More Than 100 Arts Organizations to Receive Oklahoma CARES Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OKLAHOMA CITY (July 8, 2020) – More than 100 nonprofit arts organizations across the state have been awarded Oklahoma CARES Grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council. Through the one-time grant opportunity, over $400,000 in funding is being provided to help arts-focused nonprofits keep jobs and maintain organizational stability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oklahoma CARES Grants were made possible by federal funding provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, distributed by the National Endowment for the Arts to the Oklahoma Arts Council as its state partner.
Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said the funding will benefit all Oklahomans.
“In passing the CARES Act, Congress recognized the need to support the arts as a sector that meaningfully contributes to our nation’s economy, education, and quality of life. We are grateful to members of Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation for helping make this support possible,” Sharples said.
“While arts organizations across our state have been at the forefront of innovating in their efforts to continue serving Oklahomans during this time, the inherent nature of the arts to bring people together forced the sector to be among the first organizations to close their doors, and it dictates that they will be among the last to reopen. Through this funding, nonprofit arts organizations serving rural and diverse communities in areas ranging from Duncan to Woodward, Elk City to Rentiesville, and everywhere in between will be better poised to endure the challenges they are facing.”
Funding determinations were made by members of the Governor-appointed Oklahoma Arts Council board. Awards reflect the Oklahoma Arts Council’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its investment of support across the state. Organizations receiving awards can use funds for administrative and artistic salaries, benefits, and contracts. Facility and operational expenses are also eligible expenses.
Organizations awarded Oklahoma CARES Grants are:
3rd Act Theatre Company
A to Z Productions
Aalim Dance Academy, Inc.
American Banjo Museum
American Theatre Company
Ardmore Little Theatre, Inc.
Art Maker/Dance Maker
Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa (ahha Tulsa)
Arts Council Oklahoma City
Barthelmes Conservatory (The bART)
Bartlesville Civic Ballet
Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra
Black Liberated Arts Center
Brightmusic Society of Oklahoma
Bring Back the Music
Broken Arrow Community Playhouse
Canterbury Voices
Carpenter Square Theatre
Chamber Music Tulsa
Charles B. Goddard Center for Visual and Performing Arts
Cherokee National Historical Society, Inc.
Children’s Arts Network
Children’s Musical Theatre of Bartlesville
Chisholm Trail Arts Council
Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Association
Choregus Productions
Cimarron Circuit Opera Company
Circle Cinema Foundation, Inc.
deadCENTER Film Festival, Inc.
Duncan Little Theatre
Enid Arts and Science Foundation
Enid Community Theatre
Enid Symphony Association
Fine Arts Institute of Edmond
Friends of Rentiesville Blues
Friends of Starlight Concerts, Inc.
Grand Lake Festivals, Inc.
Grove Community Playmakers
Harmony Project Tulsa
Heller Theatre Company
Jazz in June
KidsAlive!
Lawton Community Theatre
Lawton Philharmonic Society
Lincoln County On-Stage, Inc.
Living Arts of Tulsa, Inc.
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Inc.
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
Metropolitan School of Dance, Inc.
Muskogee Community Band Association
Muskogee Little Theatre
NAMRON Players Theatre, Inc.
Norman Arts Council
Norman Firehouse Art Center
Norman Music Alliance, Inc.
OK Mozart, Inc.
Oklahoma Arts Institute
Oklahoma Children’s Theatre
Oklahoma City Ballet
Oklahoma City Girls Art School
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Oklahoma City Philharmonic Society, Inc.
Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre
Oklahoma Community Theatre Association, Inc.
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
Oklahoma Museums Association
Oklahoma Performing Arts, Inc.
Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Inc.
Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival
Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition
Oklahoma Youth Orchestras
Oklahoma’s International Bluegrass Festival
Oklahomans for the Arts
Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma
Paseo Arts Association
Performing Arts Studio
Perpetual Motion-Modern Dance Oklahoma
Philbrook Museum of Art
Pollard Theatre Company
Ponca Playhouse
Prairie Dance Theatre
Price Tower Arts Center
Race Dance Co.
Red Carpet Community Theatre
Red Earth, Inc.
Scissortail Productions, Inc.
Shortgrass Arts and Humanities Council
Sooner Theatre of Norman
Theatre North
Theatre Tulsa, Inc.
Tulsa Ballet
Tulsa Opera, Inc.
Tulsa Oratorio Chorus
Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust
Tulsa Project Theatre
Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
Windsong Association
Woodward Arts Council
Woody Guthrie Center
Woody Guthrie Coalition
About the Oklahoma Arts Council
The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The agency’s mission is to lead in the advancement of Oklahoma’s thriving arts industry. The Oklahoma Arts Council provides approximately 350 grants to nearly 200 organizations in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state's arts and cultural industry, and manages the art collections at the Oklahoma State Capitol. More information is available at arts.ok.gov.