Oklahoma Arts Council News

Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail Dedicated in Tulsa

A project six years in the making, the completion of the Pathway to Hope Public Trail was marked by a special dedication event last month. On August 19, the Oklahoma Arts Council was joined by Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Executive Director Tim Gatz, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, and members of the community to celebrate the finished works in Tulsa's historic Greenwood District.

Commissioned through the Oklahoma Arts Council's Art in Public Places program, the project began in 2019 with a series of discussions between the agency and ODOT, resulting in the commissioning of six large-scale installations celebrating the rich history and resilient people of Greenwood on underpasses of Interstate 244.

"These six works orchestrate a resilient chorus of Black survival, remembrance, and resistance," said Oklahoma Executive Director Amber Sharples in her remarks. "Public art ensures that the story of Greenwood—and the power of its people—will never be forgotten."

In his remarks, Gatz credited ODOT's partnership with the Oklahoma Arts Council with empowering his agency to ensure its investments in infrastructure reflect the desires of the community.

Nichols said as Mayor of Tulsa he feels when you invest in art, you invest in the soul of the community. He mentioned that Tulsa will soon have its first director for an office of public art and community partnerships.

Following the program, attendees and members of the media were given a closer look at the art. Shuttles provided guided tours through the public art trail.

Watch a news story about the project on Fox23 News.

Read about the project in the Tulsa World.

Listen to a Public Radio Tulsa segment about the event.

Nominate an Individual, Business, Organization for a Governor's Arts Award

Is there a person, business, or organization in your community who goes above and beyond for the arts? Since 1975, the Oklahoma Governor's Arts Awards has been the state's foremost event for giving these Oklahomans an unforgettable afternoon of gratitude for their efforts in the arts. Through October 15, the Oklahoma Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 46th Oklahoma Governor's Arts Awards.

Presented by the Governor and the Oklahoma Arts Council during a special ceremony at the state Capitol, the biennial event recognizes honorees in several categories:

• The Governor's Award – for longtime leadership and significant contributions

• Arts in Education Award – for leadership and service benefitting youth and others through arts education

• Business in the Arts Award – for businesses that exhibit outstanding support for the arts

• Community Service Award – for contributions to the arts in Oklahoma communities through leadership and volunteerism

• Media in the Arts Award – for demonstrating commitment to the arts through public awareness support, initiative, and professionalism in reporting

• George Nigh Public Service in the Arts Award – for outstanding support for the arts by an Oklahoma government official

Two options are available for submitting a nomination.

Option 1: Complete an online nomination form
Option 2: Download a nomination to complete and return

View details about eligibility, selection criteria, and more here. 

Grantees: How to Acknowledge Our Support of Your Programs

Organizations receiving Oklahoma Arts Council grant funding should note the new guidelines available to help them stay compliant with requirements to acknowledge the agency's support of their programs. Acknowledging our support helps educate the public about the role of public funding for the arts programs they enjoy in their communities. It also shows Oklahomans the return on investment in the arts made possible by their elected representatives.

With the Oklahoma Arts Council's recent rebranding, the new guidelines outline the appropriate steps for, 1) using our new logo; 2) crediting us in writing; 3) verbally acknowledging our support; 4) writing and inviting your legislators to your programs; and, 5) following us and tagging us on social media.

Grantee organizations (excluding schools), are urged to learn more here and to download a pdf of our Grantee Acknowledgements Guide for Organizations.

School grantees have a separate set of acknowledgement requirements. The school guide can be downloaded here.

Survey for Organizations with Arts Learning Programs

To better understand how community-based organizations are serving Oklahomans through hands-on arts learning programs, the Oklahoma Arts Council is conducting a brief survey through Friday, September 12. A focus of the survey is to learn how organizations are responding to reductions and eliminations of fine arts programs in schools. The agency is also interested in knowing how organizations are using the arts to respond to needs in health and wellness, veterans services, and more in their communities. Responses will be used by the Oklahoma Arts Council to inform future planning, funding priorities, and support strategies.

Individuals representing community-based organizations that offer arts programs can complete the survey here. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

Teaching Artists Can Apply to Join Roster

Teaching artists across the state who have experience providing hands-on arts instruction in classes, workshops, and other settings for a variety of ages and abilities are invited to apply for the Oklahoma Arts Council's Teaching Artist Roster. The roster is a resource that connects schools and organizations statewide with the professional teaching artists who have the experience and skills to meet their programming needs.

For artists, benefits include the "seal of approval" from the Oklahoma Arts Council as the leader for the arts in the state, active promotion by the Oklahoma Arts Council, professional development opportunities, and more.

Artists must be Oklahoma residents and prove proficiency within their artistic discipline. Applications are accepted year-round and are considered for approval at one of the Council's three regular meetings during the year. More information and an online application are available here.

Roster artists are not employees of the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Mid-America Arts Alliance Pauses Programs Supported with Federal Funding

Two grant programs of the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) that rely entirely on funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) have been paused. M-AAA, the Regional Arts Organization serving the six-state region that includes Oklahoma, announced the update in August.

Artist Innovations and Regional Touring Program grants are currently closed for fiscal year 2026. Dozens of Oklahoma artists and organizations have benefitted through investments from these grant programs in recent years. In their announcement, M-AAA noted they will issue updates on the status of the grant programs as revised timelines for them are developed. To receive updates, sign up for the M-AAA newsletter.

Shield and Service Grants for Programs Serving Veterans

Through the Shield and Service Grant program, Tinker Federal Credit Union Foundation connects military veterans with services benefiting their mental health and well-being. Nonprofit Oklahoma organizations that serve veterans can apply for up to $5,000. Organizations that offer arts programming serving veterans are encouraged to look into this look into this opportunity. Application deadline is September 30.

Submit Your Route 66 Centennial Arts Events to TravelOK

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) is inviting Oklahomans to submit events celebrating the 2026 centennial of Route 66 to TravelOK.com. The Mother Road turns 100 next year, and special events are being planned across Oklahoma and other Route 66 states. Thousands of travelers are expected to visit sites along the famous highway during its centennial year. Arts organizations and others planning arts-related events are encouraged to list their events on OTRD's popular website to help drive more tourism to their community in 2026.

Click here to submit your event.

Remembering Former Governor and Arts Champion George Nigh

He'll forever be known for his determined effort as a young legislator in the early 1950s to name Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" the official state song. Former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh passed away at the age of 98 at the end of July. Nigh was ahead of his time as a leader and public servant who understood how the arts could benefit the interests of our state. People around the world are familiar with our state song, an anthem that no matter the time nor place unites and rallies Oklahomans for a shared sense of pride.

Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said during Nigh's time as governor, he was a strong supporter of the agency’s work serving schools and communities. He also championed the agency's expertise for shaping the Capitol into what has become the state’s largest public art museum. During the 45th Oklahoma Governor's Arts Awards in 2024, at the age of 96, Nigh addressed the crowd, giving a special tribute to his friend and former director of the Oklahoma Arts Council, Betty Price. At the end of his tribute, Nigh led the crowd to sing "Oklahoma!"