Oklahoma Arts Conference Rescheduled to Spring 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OKLAHOMA CITY (July 16, 2020) – The Oklahoma Arts Council has rescheduled the 2020 Oklahoma Arts Conference, moving the statewide convening of artists, nonprofit administrators, community developers, educators, and others to spring 2021. The conference is now scheduled to take place in Muskogee, May 5-7.
Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples cited discussions with state public health officials, the Governor-appointed Oklahoma Arts Council board, and the chairs of the Muskogee community committee as informing the decision.
“Spring 2021 is the earliest we feel confident about gathering the state’s arts and cultural sector,” Sharples said. “A spring conference will be timely as artists and organizations will still be grappling with the effects of the pandemic. Hundreds of Oklahomans in the arts look forward to the conference for networking, sharing of best practices, and learning about innovative work impacting Oklahoma communities. We look forward to a safer, more appropriate time when we can convene.”
Oklahoma Arts Conference presenters, sessions, and other content will be announced in the coming months. The Muskogee community committee includes honorary chair Charles Moore, senior pastor at First Baptist Church Summit in Muskogee, and co-chairs Justin O’Neal, tourism director at the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce, and Shironbutterfly Ray, founder and creative director of the Bare Bones International Film Festival.
The Oklahoma Arts Council will continue organizing virtual and online opportunities to meet needs and equip the arts sector to successfully confront the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Oklahoma Arts Conference
An Oklahoma Arts Council program, the Oklahoma Arts Conference brings together hundreds of artists, nonprofit administrators, community developers, civic leaders, educators, students, and others from across the state in one location for two-plus days of professional development and networking. Conference sessions feature nationally recognized industry experts who address current trends and topics in artist career development, nonprofit management, and community development through the arts. Sessions also feature local presenters and panelists highlighting successful models in Oklahoma. Conference activities include networking events, performances, and tours of community arts and cultural spaces. More information about the Oklahoma Arts Conference is available at arts.ok.gov.
Muskogee Arts and Culture
The Oklahoma Arts Conference in Muskogee will highlight the many arts and cultural assets of the area. Among Muskogee’s cultural assets are the Ataloa Lodge Museum, Bacone College, Bare Bones Film Festival, Five Civilized Tribes Museum, Martin Luther King Community Center, Muskogee Area Arts Council, Muskogee Art Guild, Muskogee Little Theatre, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Roxy Theatre, and the Three Rivers Museum. Depot Green, a downtown Muskogee outdoor community gathering space that will host performances and other events, is scheduled to be completed before the Oklahoma Arts Conference.
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About the Oklahoma Arts CouncilThe 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. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov.