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Oklahoma Arts Council News

April 2019

Still Time to Register for April 3 'Arts Day'

Individuals and organizations from across Oklahoma interested in attending Oklahomans for the Arts' (OFTA) 2019 Oklahoma Arts Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol on April 3 can still register for the event.

The state's nonprofit arts advocacy organization, OFTA is inviting artists, nonprofit arts organizations, museum leaders, board members, educators, and others involved in the arts community to participate in the day. Participants are encouraged to meet with their legislators during the event to highlight the value of the arts in their local communities and schools.

The day begins at 9:00 a.m. A kickoff with welcoming remarks will take place at 10:30 a.m. Also featured will be live music and arts throughout the day, and recognition of the day by state Senator Julia Kirt on the floor of the Oklahoma State Senate at 1:30 p.m. Attendees can attend all or part of the day's schedule. View the schedule here.

Partners for OFTA's 2019 Oklahoma Arts Day include the Norman Arts Council, Arts Council Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City chapter of the Sweet Adelines, Oklahoma Museums Association, and Route 66 Alliance.

Register for 2019 Oklahoma Arts Day at www.ok4arts.org.

Celebrate the Governor's Arts Awards on April 16

Oklahoma's arts community is invited to join in celebrating the efforts of the 2019 Governor's Arts Awards honorees during a special ceremony at the Oklahoma State Capitol on April 16. Free and open to the public, the ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the fourth floor rotunda. Awards will be presented by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples. Internationally acclaimed American soprano Sarah Coburn will provide a special performance.

Seventeen individuals and one organization comprise the list of 2019 honorees. From Muskogee to Lone Grove, Woodward to Miami, honorees represent the selfless dedication required to strengthen Oklahoma communities and schools through the arts.

See details about the 2019 Governor's Arts Awards ceremony.

View this year's list of honorees.

Lawton's Keayla Anderson Wins State Poetry Out Loud Competition

Keayla Anderson of Lawton High School will represent Oklahoma in the national 2019 Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C., April 29-30. Anderson was among hundreds of students who took part in the competition in schools across the state. She was one of 22 state finalists who performed their recitals for a panel of judges and attendees at the state competition on March 7 at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The 2019 state Poetry Out Loud competition was organized by Oklahoma A+ Schools in partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council. The national program is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation.

Teachers interested in giving their students the opportunity to compete in next year's competition are encouraged to contact Oklahoma A+ Schools.

Visit poetryoutloud.org for details about the national program, which encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation.

OVAC Visual Arts Fellowships and Student Awards of Excellence

Each year, two individual Oklahoma artists and two student artists are selected to receive awards through Visual Arts Fellowships and Student Awards of Excellence, both programs of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC).

Through the awards, artists are recognized for their achievement and promise. The Visual Arts Fellowship awards provide $5,000 and is available to Oklahoma artists working in all media. The Student Awards of Excellence provides $500 and is open to Oklahoma graduate and undergraduate students.

Chosen by a guest curator, awards are given based on criteria involving quality of work samples, originality of vision, technical expertise, and professional activity and achievement.

Applications are due April 30. See the OVAC website for application guidelines.

Travel Grants Available through APAP's Cultural Exchange Fund

Travel grants from the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) can help individual artists, presenters, and others in building partnerships and collaborations outside of the United States. Grants available through APAP's Cultural Exchange Fund are aimed at broadening the experiences of APAP members and deepening their knowledge of artists and cultures. Individual artists may earn up to $2,000 in grant funding while groups are eligible for up to $10,000.

The next deadline to submit an application for the program is April 30, 2019 for travel scheduled between July and December of 2019.

For related ideas and inspiration, APAP provides an International Festival Guide that can help potential applicants explore events around the globe.

Visit APAP's Cultural Exchange Fund page for details.

Crayola Grants Can Boost Schools' Creative Capacity

Through Crayola's Champion Creatively Alive Children® grant program, schools can earn $2,500 in funding and $1,000 worth of Crayola products. The program is aimed at fostering creative leadership team building within elementary and middle schools, with the goal of inspiring schools to deliver innovative education.

Schools are not required to have an art teacher to participate. Applications should focus on addressing the specific needs and interests of the school, and they should propose strategies for crafting a common vision and embedding creativity into the school culture.

Examples of ways schools can build their creative capacity are available in the FAQ section of the program website.

Click here to download an application. Submissions are due June 3.

Support for Emerging and Established Arts Writers

Emerging and established writers who focus on contemporary visual art can soon apply for the Arts Writers Grant Program. Funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visul Arts and administered by Creative Capital, program applications will be available April 17.

Grants through the program offer support ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 for projects involving articles, blogs, books, and short-form writing. Funds may be used to cover costs associated with research and writing, including a writer's fee, travel, image permissions, living expenses, and more.

For the grant program, contemporary visual art is defined as visual art made since World War II.

Applications will be available April 17. Deadline for submissions is May 20, 2019.

Visit artswriters.org for details.

City of Moore RFQ for Artist in Residence

The City of Moore is seeking an artist for a residency at its Old Town Park, which will open in the spring of 2020. The city has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) from Oklahoma artists interested in maintaining an on-site presence of a minimum of 10 hours per week during the residency, which will run from March 2020 to February 2021.

Designed to help create a dynamic environment at the park, the residency program will allow the selected artist to explore their practice in a unique setting while interacting with visitors. Among the requirements, artists will be present for three City of Moore/Old Town events throughout the year.

The program includes a monthly $550 stipend. Artists working in any visual arts media may apply. Applications are due April 19.

View the City of Moore Old Town Park Artist-in-Residence RFQ here.

RELATED: City of Oklahoma City hires artist-in-residence.

AARP Initiative Makes Livable Communities for People of All Ages

Through the annual AARP Community Challenge, projects are funded to help communities improve livability for residents of all ages. Applications through the program are currently being accepted for quick-action projects that could be completed by November 4, 2019.

Open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government entities, grants can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the scope of the project.

Past funded projects featuring the arts have included the creation of artistic crosswalks, mural installations, and public art.

The application period ends April 17. Visit aarp.org for more information.

Cox Charities Offers Community Investment Grants

Eligible organizations in the Cox Communications Oklahoma City and Tulsa service area may be eligible to request up to $10,000 in support through Cox Charities' Community Investment Grants. Beginning April 1, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose activities meet needs within the service areas can seek funding for programs.

Cox Charities supports programs and services that impact residents in the areas of youth, education, social issues, and the arts. In addition to their Community Investment Grants program, Cox Charities also offers grants through its Innovation in Education program. More information about their funding is available here.

Oklahoma Arts Council Seeks Grants and Programs Assistant

The Oklahoma Arts Council has an opening for a Grants and Programs Assistant. The position provides support to the grants office as well as general administrative and programmatic assistance. Among responsibilities, this position serves as the initial point of contact for organizations seeking Oklahoma Arts Council grant support; processes submitted grant applications; coordinates grant panel review meetings; manages files records; processes grant payments; and, more.

An equal opportunity employer, the Oklahoma Arts Council strives to build a diverse team comprised of the best and brightest individuals to support our mission to lead in the advancement of Oklahoma's thriving arts industry. We seek enthusiastic, creative individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to public service to contribute to our team.

For a complete list of position responsibilities and application instructions, visit arts.ok.gov.