• Tweet

Conference Schedule

Tuesday, October 20

12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Registration Open

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Glassblowing Lessons at the Tulsa Glassblowing School
19 East Brady Street
Enjoy the unique experience of creating your own original work of glass art. Individuals may sign up for a lesson and make a two-color flower or paperweight.  Lessons are approximately 40 minutes and will take place between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on October 20th.  Cost is $35 per person. This opportunity is limited to a small number of participants and is available first-come, first served. To register for a lesson, call 918-582-4527. Completed art works can be picked up the following day.

1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tour of the Historic Kendall Whittier District
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to visit one of Tulsa’s most unique cultural districts.  Built in the early 1900s the Kendall Whittier District is home to several artist studios, creative businesses, and cultural events. Participants will learn how local organizations and businesses have worked together in the revitalization of this urban neighborhood. The tour will include art spaces including the Circle Cinema, Zeigler Art & Frame, and the Tulsa Girls Art School. Please note: this is a walking-tour and transportation to this destination is not provided. Cost to attend this tour is $10 per person, and the tour is limited to a small number of participants. Those registered for this tour will receive an email with parking information and directions. Refunds for cancellation of this tour will not be provided.

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Brady Arts District Stroll
Visit various art spaces in the Brady Arts District and join peers for dinner.

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation Community Conversation
Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 East Brady Street.
Community Conversations began in 2013 to encourage continuation of conversations begun at the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation’s annual Dinner of Reconciliation.  From the beginning, the Community Conversations have attracted participants who mirror the wonderful multi-generational, multi-racial dinner guests. The monthly Conversations typically begin with open-ended questions to encourage discussion of current events or perennial challenges to racial reconciliation. The conversations are free-flowing, respectful of differences, and focused on ideas, not individuals.

The Center is pleased to invite Oklahoma Arts Council participants to a special Community Conversation at 6:30 PM, October 20 at Living Arts in the Greenwood District.  The conversation plans reflect issues of ongoing interest to the arts community: cultural appropriation, cultural appreciation, and the transformative potential of the arts. Join us, share your ideas, add your voice to the community conversation – change the community.

8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Blues Jam Session at the Depot
Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame
5 South Boston Ave.
Free live blues at the Jazz Depot. Stop by to play or listen!

Wednesday, October 21

7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Open
Hyatt Regency Tulsa
100 E. 2nd Street

8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Good Morning, Tulsa!
Kick-start the 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference by gathering and networking with your fellow Oklahoma arts leaders. Led by your Tulsa conference hosts Deborah Burke and Ken Busby, this lively morning program will help you learn how to make the most of your conference experience.

9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Keeping Boards Happy, Focused, Productive, and Strong!
Presenter: Diane Mataraza
In this session, we will explore the continuous challenges and solutions for recruiting, building, and maintaining the ideal board. Nuts and bolts of cultivation, recruitment, and orientation will be shared. We will share strategies to help you keep your board informed and engaged in what matters most. What worked brilliantly five years ago does not necessarily work well today. Good, busy people have less and less time, and there are fewer people able and willing to volunteer.  This session will help you codify your 21st century board and its most important responsibilities, needed skills and experience, division of labor and accountability, and more.

9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Placekeeping: How to Preserve the Culture in District Development
Panelists: Mike Blockstein, Reanne Estrada, Matt Moffett, Michael Eric Owens, and Dr. Jocelyn Payne
Cultural districts are designed to promote a community’s cultural assets and attract cultural consumers. In creating or developing cultural districts, policy makers may or may not actively attempt to preserve the current cultural assets. Panelists will discuss ways to avoid gentrification, prevent displacement of citizens and artists, and preserve the history and culture of the community, all while creating a vibrant area for arts and culture.

9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Cover Your A’s: Emergency Preparedness for Artists
Presenters: Angel Brame and Craig Nutt
Artists need to take risks with their work, not with their careers. CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artist’s Emergency Resources) has developed a defensive strategy and resources to help artists protect their A’s (Art, Assets, and Archives) and to respond effectively to emergencies, large and small. Ceramist, Angel Brame, will talk about what she learned as a survivor of the Joplin, Missouri tornado. Craig Nutt, Director of Programs of CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artists’ Emergency Resources) will provide an overview of resources available for protecting your career from the unexpected.

