Oklahoma Arts Council News

Alva to Host Town Hall Meeting for the Arts

Oklahoma City - The Oklahoma Arts Council and Freedom West Community Development Corporation are partnering to present a Town Hall Meeting for the Arts on Wednesday, December 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Graceful Arts Center. The center is located at 523 Barnes Street in downtown Alva. The meeting will provide an overview of Council grants and programs available for organizations, schools, artists and local governments.

Click here for full details about the meeting...

Federal Grants to Benefit Oklahoma Arts and Cultural Industry

Oklahoma City - The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded grants totaling $68,500 to four Oklahoma arts and cultural organizations. The grants were awarded in their Art Works grant category.

Grants were awarded to East Central University in Ada for a Native American art and history program; Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition for its emerging artist program, Momentum; Tulsa Ballet to support its presentation of A Ballets Russes Evening; and, Tulsa Opera to support its presentation of Dead Man Walking.

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Ada to Host Town Hall Meeting for the Arts

Oklahoma City - The Oklahoma Arts Council and the Arts District of Ada are partnering to present a Town Hall Meeting for the Arts on Wednesday, November 30 at East Central University. The meeting will take place in the ECU Regents Room from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will provide an overview of Council grants and programs available for organizations, schools, artists and local governments.

Click here for details about the Town Hall Meeting.

Apply Now for 2012 Leadership Arts Program

Each year the Leadership Arts program brings together 30 individuals from around the state with the goal of creating a network of community arts leaders and advocates. During four monthly sessions in the spring, Leadership Arts class members take an in-depth look at how the arts play an important role in the economy, education, and quality of life in our communities.

Through the first four years of Leadership Arts, 120 individuals from Oklahoma communities of all sizes have graduated from the program - including mayors, city planners, artists, community volunteers, business leaders, staff and board members from arts organizations, and others.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2012 Leadership Arts class. Consider being a part of this important network of Oklahoma arts leaders! Deadline for applying is December 15, 2011.

Click here to learn more about the Leadership Arts program.

Click here to apply.

Governor's Arts Awards to Honor 18 Recipients

Thirteen individuals and five organizations will be honored for their contributions to the arts in Oklahoma during the upcoming 2011 Governor's Arts Awards. The awards will be presented by Governor Mary Fallin during a ceremony at the State Capitol on Tuesday, November 15.

Among the recipients are Howard and Billie Barnett of Tulsa and Peggy Wisdom of Alva who will be honored with the Governor's Award for longtime leadership and significant contributions to the arts in Oklahoma. Retiring Oklahoma Arts Council executive director, Suzanne Tate will be honored with the Liddy Doenges Leadership in the Arts Award for her 20 years of service to the arts in Oklahoma.

The Governor's Arts Awards ceremony is free and open to the public. The event will take place on the fourth floor in the Capitol rotunda at 4 p.m., and will include a reception on the first floor following the program. Come join us as we honor the individuals and organizations whose work is enriching our communities and our state!

See the complete list of 2011 Governor's Arts Awards winners.

Billie and Howard Barnett (left) and Peggy Wisdom (right)

Tips for Improving Grant Applications:
Major Grant Drafts Accepted through December 1

by Meleia Williamson, Grants Director

Writing a grant for your arts program may seem like a daunting task, but I have encouraging news. From organizations that have been making requests for years to first-time applicants, the Oklahoma Arts Council is here to provide aid in your grant application process.

Did you know that we are able to offer a ‘fresh set of eyes’ for applicants who provide us with a rough draft weeks prior to their deadline? We will review your draft and offer suggestions on how to improve the application prior to your submission. This is a wonderful opportunity for organizations to advance their grant application efforts.

For those organizations in the Major Grant Support category, we are accepting drafts of your grant applications through December 1. By submitting a draft to us we can help you avoid some common flaws often seen in applications, and we can offer tips to correct them.

Click here to learn about two flaws to avoid with your grant application.

NEA Taking Applications for 'The Big Read'

Apply by February 1, 2012 to be considered for the National Endowment for the Arts' program, The Big Read. The program is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture. Grants for the program range from $2,500 to $20,000. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, divisons of state, local, or tribal governments, or tax-exempt public libraries.

For full details about The Big Read click here.

Oklahoma Arts Conference Sees Continued Growth

With almost 30 percent more registrants than in 2010, the 2011 Oklahoma Arts Conference demonstrates a growing need for development and networking opportunities in the state arts and cultural industry. We at the Oklahoma Arts Council extend our appreciation to everybody who attended and helped organize the event. Each year the conference is our banner service to our constituents, one to which our staff invests a great deal of time and energy because it is our passion to strengthen your community, education, and organization.

We thank all those we serve who help make this state truly great! And we look forward to seeing you at next year's conference in Oklahoma City!

Give us your feedback about the conference! Click here and take a brief survey - help us tailor the conference to your needs!

Welcome Kim Baker as Our New Executive Director

After spending the past four years as deputy director and 18 total years with the Oklahoma Arts Council, Kim Baker is our new executive director. In her role as deputy director, Baker led the Council's efforts to create the online e-Grant system and worked closely with former executive director, Suzanne Tate to transition the agency to a more service-oriented one. Baker has also been instrumental in helping the Council weather three years of budget cuts totaling 21 percent of the agency's appropriation.

Please help us welcome Kim Baker as she continues to lead the Oklahoma Arts Council and the state's arts and cultural industry forward!