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Our Mission

To lead in the advancement of Oklahoma’s thriving arts industry.

Our Vision

The arts will be a transformative force for Oklahoma by improving education, enhancing quality of life, and boosting economic development.

Download our Fiscal Year 2016 Impact Report to learn more.

What We Do

• Award matching grants to arts and cultural organizations, schools, and local governments in order to increase resources available for producing community arts and arts education programs throughout Oklahoma.

• Support opportunities for all Oklahomans to create, perform or attend arts activities.

• Raise public awareness about the value of the arts to the economic, educational, and cultural life of Oklahoma. The arts produce jobs and attract out-of-state tourists, directly impacting Oklahoma’s economy.

• Foster education through the arts and support efforts to implement the arts as part of the core curriculum for all students in every Oklahoma school.
  

Our History

Prior to 1965 public funding for the arts in Oklahoma was virtually non-existent. The arts were mostly accessible in coastal and affluent areas of the United States.

Realizing the importance of giving all Americans, in rural and urban areas, access to arts and culture, President Johnson signed legislation in 1965 making federal arts funding available to states that created state arts agencies and matched federal dollars.

Following the rest of the nation’s move to invest in culture, Oklahoma Governor Henry Bellmon signed legislation creating what would become the Oklahoma Arts Council. Since the Council’s creation, funding for the arts has created a unique partnership between federal, state and private entities to ensure all Oklahomans have access to arts and culture.

Highlights in Oklahoma Arts Council history:

• In 1971 the State Art Collection was established to provide Oklahoma artists the opportunity to be recognized in a quality collection.

• In 1975 Oklahoma became one of the first states to implement the Governor’s Arts Awards.

• In 1976 the four monumental murals in the State Capitol rotunda were dedicated as part of the Capitol Art Collection. Since 1976 numerous permanent works of art have been added to the collection.

• In 1979 Governor George Nigh established the Governor’s Gallery in the Capitol to exhibit an “Artist of the Month.”

• In 1985 during a downturn in the state’s economy, an economic impact study performed by Oklahoma State University showed nonprofit arts organizations generated $6 million in tax revenue.

• In 1986 Governor George Nigh added the East Gallery to the Capitol.

• The 1990s saw the passage of landmark Education Reform legislation (HB 1017) that added arts to the core curriculum. The legislation mandated visual art and music instruction for all K-12 schools in the state.

• Also during the 90s, the North Gallery was added at the State Capitol joining the Governor’s Gallery and East Gallery.

• During the 1990s, the Oklahoma Arts Council, working with the Capitol Preservation Commission, added numerous works of art to the Capitol Art Collection. Completed by master artists, the exquisite paintings, monumental murals and sculptures in the rotunda and public spaces of the Capitol convey the story of Oklahoma to thousands of people who visit the Capitol each year.

• In 1994 the Oklahoma Arts Council was selected as one of the first five state 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 grant applications, assuring efficiency and reduced costs in providing agency services.

• In 2010 a study performed by Americans for the Arts showed Oklahoma nonprofit arts and cultural organizations have a $314.8 million impact on the state’s economy, employing 10,156 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $29 million in state and local tax revenue.

Since 1965 thousands of grants funded through appropriations from the State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts have made it possible for over 1000 organizations to produce community arts and arts education programs throughout Oklahoma.

While the Oklahoma Arts Council’s budget is less than 1/10th of 1 percent of the state government’s budget, the Council’s grants have a powerful multiplying effect, generating $13 in private matching dollars for every $1 granted (fiscal year 2014).

Prior to 1965 large metropolitan areas or other states were the only places Oklahomans could go to experience and participate in the arts. Because of Oklahoma Arts Council funding, more Oklahomans have opportunities to create, perform or attend arts and cultural events.

Economists and historians have shown that the development of a thriving arts environment is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality.