Oklahoma Arts Council News
April 2026
Historic Gift of Works by Acclaimed Oklahoma Artists Added to State Art Collection
The most significant collection of artworks ever donated to the Oklahoma State Art Collection was approved and accessioned by the Governor-appointed Oklahoma Arts Council during its March 11 meeting. Gifted by America Meredith and Samonia Byford, The Howard L. and Mary Ellen Meredith Collection include more than 10 artworks created by some of the most influential and highly recognized Native artists connected to the state.
Artists whose works were gifted include:
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Benjamin Harjo, Jr. (Absentee Shawnee/Seminole)
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Norma Howard (Choctaw Nation/Chickasaw/Mississippi Choctaw)
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Vanessa Jennings (Kiowa/Plains Apache/Pima)
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Ruthe Blalock Jones (Shawnee Tribe/Delaware/Peoria)
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Shan Goshorn (Eastern Band Cherokee)
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Doc Tate Nevaquaya (Comanche)
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Jane Osti (Cherokee Nation)
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Juanita Pahdopony (Comanche)
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Jeri Redcorn (Caddo Nation/Potawatomi)
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Dick West (Southern Cheyenne)
The Oklahoma State Art Collection is a visual anthology of the history of artistic expression in Oklahoma, comprised of works by our state's most notable artists. Rotating exhibitions of the collection are displayed in the Betty Price Gallery at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Exhibition Opening and Reception on May 13
A special ceremony and reception to celebrate this historic gift to the people of Oklahoma will be hosted by the Oklahoma Arts Council on Wednesday, May 13 at 4:00 p.m., on the second floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol. The public is invited to see the newly added work and celebrate this historic gift!
Also included in the exhibition are new acquisitions of artworks created by Robert Bonaparte and John Newsom.
Download 'Walls that Work: A Practical Guide to Commissioning Murals'
As the leader for the arts in the state, the Oklahoma Arts Council is pleased to introduce a new guide developed through the agency's Art in Public Places program, designed to help communities, organizations, and property owners interested in commissioning murals.
"Walls that Work: A Practical Guide to Commissioning Murals" outlines best practices for planning, funding, selecting artists, installing murals, and ensuring their long-term care. From defining the vision and purpose of the mural to procuring artists, selecting the best wall, funding the project, and more, the guide can be a valuable resource for murals regardless of scale.
Murals are one of the most visible and accessible forms of public art. Installed in shared spaces, they allow communities to experience art in their everyday environments, and they contribute to the character of a place. With new murals increasingly being produced across the state in communities of all sizes—many are planned as part of the 2026 centennial celebration of Route 66—the new guide can provide an essential road map for successful artworks that serve the interests of all project stakeholders.
Speakers Added to 2026 Oklahoma Arts and Health Summit Lineup
Due to an overwhelming response for the upcoming 2026 Oklahoma Arts and Health Summit, the event is now at capacity. Those wishing to register for the summit can join a waitlist for the chance to attend.
Offered at no cost, the one-day summit will explore key issues at the growing intersection of arts and health. With growing needs among Oklahomans in the areas of wellness, mental health, aging, and more, the arts are seeing increasing attention for their many related benefits.
Several featured speakers have been confirmed for the summit, with more to be announced soon. Click below to learn about three internationally-recognized experts in the field confirmed to lead sessions:
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Dr. Tasha Golden, behavioral scientist and internationally recognized expert on creativity, health, and innovation
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Dr. Jenny Baxley Lee, board-certified dance/movement therapist and master lecturer with the University of Florida's Center for Arts in Medicine
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Dr. Concetta Tomaino, co-founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Music and Neurological Function
2026 Oklahoma Arts and Health Summit
May 21, 2026
8:00 a.m.: Coffee and Networking
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Sessions
Nicholson Tower
OU Health
Oklahoma City
Join the waitlist here (no cost)
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).
May 1 Deadline Approaching for Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants
Friday, May 1, is the deadline to apply for Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants for programs taking place in fiscal year 2027. The program is open to nonprofit organizations; city, county, and tribal governments; colleges and universities; and, branches of public libraries. Funding can support costs associated with learning-based and audience-based arts programs serving military-connected Oklahomans. Programs can range from classes and workshops to performances, exhibitions, professional development, and more.
Active-duty personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans, and immediate family members and caregivers can be served through programming supported by the grants. Funding of up to $5,000 is available, with a 1:1 match required.
