations funding of up to $15,000 per applicant can underwrite direct expenses related to the art-making process and/or the premiere of new endeavors. The program encourages experimentation and exploration in the creation of new, original works for audiences.
Interested individuals can register for a free informational webinar about the program scheduled for October 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Click here for further details about the program including eligibility criteria and the application process. Individual artists and organizations are eligible for funding.
City of Tulsa Seeks Proposals for Route 66 Public Art
The City of Tulsa is seeking proposals from artists for two public art projects along historic Route 66.
Submissions for a work that will be installed in a traffic circle must be in a style and theme that represent Route 66 and may be symbolic of past eras or the roadway's emerging future. Project budget is $500,000.
Submissions for a work that will be installed at Howard Park should reflect the local community's original culture and prominent role in rail, oil, and cattle during the early years of Route 66. Project budget is $90,000.
Deadline for submissions is Monday, November 23 at 12:00 p.m.