9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The Power of Place and Perspective: Telling the Authentic Story
Panelists: Molly Bullock, Nathan Gunter, Michael Mason and Shaun Perkins
For arts and cultural organizations, effective storytelling can build awareness about your programs and foster pride in local culture and history. In a world of increasingly competitive marketing tactics, learn how storytelling can inspire and attract new audiences, generate cultural tourism, and redefine the cultural landscape. In this session, panelists will provide information on what makes authentic story and discuss marketing tactics that can ensure that your story stands out among others.

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
General Session Luncheon
Special Guest Speakers:
Dr. Jane Chu, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
Dr. William Adams, Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities
Moderators:
Amber Sharples, Executive Director, Oklahoma Arts Council
Ann Thompson, Executive Director, Oklahoma Humanities Council
An unprecedented opportunity for Oklahoma’s arts and cultural industry, we are pleased to present a moderated conversation with the directors of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). With their agencies celebrating 50 years of service, Chairman Jane Chu (NEA) and Chairman William Adams (NEH) will discuss the histories and roles of the endowments in fostering arts and humanities across the United States. The conversation will explore ways in which NEA and NEH initiatives intersect and complement the missions of state and local arts and humanities entities, and it will detail the original visions behind the creation of the agencies, exploring their past achievements and examining their goals for the next 50 years. Please note: conference registration includes admission to this special event. A limited number of tickets for this luncheon are available for purchase for $45 per person, which can be purchased by completing the conference registration form.

1:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Tour of the Greenwood Cultural District
Also known as “Black Wall Street,” the Greenwood business district and neighborhood flourished during the early 1900s with prominent businesses and a thriving jazz and blues scene. After the devastating events of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, when a majority of homes and businesses were destroyed, the African-American community prevailed and rebuilt the district within five years.  Participants will learn about the history of Greenwood and how the arts have been a catalyst for community development and healing. The tour will include visits to the Greenwood Cultural Center, the Mabel B. Little Heritage House, and the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.  Please note: Bus transportation to and from the Hyatt Regency Tulsa will be provided. Cost to attend this tour is $10 per person, and the tour is limited to a small number of participants. Those registered for this tour will receive an email with logistical information. Refunds for cancellation of this tour will not be provided.

1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
STEM^Arts
Panelists: Linda Allegro, David Carter, Emily Mortimer, Subha Sridharan, Susan Teeters, and Paige Tooman
Moderated by Xan Black
This engaging session looks at the many opportunities our community has to inspire students by linking the engineering and design processes in hands-on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) activities. This session will focus on projects and tactics used by area artists and scientists to empower students to grow in their ability to think creatively and critically.  The growing trend of STEM^Arts education is about creating an environment that fosters cross-disciplinary problem solving. Arts managers, educators, artists and community leaders will learn how they can expand their reach to incorporate STEM^Arts into their existing educational programs. 

1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
What Works?
Presenters: Mandy Messina and Barron Ryan
How do some artists make the leap to sustainable and profitable artistic practices? Through their work with over 300 artists of various disciplines (literary, performing and visual arts), staff of the groundbreaking Artist INC program have identified the common behaviors of successful artist entrepreneurs. In this workshop we will share those behaviors and leave you ready to apply them to your own art practice. The workshop includes discussion of portfolio careers; goal setting and planning; communications strategy; and financial planning.
Artist INC is a collaborative partnership of ArtsKC Regional Arts Council, Charlotte Street Foundation, Mid-America Arts Alliance, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center.  Artist INC Live is supported by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition and foundations, corporations, and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Enlisting the Arts and Humanities to Serve Those Who Serve
Panelists: Dr. William Adams, Jason Poudrier, Amber Sharples, Dan Schiedel and Ann Thompson
With large numbers of military service members returning home with physical and psychological trauma, our communities and organizations have the opportunity and responsibility to expand our reach in new ways.  Across the nation, arts and cultural programs are playing a transformative role in the health and well-being of military service members, veterans, their families and caregivers. Learn about special Oklahoma initiatives such as the Oklahoma Humanities Council’s “Native Oklahoma Native Vietnam Veterans” film project and the Arts in the Military Experience Symposium. Local and national resources for arts and humanities military initiatives will also be shared.

1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Weathering the Storm: Emergency Preparedness for Arts and Cultural Organizations
Presenters: Karen Whitecotton and Craig Nutt
Arts and cultural organizations can be extremely vulnerable to emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. Having a solid emergency plan in place can help your organization prevail despite unforeseen circumstances and devastation. Craig Nutt of CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artists’ Emergency Resources) will give an overview of the arts preparedness and emergency response movement in the U.S. and emergency resources that are now available to help artists and arts organizations become more proactive in protecting assets and resources. Karen Whitecotton, of Heritage Museum Services, will discuss preparedness and recovery resources that are available to help cultural institutions protect and stabilize their collections after disasters. Discussion will also include how the arts and culture have been a catalyst for the rebuilding of communities after disasters.

2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Conference attendees will walk together or drive to the Brady Arts District. The last breakout sessions will take place in various art spaces.  Transportation will be available for those who need assistance.

3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The Innovation Station Idea Exchange
Moderated by Lane McDaniel
The Innovation Station Idea Exchange provides a lively forum where artists, arts and community leaders, and others can present brief, two-minute descriptions of new works in process, ideas for new projects, or artistic community-based collaborations. The Idea Exchange can be used as a "show and tell" for the innovative things happening in your community or studio, or can be an opportunity to talk about arts programs you have seen outside Oklahoma that you think should happen here. This session is an excellent opportunity for networking and developing new collaborations. Participants will have the option to sign up before the session to present their ideas - feel free to get creative with your presentation.

3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
In Pursuit of Relevance
Presenter: Diane Mataraza
This session will explore pragmatic, realistic approaches that will build relevance in your community.  We will discuss the integrity of your organization’s mission and the necessity (and challenges) of constantly evolving how you interpret your mission in ways that remain relevant to your community. This session will explore: how communities are evolving, how appetites for culture and creativity are expanding, how people are communicating and connecting, and what we must strive to do in order to remain relevant.

3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Lasting Impressions: Tulsa’s Temporary Art Initiatives
Panelists: Linda Frazier, Holbrook Lawson, Joan Seay, Robert Sober
Temporary public art initiatives help generate city revitalization and economic impact by activating pedestrian space, encouraging a lively urban core, and contributing to the adaptive reuse of empty office buildings. Because temporary installations generally cost less and do not require long-term commitments or a lengthy approval process, the projects tend to be more provocative and encourage public dialogue and street activity. This session will highlight the work of Tulsa’s Urban Art Core Project. For artists and community leaders who would like to develop community-based temporary public art projects, this session will provide good information on how to get started.

3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Legislative Advocacy: Who, What, Where, When
Presenter: Jerrod Shouse
Moderated by Julia Kirt
Do you care about the arts in your life? Do you want to make sure that cultural opportunities are available to anyone in our state regardless of income level or physical ability? This session will feature a brief overview of public support for the arts and how personal and collective action can affect cultural policy development and legislation in all levels of government. Attendees will also develop capacities to advocate for cultural policy development.

3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
From First Draft to Dress Rehearsal: Writing, Producing, and Touring Original Theatre
Panelists: Vanessa Adams-Harris, John Cruncleton, Morris McCorvey, George Romero, and Okcate Smith
Moderated by Shirley Elliott
In creating original theatre works, there are several steps required to ensure that your script can easily transform into an engaging and logistically sound stage performance. With a solid marketing plan and a grasp of the theatre market, your work can also reach new audiences outside your own community. Panelists will discuss how they have edited, polished, produced, marketed, and toured original performances.

3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Poetic Tulsa
Presenters: Anthony Brinkley, Claire Collins Deborah Hunter
Tulsa has a rich history as a hub for poets. From writing and publishing to spoken word performance, the rhythm and pattern of the poem are woven into the community fabric. Local poets will share some of their work and their personal motivation for writing and performing poetry. Tulsa-based outreach and educational poetry programs such as Louder Than A Bomb Oklahoma will also be discussed.

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Opening Reception at the Philbrook Museum of Art
2727 South Rockford Road.
Join your Tulsa community hosts and fellow conference attendees for an evening of good company, hors d’oeuvres, and live music. Conference guests will have the opportunity to explore the world-class Philbrook Museum of Art to view permanent collections and special exhibitions including: In Living Color: Andy Warhol and Contemporary Printmaking from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation and Modern Times: British Prints from the 1920s and ‘30s . Located just five miles south of downtown Tulsa, the Philbrook Museum of Art’s permanent collection encompasses European, American, Native American, Modern and Contemporary Art Design, African, Asian, and Antiquities. The historic home built in Italian Renaissance Revival style and the legendary gardens make a visit to the Philbrook a memorable experience. Bus transportation will be available to and from the Philbrook Art Museum, the Brady Arts District, and the Hyatt Regency Hotel until 8:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m. Dinner on your own in Tulsa
(See the restaurant guide for a list of locally-owned and arts-supportive establishments.)

8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.
Café Kzany
Living Arts of Tulsa
307 E. Brady

Thursday, October 22

7:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Registration Open
Hyatt Regency Tulsa

8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Arts Resource Exchange: BYOB (Bring Your Own Book)
This interactive session is an informal “show and tell” in which arts leaders can share their favorite book or online resource with other conference members. Each person will have 60 seconds to introduce their book, discuss why they recommend it and explain how they have incorporated it into their work. Recommendations for topics include best practice for arts education, fundraising strategies, cultural development, innovative leadership practice, or anything arts-related. Notes will be taken and the entire list of resources will be available to participants after the conference.

8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Executive Director Roundtable
Presenter: Wendy Thomas
Executive directors from Oklahoma’s arts organizations convene with one another in a roundtable forum. Time will be allotted for introductions and discussion of issues that we all face such as daily organizational challenges, working with a board, and developing sustainable community support. 

9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Primary Partners and Strategic Networks
Presenter: Diane Mataraza
Smart community connectivity is vital to an organization’s success, yet the numbers of partners and networks are not nearly as important as their value and yield. This session will help you think more strategically about the time and energy required to participate in and manage partnerships and networks. Learn successful methods to ensure everyone in your organization (board, staff, and volunteers) is on the same page by focusing on what is most important and giving everyone permission to say “no” to projects and relationships that take more than they give. Participants will leave this session with tailored criteria and guidelines that will help assess and refresh relationships.

9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Mid-America Arts Alliance—More Art for More People
Presenter: Mary Kennedy
Join CEO Mary Kennedy for conversation about Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) and its many programs for artists and arts organizations in Oklahoma, in the region, and beyond. Learn more about M-AAA’s grant making resources, including Artistic Innovations, Regional Touring Program, and Professional Development stipends; its celebrated professional development programs, Artist INC and ENGAGE; and its traveling arts and humanities exhibitions, ExhibitsUSA and NEH on the Road. Kennedy will also touch upon new areas of potential programming.

9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Public Matters: Creative Strategies for Civic Engagement
Presenters: Mike Blockstein and Reanne Estrada from Public Matters, LLC
Led by visual artists Mike Blockstein and Reanne Estrada, Public Matters is a Los Angeles social enterprise that works on long-term neighborhood-based projects blending socially-engaged art, education, civic engagement, and leadership development. In this session, Blockstein and Estrada will discuss the evolution of Public Matters, and the decision to make Public Matters a social enterprise rather than a nonprofit. They will highlight how Public Matters brings together disciplines, institutions, and generations through artistic practice, and they will explore the roles that artists can play in civic life as creative community problem solvers.

9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Lifelong Learning in the Arts: A Primer for Teaching Artists
Presenters: Greg Finch and DWe Williams
When older adults are engaged in the arts, they experience better overall health, enjoy a higher quality of life, and are more active in their communities. Designed for teaching artists, this interactive session provides a wealth of resources and training on how to integrate creative aging into one’s practice, touching on the benefits of intergenerational arts experiences. Participants will leave this session with a basic plan that can be implemented in a variety of community settings.

11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
General Session Luncheon
Leadership Arts Class of 2015 Graduation

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Economic Impact: How the Numbers Add Up for the Arts
Panelists: Thomas A. Anderson, Dr. Kay Decker, Kelsey Karper, and John Robertson
Moderated by Julia Kirt
This session will examine how to employ an economic case for the value of your arts and cultural work. The goals for the session are to introduce (or reintroduce) the idea and reasoning behind studying the economic impact of the arts, grow understanding of how the arts fit into the broader economy of communities and compare to other sectors, and encourage arts leaders to track and share economic impact data on their organization and programs.

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Poetic Justice: Liberatory Pedagogy
Presenters: Ruth Askew Brelsford, Claire Collins, and Ellen Stackable
“You can’t write poems about the trees when the woods are full of policemen" Bertolt Brecht
Did you know that Oklahoma incarcerates more women than anywhere in the world? Oklahoma ranks fourth in the nation for the incarceration of men in America. According to The Prison Arts Resource Project (PARP) conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, there is proven evidence of restorative and rehabilitative power in the arts. Learn how the arts can help combat illiteracy, alienation and silence within the criminal justice system. This interactive session will provide tools and practices for developing and implementing a plan for outreach as well as ways to elevate the literacy and critical analysis of marginalized groups.

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Broadening the Spectrum: Inclusivity and Evolution
Panelists: Jessimi Jones, Tricia Milford-Hoyt, Diane Shen, and Rand Suffolk
In order to thrive in an increasingly complex and competitive ecosystem of options (cultural and other), organizations must embrace a mission-driven imperative to make inclusivity an essential component of their makeup. Using Philbrook as a case study, the panel will discuss the museum’s own journey in broadening the spectrum of public participation.

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Catharsis, Transformation, and Reconciliation: Artist-driven Activism
Panelists: Rodney Clark, Marianne Evans-Lombe, Nathan Lee, Ryan Red Corn and Beverly Wissen
Moderated by Steve Liggett
Throughout history, artist-led movements have been powerful catalysts in raising awareness about social injustice and helping people envision and work towards a better world. With imagination and creativity, Oklahoma artists are creating new opportunities for community dialogue, engagement, and transformation. Panelists will share how they have interwoven their personal perspectives, artistic practices, and philosophies into works that have generated community dialogue and activism.

2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Imagining the 21st Century Version of Your Organization: A Look at Engines and Underbellies
Presenter: Diane Mataraza
With our world moving at warp speed, our organizations are continually challenged to keep pace. Too often, we add more to our plates without equal consideration of what we might divest, leading to stress, burnout and frustration. In this session, we will share strategies, and tools to help you imagine the ideal 21st century infrastructure for your organization. Learn how to transform your organization to be nimble, swift, lean, high-functioning, and effective.

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hidden Hi Fi: From Neighborhood Narratives to Cultural Economic Development
Presenters: Mike Blockstein and Reanne Estrada from Public Matters, LLC
Public Matters began working in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown (Hi Fi) in 2008, collaborating with community and university partners on a youth media and leadership development project called PDUB Productions. Now, with Hi Fi on the cusp of gentrification, Public Matters is developing a cultural and economic strategy that utilizes PDUB Productions to train and employ local young adults and community wealth generation. This session will explore the role of “neighborhood narrative” as a form of community building and self-efficacy, and it will offer insight into the unique strategies employed by Public Matters to promote the productions created through the project.  

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Creative Aging: Developing Programs for Flourishing Across the Lifespan
Presenters: Kathleen Curran, Greg Finch, LaShondia Horn, and Sheri Ishmael-Waldrop
Older populations continue to grow in numbers, but the landscape of aging has shifted dramatically in recent years. This session will highlight best practices for arts organizations and community leaders seeking to expand the reach of their programs and services to audiences of all ages. Learn how to assess the current impact of your organization, identify resources and service providers, create meaningful programs, and develop new audiences, support and partnerships.

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
So the Story Goes…
Presenters: Michelle Bias and Branda Piersall
The well-told real life tale is a powerful key for broadening community knowledge and creating cultural change. An open-mic storytelling event, such as a storyslam, is relatively easy to organize and can foster opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. Founders of the OK, So Tulsa Storyslam will share the story of how they started a storyslam in Tulsa and provide tips on how you can organize a storytelling event in your own community.

Questions?
For more information email us at conference@arts.ok.gov.