Arts Council at 40

This year, the Oklahoma Arts Council marks its 40th anniversary of service to the citizens of our state. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, legislation declaring that “the arts and the humanities belong to all the people of the United States.” Federal arts funding became available to states that created state arts agencies and provided state funding to match the federal dollars.

Jim Tolbert, chair of the Oklahoma Arts Council, explained that this legislation was the culmination of a movement calling for the federal government to invest in culture, just as it had with science. “Funding for the arts has created a unique partnership between federal, state and private entities to ensure that all Oklahomans may participate in and be enriched by quality arts experiences,” said Tolbert.

“For 40 years, the Oklahoma Arts Council has supported Oklahoma’s vibrant non-profit arts industry,” said Betty Price, executive director of the Council since 1983. “Created by the Oklahoma Legislature to encourage and stimulate all forms of artistic endeavors, the Oklahoma Arts Council is responsible for increasing the access Oklahomans have to the arts and represents the institutional infrastructure that is now a part of the cultural fabric of the state.”

A look back

In l964, Governor Henry Bellmon appointed an advisory panel -- the Governor’s Council for Cultural Development -- to advise government on how to complete the interior design of the capitol and to increase the awareness of Oklahomans about their cultural past. Gov. Bellmon asked Oklahoma City arts leader Dannie Bea Hightower to be the chairman of the Council.

In 1965, Gov. Bellmon signed the bill into law that created the Oklahoma Arts and Humanities Council and appointed a fifteen-member council, which required confirmation by the State Senate. Prior to that time, public funding for arts in Oklahoma was virtually non-existent.

Mrs. Hightower credits Gov. Bellmon with lighting the first flame after he gave $10,000 out of the Governor’s Discretionary Fund and Curt Schwartz, the agency’s first director, for his exceptional leadership. “It was with great joy that we were able to offer seed money to smaller programs in the state and watch them grow and see their dreams come true,” said Hightower.

By 1967, funding for touring performances to eight Oklahoma towns, visual arts and technical assistance programs began with almost $36,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts and $11,500 appropriated from the Oklahoma State Legislature.

The next decade marked the growth of the arts in Oklahoma as prominent citizens became active supporters of the agency and its programs to promote the appreciation of the arts in all sections of the state. They began to think about quality art that should hang in the Capitol.

The State Art Collection was established in 1971 to provide an opportunity for Oklahoma artists to be recognized in a quality collection. Under the leadership of Jerome Westheimer and dedicated committee members, the State Art Collection grew with additions of works by artists born in or practicing their art as citizens of Oklahoma.

In 1975, after years of limited Arts Endowment funding for grants, the Oklahoma Legislature passed legislation specifically to fund Community Arts Programs and Artists-in-Residence. During this period, Oklahoma became one of the first states to implement the Governor’s Arts Awards.

In the 80s, Oklahoma suffered economic downturns along with the rest of the country. The Oklahoma Arts Council dealt with the challenges of operating within the constraints of a reduced budget. Even so, in FY ’85, almost four million people attended arts events with $6 million generated in tax revenue by nonprofit arts organizations according to an Oklahoma State University economic impact study.

The 90s saw the passage of landmark Education Reform legislation (HB 1017) that added arts to the core curriculum. This legislation mandated visual art and music instruction, kindergarten through twelfth grade in all schools across the state.

During this same time, the North Gallery was added at the State Capitol joining the Governor’s Gallery and East Gallery. All three galleries are managed by the Oklahoma Arts Council and feature changing art and photography by artists with Oklahoma connections. The Oklahoma Arts Council, working with the Capitol Preservation Commission, added incredible art treasures to the Rotunda and public spaces of the Capitol. During this decade, the story of Oklahoma was told through the talent of master artists, exquisite paintings and bronzes added at the Capitol that gained the ambience of a great museum.

With the advent of the Internet and personal computers, access to information was becoming accessible to all Oklahomans. In the 1994 the Oklahoma Arts Council was selected as one of the first five agencies to have a web site hosted by the state. In 2002, the Oklahoma Arts Council became the first state agency in Oklahoma to introduce interactive online state grant applications. Non-profit organizations could apply for arts grants online and keep track of their status.

In 2004, the Art in Public Places Act, a law supporting public art, was passed receiving broad, bipartisan legislative support. The new law incorporates artwork in, on, or near new state buildings or those with major renovation projects. In addition to offering opportunities for artists, it also provides a vehicle for Oklahoma communities to express their identity, spirit and pride and makes works of art accessible to everyone.

Since the Oklahoma Arts Council was created, thousands of matching grants to cultural organizations, schools and local governments have been funded through appropriations received from the State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. These grants increase resources available to over 1000 organizations producing community arts and arts education programs throughout Oklahoma.

While the agency’s budget represents less than 1/10 of 1% of the total budget of the State of Oklahoma, the Council’s grants have a powerful multiplying effect, with each grant dollar typically generating a $8 match to every $1 granted.

A look back 40 years ago, larger metropolitan communities or others states were the only places Oklahomans could go to enjoy and participate in the arts. Because of the Council’s support, opportunities for all Oklahomans to create, perform or attend arts activities are thriving across the state. These opportunities in turn produce thriving cities and interesting towns and make communities better places to live.

The Council raises public awareness about the value of the arts and its impact on the economic, educational, and cultural life of Oklahoma. The arts produce jobs and attract out-of-state tourists and directly improve Oklahoma’s economy. Economists and historians have shown that the development of a thriving arts environment is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality.

Before and After

Since 1965, the Oklahoma Arts Council has played a pivotal role in fostering the arts across the state. From summer arts programs in Woodward and Chickasha, to visual arts exhibitions such as Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum’s exhibit by Thomas Moran or the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Chihuly exhibit, the Oklahoma Arts Council was involved. Whether Oklahomans enjoy OK Mozart in Bartlesville or the Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah, the Oklahoma Arts Council assisted. From the International Bluegrass festival in Guthrie to the Mexican Folkloric Dance Conference in Guymon, the Oklahoma Arts Council played a part. Think of artist residencies in countless rural schools and teacher training programs like the one at Harwelden in Tulsa and the Oklahoma Arts Council paved the way. Whether it was youth in alternative education classes experiencing art for the first time or seniors in assisted living centers recreating their memories through the making of art, the Oklahoma Arts Council has helped.

The Oklahoma Arts Council joins hundreds of arts organizations and artists in celebrating 40 years of serving communities throughout Oklahoma.