NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 20, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Dee Lee
Public Information Director
Oklahoma Arts Council
(405) 521-2931
anndee@arts.ok.gov

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR THREE
OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL GRANTS

Oklahoma City, OK -- Oklahoma City, OK –May 1st is the deadline for the Arts-in-Alternative Education Grant, the Local Government Challenge Grant and the Small Grant Support for Schools.

The Arts in Alternative Education program provides funds to assist with hands-on instruction and participation in the arts in Alternative Education programs in public schools in Oklahoma. The program is offered through a partnership of the Oklahoma Arts Council and the State Department of Education and is designed to motivate students whose needs are not met by traditional educational services.

The Local Government Challenge Grant is a matching grant program that encourages local governments to support the arts in their community. Up to $5000 will be awarded and any incorporated city, town or county government in Oklahoma may apply. Funds must be distributed from local governments to 501(c)3 arts organizations and examples of funded projects include Public art projects, capital expenditures, staff salaries and arts programming.

The Small Grant Support for Schools encourages schools to bring the arts into their classrooms and allows schools to apply for funds directly from the Council. The program does not require them to apply through their district. This grant also requires schools to match only 25% of the total requested amount. The May 1 deadline applies to projects for the following fiscal year.

For more information, contact Ann Dee Lee, Public Relations Director, Oklahoma Arts Council, (405) 521-2931 or anndee@arts.ok.gov.

ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL

The Oklahoma Arts Council is a state agency whose mission is to improve lives through the arts by promoting and sustaining the development of a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality for all Oklahomans.

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