Oklahoma Arts Council News
November 2024
Reserve Your Seat for Cornerstone Conversations
November 7 in Guthrie marks the first in a series of upcoming Cornerstone Conversation listening sessions that will give Oklahomans a forum to envision their community's future with the arts at the center. Co-facilitated by the Oklahoma Arts Council and members of local communities, Cornerstone Conversations are being scheduled across the state. Sessions will take place during afternoons and will include small group discussion, individual exercises, and the chance to provide written feedback as community members create shared visions for themselves. Each session will also include a networking break with light refreshments.
Cornerstone Conversations were first held in 2019 and early 2020, but the tour was cut short by the onset of the pandemic. The tour was launched was part of the Oklahoma Arts Council's efforts to hear from Oklahomans as the agency began putting together a new strategic plan. Cornerstone Conversations in 2024 and 2025 will inform the agency's plan for serving Oklahomans through the next five years.
Reserve a Seat
To reserve a seat at one of the upcoming Cornerstone Conversations near you, email chandra.boyd@arts.ok.gov. Be sure to note which session you will attend.
Central
Guthrie
Thursday, November 7
3:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Pollard Theatre
120 W. Harrison Ave.
Northeast
Bristow
Tuesday, November 12
3:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Bristow Public Library
111 W. 7th Ave.
Southwest
Chickasha
Thursday, December 12
4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Chickasha Area Arts Council
521 W. Chickasha
Stay tuned for more Cornerstone Conversations to be announced soon.
Mark Your Calendars! Oklahoma Arts Conference Returns to Enid in 2025
The Oklahoma Arts Conference returns in fall 2025, with Enid in northwest Oklahoma chosen to serve as the host community. Mark your calendars now! The event will take place October 22-24 at the Stride Bank Center in Enid.
Every two years, the Oklahoma Arts Conference convenes nonprofit organizations, artists, community developers, business and civic leaders, educators, and others working in the creative sector for three days of sessions, networking events, performances, tours, and activities designed to equip the sector for success. The conference presents nationally-recognized featured presenters who bring expertise on current topics and needs in the sector. The conference also highlights presenters and panelists from Oklahoma, showcasing examples of the excellent work being done in the arts in communities across the state.
With a dynamic eight-block arts district, a growing collection of public art, and the nationally recognized Carnegie Hall Link Up arts education program, Enid's backdrop for the 2025 Oklahoma Arts Conference offers attendees an engaging and immersive experience. Look for more details to be announced soon!
Learn more about the Oklahoma Arts Conference.
View photos from the 2023 Oklahoma Arts Conference in Lawton.
Creative Aging Grants and Alternative Education Partnerships Awarded
Awards for funding in two Oklahoma Arts Council grant programs were approved by the agency's Governor-appointed Council members during their meeting in October. Introduced for fiscal year 2025, Creative Aging Partnership Grants were available to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide arts learning opportunities for older adults. In addition to funding, organizations receive professional development and take part in cohort meetings designed to build capacity for creative aging programming. Awards totaling more than $108,000 were awarded to:
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Community Health Centers (Midwest City)
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Healthy Living & Fitness (OKC)
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Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art (Shawnee)
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Metropolitan School of Dance (OKC)
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Oklahoma City Ballet
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Oklahoma City Museum of Art
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Philbrook Museum of Art (Tulsa)
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Tulsa Opera
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Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust
Creative Aging Partnership Grants are possible through support from the Oklahoma Tobacco Endowment Settlement Trust (TSET).
Introduced two years ago, Arts in Alternative Education Partnership grants support efforts by nonprofit arts organizations to leverage arts programming expertise and artistic resources to serve the needs of students in alternative education schools. Awards totaling more than $67,600 were made to:
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ARTSPACE at Untitled (OKC)
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Clarion Arts and Media (Norman)
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Garvin County Choral Society & Sinonietta (Pauls Valley)
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Painted Sky Opera (OKC)
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Scissortail Productions (Norman)
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The bART Center for Music (Tulsa)
Learn about Oklahoma Arts Council grant programs here.
Accessibility Webinar to Go Behind the Scenes of Lyric's 'Cinderella' for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences
The next in a series of Accessibility in the Artswebinars being offered by the Oklahoma Arts Council will go behind the scenes of a recent production of "Cinderella" that earned wide acclaim for redefining the way theatre companies can serve broader audiences through a focus on accessibility.
On Thursday, November 7, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., the Oklahoma Arts Council will present the webinar, "Enhancing Accessibility in Theatre: Behind the Scenes of 'Cinderella' for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences." There is no cost to register.
Presented by Lyric Theatre in collaboration with Deaf Austin Theatre, the recent production of "Cinderella" was told using both American Sign Language (ASL) and Spoken English, with ASL interpreter services made possible by the Inasmuch Foundation. The "Cinderella" cast included nine Deaf and Hard of Hearing actors and 15 Hearing actors. Numerous lead crew positions were also staffed by Deaf individuals. The production received accolades nationally, and drew coverage by American Theatre magazine among other media outlets.
New Program Offers Operational Funding for Small Arts Organizations
Small arts organizations—including nonprofits, art-centric businesses, and more—in Oklahoma with annual operating budgets under $500,000 are encouraged to learn about a new grant program offering general operating support with no match requirement.
Applications for Cultural Sustainability: Operational Impact Grants for Small Arts Organizations opened October 30. The new program is being offered by the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (USRAO) in partnership with the Wallace Foundation in recognition of the need to advance and support the sustainability of small community-based arts organizations. Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) is the regional arts organization serving Oklahoma.
In addition to $50,000 in funding, grantees will receive capacity building support and cohort learning opportunities. Organizations eligible to apply include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations; fiscally sponsored artist or ensemble organizations; art-centric business entities; and state or federally recognized tribal governments. Applicant organizations must have at least three years of art programming and predominantly reach underserved communities.
Applications are due January 10. Click here to apply.
Creative Forces® Grants Open in November
Oklahoma organizations with at least three years of experience presenting or producing arts-based projects and/or programming for military communities are encouraged to learn about Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants.
A program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance, Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants provide up to $50,000 in funding in emerging and advanced tiers for qualifying projects that take place in community, healthcare, or virtual settings. A wide range of arts activities including visual, written, and performing arts activities can be supported. Nonprofit organizations and entities of state/local/tribal governments are eligible to apply.
In addition to funding, the program gives organizations opportunities to connect and learn from organizations that provide arts programming for military communities. Annual in-person convenings, one-on-one consultations, cohort workshops, and other opportunities are also included.
Applications open November 8 with a deadline in mid-January.
Small Town Revitalization the Focus of T-Mobile Hometown Grants
Small towns and rural communities across the United States can benefit from $50,000 Hometown Grantsavailable from T-Mobile. Made possible through their partnership with Main Street America, the T-Mobile grant program provides funding for community development and revitalization projects.
Since the program began, more than $14 million dollars have been invested across 47 states for projects such as town square pavilions, outdoor parks, libraries, and more. Projects focused on arts and culture have been funded previously, including a 2022 project in Guthrie and a 2023 project in Ada.
Communities with populations of less than 50,000 people are eligible. Proposals are accepted quarterly, with the next deadline approaching on December 31.
See a list of projects recently awarded Hometown Grant.
Several IMLS Grants with Deadlines in November
Several categories of grant funding that can impact arts-related programming are currently open from Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with deadlines in November. Oklahoma organizations are encouraged to learn if their programming fits the following funding criteria.
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Museums for America ($5,000 to $250,000)—supports projects by museums of all sizes in three categories: lifelong learning, community engagement, and collections stewardship and access
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Inspire! Grants for Small Museums ($5,000 to $75,000)—with no cost share requirement (up to $25,000), this supports projects of small museums in three categories: lifelong learning, institutional capacity; and collections stewardship and access
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Museum Grants for African American History and Culture ($5,000 to $500,000)—to build capacity of professionals and museums and increase access to collections at African American museums and Historically Black Colleges and Universities
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21st Century Museum Professionals Program ($100,000 to $500,000)—supports projects that offer professional development to the current museum workforce, train and recruit future museum professionals, and identify and share effective practices in museum workforce education
Applications for the above IMLS grant programs are due November 15.
Four Teaching Artists Approved for Roster
Four new Oklahoma teaching artists have been added to the Oklahoma Teaching Artist Rosterfollowing approval in October by the Governor-appointed members of the Oklahoma Arts Council. All join a vetted roster of teaching artists representing various disciplines available to lead residencies, classes, and workshops in school and community settings. New teaching artists include:
Liz Boudreux (Meridian)—a ceramic artist who has been featured in galleries nationally and is available in central Oklahoma to work with a wide range of age groups and abilities.
Demetrius Gibson (Oklahoma City)–a vocalist, arranger, and actor, Gibson's residencies immerse students in theatre and song to ignite their imagination.
Mariana Llanos (Oklahoma City)—an award-winning children's books writer and poet available statewide for creative writing programs and teacher development workshops. She can work with students and parents whose main language is Spanish.
Julie Tattershall (Tulsa)—a longtime, award-winning member of the theatre community who has directed more than 80 productions, Tattershall has a specific interest in working with older adults, offering tailored programs tailored for the demographic.
Interested in joining the Oklahoma Teaching Artist Roster? Learn how to apply.
Celebrating Staff Milestones
The staff of the Oklahoma Arts Council is the agency's most valued resource. Each member of the staff is committed to public service, cherishing the opportunity to meet needs of the sector and build a stronger Oklahoma through the arts.
Staff Anniversaries
Molly O'Connor celebrates her 18th year on staff with the Oklahoma Arts Council in November. She is currently a part of the agency's leadership team and is Director of Rural and Creative Community Outreach where her focus on behalf of the agency is on building relationships, expanding the reach of its audience-based programs, and strengthening its impact in communities across the state. Previously the agency's Cultural Arts Learning in Communties Director, Cultural Development Director, and Assistant Director, O'Connor's experience organizing the Oklahoma Arts Conference and Leadership Arts contribute significantly to her current outreach role.
Congratulations to Molly on celebrating 18 years of serving Oklahomans through the arts!