The program recently moved to a single annual May 1 deadline. Projects can be new or ongoing, and they must take place between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.
Oklahoma Arts Council to Present on Public Art at National Conference
The National Main Street Conference is coming to Tulsa in April, and Oklahoma public art will be in the spotlight as several sessions will highlight its role in advancing preservation-based economic opportunity in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Hundreds of local leaders from across the country will be on hand for the convening. Among the featured presenters will be Oklahoma Arts Council Visual and Public Art Director Jarica Walsh, who will lead two sessions on public art.
Walsh's sessions include:
"Public Art: Beyond the Mural," a session that will explore how communities can commission impactful works that go beyond the painted wall to include sculptural, lighting, and mixed media.
"Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail," a mobile workshop, will give attendees a tour of the trail's six art installations along underpasses of Interstate 244 that commemorate the history of the Greenwood District and North Tulsa. Dedicated in 2025, the trail was a project of the Oklahoma Arts Council's Art in Public Places program in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Click here for more information about the conference.
2026 Blue Star Museums Program: Register Your Museum!
From Armed Forces Day in May to Labor Day in September, museums nationwide are making it possible for military families to enjoy admission at no cost through the Blue Star Museums program. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Blue Star Families, and the U.S. Department of War, the program serves active-duty military personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families.
Nationwide, more than 2,000 museums participate in the Blue Star Museums program each summer. Oklahoma museums can register to participate at arts.gov.
The 2026 Blue Star Museum program runs May 16 through September 7.
Applications Now Open for Heartland Craft Guilds: Capacity Support Grants
Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) has opened a new grant program offering unrestricted funding for nonprofit craft guilds and other organizations that practice, preserve, and sustain craft traditions and hands-on making.
Heartland Craft Guilds: Capacity Support Grants will provide funding of $12,000 to eligible organizations in Oklahoma and M-AAA's six-state region. Grantees will also receive peer learning opportunities, coaching, workshops, and more. Deadline for submissions is May 15.
Museums Can Register to Celebrate America250 with Free Admission Day
As part of America's 250th birthday celebration year in 2026, the Oklahoma Museums Association, in partnership with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, has announced Free Day at the Museum on Flag Day, June 14. Modeled after the Smithsonian Magazine Free Museum Day, this special one-time, one-day event is designed to increase access, introduce new audiences, and highlight the vital role of museums in communities—while paying tribute to our nation's semiquincentennial. Visitors must register in advance, and museums must apply in advance to join the list of participating establishments. Tickets are first-come, first-served until all tickets have been claimed. Museums that charge admission can receive reimbursement through the program.
Sarah Wheatley of Bethany High School Wins State Poetry Out Loud, Advances to Finals in D.C.
Bethany High School junior Sarah Wheatley will represent Oklahoma at the national Poetry Out Loud finals after winning the state competition in March. Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples was on hand at the event in Edmond to speak and help present awards.
Organized by Oklahoma A+ Schools at the University of Central Oklahoma, in partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council, the competition included winners from 23 schools across the state. Winners and their schools receive cash prizes, and each state winner receives an expenses-paid trip to the national competition. As Oklahoma's 2025-2026 champion, Wheatley will travel to Washington, D.C., to take part in the national finals, April 28-29.
Since 2006, thousands of high school students nationwide have participated in Poetry Out Loud, a recitation competition designed to strengthen public speaking skills, build confidence, and educate students about literary history. With America's 250th anniversary in 2026, this year's program featured poems that celebrate American history and culture. The program is made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
RELATED: Organizations can apply to lead the 2026-2027 Oklahoma Poetry Out Loud program. Applications are due May 1.
Register for Oklahomans for the Arts' 2026 Arts Day at Capitol
Registration is open for this month's Oklahoma Arts Day at the state Capitol. Presented by Oklahomans for the Arts (OFTA), the 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 for the event. Organizations can reserve tabling space. Stay tuned for details about the day's schedule as OFTA announces those soon.
Arts Day at the Capitol
Presented by Oklahomans for the Arts
April 30, 2026
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Register here
Apply for Hart Family Fund for Small Towns
Seed money for preservation projects in towns with populations of 10,000 or less is available through the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns. Grants ranging up to $15,000 are awarded to support planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Examples of eligible activities include contracting with architects, preservation planners, real estate development consultants and others. Community forums to develop a shared vision for historic neighborhoods may also be supported.
Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Applications are facilitated through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Deadline for submissions is May 1.