Oklahoma Arts Council News

Fausser, Tanenbaums to Receive Governor's Award During January 20 Ceremony

Jean Ann Fausser of Tulsa and Richard and Glenna Tanenbaum of Oklahoma City will receive the distinguished Governor's Award during the 46th Oklahoma Governor's Arts Awards on January 20. Presented by the Oklahoma Arts Council and Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, the awards will recognize 21 honorees in various categories for their outstanding work in the arts.

The Governor's Award is presented for longtime leadership and significant contributions to the arts across Oklahoma. 

Oklahomans are invited to join in the celebration. The Governor's Arts Awards ceremony will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the fourth-floor rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Honorees are:

The Governor's Award
Jean Ann Fausser (Tulsa)
Glenna and Richard Tanenbaum (Oklahoma City)

Business in the Arts Award
Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma (Edmond)
The Springer Company (Oklahoma City)

Arts in Education Award
Brenda Alexander (Woodward)
Jennifer Baker (Norman)
Lisa Coulter (Tishomingo)
Vicki Gelona (Ardmore)
Mariana Llanos (Oklahoma City)
Susan Mueller (Bartlesville)

Community Service Award
John Bedford (Norman)
Hal French (Edmond)
Brian Horton (Broken Arrow)
Lauren Green (Bartlesville)
ShIronbutterfly Ray (Muskogee)
Jabee Williams (Oklahoma City)

Media in the Arts Award
Jim Johnson, KGOU Radio (Norman)
Abbie de Vera, KOTV – News on 6 (Tulsa)

George Nigh Public Service in the Arts Award
Tim Gatz, Executive Director, Oklahoma Department of Transportation (El Reno)

Special Recognition Award
Oklahoma Music Educators Association (Statewide)
The Questers Cimarron Chapter 1195 (Edmond)

Statewide Arts and Health Summit to Take Place May 21

Planning for a special statewide summit specific to arts and health is currently underway. Organized by the Oklahoma Arts Council, the one-day event will take place May 21 at the University of Oklahoma's OU Health campus in Oklahoma City and will feature national and local speakers who are shaping the growing intersection of arts and health. Arts organizations, teaching artists, and healthcare professionals who attend will hear the latest data and trends. Dr. Tasha Golden, an international expert in creativity and wellbeing will be the featured keynote.

Mark your calendars for this important summit and learn how your work in the arts can grow in this evolving and important area.

Mark Your Calendar! 🗓️✍️ 
Oklahoma Arts and and Health Summit 
May 21, 2026
Nicholson Tower
OU Health
Oklahoma City

More details will be announced soon! Stay tuned.

Made possible in part by special funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and through a grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET).

Call for Artists Deadline: Allen Wright Memorial Library Public Art

Qualifications are being accepted through January 13 from artists and artist teams for an Oklahoma Art in Public Places project being commissioned by the Oklahoma Arts Council in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL).

Currently under renovation, the Allen Wright Memorial Library serves as ODL's main location. The commissioned artwork can honor the library's namesake while highlighting ODL's role and impact.

The selected artist or artist team will receive $35,000 to create the artwork. Deadline for submissions is January 13. Submit qualifications and download the RFQ here.

Click here to view calls for artists on the Oklahoma Arts Council website.

Back to School: Our Grants for Your Classroom this Spring

With students heading back to school soon for the spring semester, January is the ideal time for educators to consider applying for fiscal year 2026 Oklahoma Arts Council grant funding. The agency offers funding in several categories to meet needs for in-school and after-school programs. Our grant category for alternative education sites is designed to invest additional resources for their needs. Learn more below.

Essential Arts Education Grants for Schools – provides up to $5,000 twice per school year for eligible programs taking place during the school day (10% match required)

Expanded Arts Education Grants for Schools – provides up to $2,500 once per school year for eligible programs taking place outside the school day (10% match required)

Arts in Alternative Education Grants – available to alternative education sites recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, this category provides up to $5,000 twice per school year for eligible programs (5% match required)

Apply to be a Grant Review Panelist for the Oklahoma Arts Council

Applications are accepted year-round from Oklahomans interested in serving as grant review panelists for the Oklahoma Arts Council. Panelists provide valuable input on the agency's review of hundreds of grant applications. In addition to helping assure programs supported by public funding are reflective of the people of Oklahoma and their communities, grant review panelists receive compensation and gain valuable insight into the grant application and assessment process.

The Oklahoma Arts Council seeks individuals of all backgrounds to serve as grant review panelists. An online form is available for individuals interested in applying. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how their knowledge and experience in the arts will benefit the grant review process. Learn more and apply here.

Apply for Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants by January 15

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) has announced the opening of the 2026 Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant. Funding through the program can be used for community-based arts engagement programming designed to support health, well-being, and quality of life for military-connected individuals. The program is part of the Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and state, local, and tribal government entities with at least three years of experience presenting arts-based programming for military communities. Funding is offered in one of two categories:

Emerging: offers up to $10,000 to support the development and implementation of new or emerging non-clinical arts engagement programs

Advanced: offers $10,000-$25,000 to support organizations with established military-related non-clinical arts engagement programming

Projects must have at least one partner and be led by or include at least one organization with a history of creative or artistic programming.

Deadline to apply is January 15. Read the announcement here.

RELATED: M-AAA offering special virtual Artist INC Express program in Oklahoma, February 20-22.

NEA Announces Special America250 Grant Opportunity for Featuring Military Bands

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced a special grant opportunity. Nonprofit organizations, units of state and local government, and federally recognized tribes with at least five years of arts programming history can apply for $10,000 to $20,000 in funding for projects that feature performances and/or educational programming with a U.S. military band. 

Projects qualifying for "Celebrating the Nation’s 250th Birthday with Music from U.S. Military" funding must take place between May 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.

Deadline for applications is February 23. Oklahoma organizations are encouraged to look into this opportunity.

NEA Grant Deadlines for 2026

The NEA also announced deadlines and guidelines for its fiscal year 2027 Grants for Arts Projects. February 12, 2026, and July 9, 2026, will be the deadlines for projects taking place beginning in 2027. Grants for Arts Projects fund programs that give Americans experiences in the arts through a wide variety of disciplines. The grant category also supports arts education, arts and health, creative aging, and programs that celebrate America's artistic heritage and cultural legacy.

First-time and returning applicants with a range of operating budgets are encouraged to apply. Applicants that previously applied for NEA Our Town or Challenge America grants can now apply through Grants for Arts Projects (these can be selected using the "disciplines" field in the application). 

Oklahoma organizations are encouraged to learn how federal arts funding can support their programs. Nonprofit organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities are eligible to apply. Grant awards range between $10,000 and $100,000. Learn more here.

Mary Anne Carter Confirmed as NEA Chairman

The United States Senate confirmed Mary Anne Carter as the 14th chairman of the NEA in December. Carter has served as senior advisor to the NEA since January 2025. She previously served as NEA chairman during the first Trump administration. With her previous experience at the NEA, she brings a deep knowledge of the agency's mission, program, and operations.

Register for 2026 Arts Day at Capitol!

Registration is now open for this spring's Oklahoma Arts Day at the state Capitol. Hosted by the nonprofit arts advocacy organization, Oklahomans for the Arts (OFTA), this special convening brings together organizations, artists, educators, and others who champion the arts in our state for a day full of advocacy activities, programming, and celebration.

Organizations and individuals can register now for the event. Organizations can reserve tabling space. Details about the day's schedule will be announced by OFTA soon.

Arts Day at the Capitol
Hosted by Oklahomans for the Arts
April 30, 2026
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Register here

Arts Job: Oklahoma Arts Council Seeking Part-Time Capitol Tours Manager

The Oklahoma Arts Council is currently seeking an experienced museum or arts educator to manage the Oklahoma State Capitol Tours program. This part-time temporary position administers the tours program and manages a group of volunteer docents. The program focuses on increasing audience engagement with the state-owned art collections displayed throughout the Capitol.

Additional responsibilities include assisting with the development of curriculum and resources for exhibitions and publications, and overseeing the agency's Capitol field trip grant program for schools.

The hourly rate for the position is $25.32 and does not include benefits. A full description and application instructions can be found here.

Betty Price Gallery to Reopen January 20

Having displayed the inaugural exhibitions of the Betty Price Gallery since the gallery reopened in its new space in February 2025, the Oklahoma Arts Council recently closed the gallery temporarily to make several minor changes to the works being displayed. The space will reopen in conjunction with the 46th Oklahoma Governor's Arts Awards on Tuesday, January 20. Be sure to visit arts.ok.gov for updates about the Betty Price Gallery.

In Memoriam: Harvey Pratt

The Oklahoma Arts Council expresses its deepest sympathies to family and friends of artist Harvey Pratt, who passed away in late December. Pratt used his gift as an artist to transform law enforcement by advancing the field of forensic art. Beyond his criminal justice work in service to our state, his devotion to our nation—as a veteran—came full circle in his selection to create the National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. This crowning achievement will endure as a reminder of Pratt's remarkable contributions and legacy. For his work on the memorial and his significant imprint as an artist, Pratt was presented with a Special Recognition Award at the 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards.