Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grant Awards Announced
OKLAHOMA CITY (November 11, 2020) – Nine Oklahoma organizations have been awarded funding by the Oklahoma Arts Council for arts programs designed to serve Oklahomans with military connections. Among the funded programs are guitar lessons for veterans, pottery classes, a play centered on the experience of women in the Vietnam War, and online vocal music instruction for residents at a state veterans center. Organizations representing seven communities have been awarded a total of $37,751 through the state agency’s Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants program. Awardees are:
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Ardmore Little Theatre – $3,171 (performance)
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Artist Incubation in Guymon – $5,000 (visual arts classes)
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Barthelmes Conservatory in Tulsa – $4,730 (professional development)
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Circle Cinema Foundation in Tulsa – $1,250 (screening and virtual exhibition)
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Leonardo’s Children’s Museum in Enid – $5,000 (visual arts classes)
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Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in Shawnee – $5,000 (professional development)
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Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City – $3,600 (visual arts classes)
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Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City – $5,000 (performing arts instruction)
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Scissortail Productions in Oklahoma City – $5,000 (performing arts instruction)
Through the grant program, up to $5,000 in funding is available to support learning-based and audience-based arts programs serving active-duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, veterans, and immediate family and caregivers. New and existing classes, workshops, professional development, performances, exhibitions, festivals and more can be supported. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits; city, county, and tribal governments; colleges and universities; and, public libraries.
“Announcing the awards for our Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants on Veterans Day reminds us of the endless opportunities that exist for the arts sector to serve those who have courageously served Oklahoma and our country,” said Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples. “We are committed to leveraging the transformative power of the arts for all Oklahomans, and we commend the work of the nine organizations awarded in this round of funding for the thoughtfulness put in to their programming to meet unique needs in our state.”
An estimated 5,000 military-connected Oklahomans will be served through the programs funded by the awards. Activities supported through the funding must take place by June 30, 2020.
For more information about Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants, visit arts.ok.gov.
Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants are made possible in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mid-America Arts Alliance.
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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. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov.