Oklahoma Arts Council News
July 2015
Organizations Invited to Bid for Poetry Out Loud Program
The Oklahoma Arts Council seeks bids from organizations interested in coordinating and implementing the national Poetry Out Loud contest in Oklahoma. Eligible organizations will have 501(c)3 nonprofit status, incorporated in Oklahoma, with a mission that aligns with the goals of Poetry Out Loud, the capacity to implement a statewide poetry contest for high school students, and the ability to meet reporting requirements set forth by the National Endowment for the Arts in compliance with federal grant making rules. Read more...
2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference Registration Begins August 3
In less than four months, more than 400 hundred Oklahoma artists, arts managers, community developers, business and civic leaders, tribal members, educators, students and more will gather in Tulsa for the 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference.
This once-a-year opportunity to network and learn from national and local expert presenters and to celebrate the arts in Oklahoma is one of the best three day investments you can make towards your work in the arts. Plan now to join your peers from across the state in downtown Tulsa on October 20-22 for the 2015 Oklahoma Arts Conference. Earlybird registration begins August 3. Look for information about the registration fee, featured presenters, special events, and more, soon!
Oklahoma Humanities Council Offers Grant Opportunities
Organizations offering elements of the humanities in their programming are encouraged to learn about grants available through the Oklahoma Humanities Council (OHC). Two grant opportunities recently announced by the OHC include funding in their Major Grants and Challenge Grants categories.
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Major Grants - Awards of up to $8,500. A mandatory draft is due August 1. Final deadline is August 15.
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Challenge Grants - Awards of up to $15,000. A mandatory draft is due August 1. Final deadline is August 15.
Grant categories have different match criteria. Applicants must allow at least 90 days between the final application deadline and the date of the proposed program or presentation.
Click here to learn more about Oklahoma Humanities Council grants.
New Rolling Deadline for Mid-America Arts Alliance Grants
New for fiscal year 2016, the Mid-America Arts Alliance will accept grant applications on a rolling basis for its Regional Touring Program. Grant applications are being accepted for events occuring between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Applications can be submitted any time up to eight weeks before the start date of a project.
What is the Regional Touring Program?
Qualifying organizations can apply for grants to support the presentation of artists from Mid-America Arts Alliance's six-state region. Artists must come from outside the state of Oklahoma. Presenters that book an artist listed on a state touring roster may receive underwriting for up to 50 percent of the artist fee. Presenters that book an artist that is not listed on a roster may receive underwriting for up to 25 percent of the artist fee.
Additional underwriting for rural organizations
Presenting organizations located in rural communities may receive an additional 10 percent of the fee underwritten.
Click here to learn more about Regional Touring Program grants.
Oklahoma Tribes Can Preserve Traditions through Cultural Capital Grant Program
Artists who are members of an American Indian tribe in Oklahoma may be eligible to apply for Cultural Capital Grants of up to $5,000 through the First Peoples Fund, an organization with a mission to honor and support artists and culture bearers of Native communities.
The Cultural Capital program assists artists in developing local networks for leveraging resources and provides artists the technical assistance and capacity building support needed by the master artist or teacher. The goal of Cultural Capital projects should be to impact the next generation through documenting and passing along knowledge and serving as cultural resources.
Deadline to apply is September 5.
Find Us at the EngageOK Conference!
Attending the Oklahoma State Department of Education's upcoming EngageOK conference? Be sure to stop by the Oklahoma Arts Council booth to visit with our staff and learn about our grants and programs for Oklahoma schools. We will be on hand to meet you and answer your questions during all three days of the event, July 7-9 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
Sign up to Mentor Our Future Arts Leaders
Seasoned leaders in the arts are vital resources in the development of the next wave of arts leadership in our state. If you have valuable experience in the arts that you know will benefit someone under the age of 35 or someone with fewer than five years of experience in the arts, consider becoming a mentor through our ONEAL Mentorship Program.
Open to individuals in communities statewide, the program connects mentors and mentees of similar interests for regular correspondence on leadership and career issues. Correspondence can take place through email, phone conversations, and/or in person. A minimum six month commitment is required.
For more information, contact Josh Lunsford, Community Arts Director, at (405) 521-2025 or joshua.lunsford@arts.ok.gov.
Related: The Oklahoma Arts Council will host an opportunity for new and emerging arts leaders to gather for a casual networking lunch in Oklahoma City's Plaza District office (upstairs from Paint N Cheers) on Tuesday, July 14. Come discuss your individual and community-related efforts in the arts and learn more about the ONEAL Network!
Digital Marketing Benchmark Study Available
A new report by Capacity Interactive provides valuable insight into marketing the arts using digital media. The findings of the study, which focused on performing arts organizations, may be helpful to your marketing strategy.
Key takeaways of the study include:
- The percentage of organizations paying for Facebook ads
- The growth of arts organization followers on Instagram
- The percentage of arts organization websites that are optimized for mobile devices
- The challenges being experienced by arts organizations
Capacity Interactive is a digital marketing consulting firm with a focus on arts and culture. Their clients include some of the country's leading arts organizations.
Click here for Capacity Interactive's 2014 Performing Arts Digital Marketing Benchmark Study.
2015 Governor's Arts Awards Nominations Due August 7
Through Friday, August 7, nominations are being accepted in six categories for the 2015 Governor's Arts Awards. Awards will be presented by the Governor during a special ceremony at the State Capitol in the fall. Since 1975, the awards have brought recognition to individuals and organizations whose efforts in the arts have made an impact in communities, schools, or throughout the state.
? Submit an online nomination
? Download a nomination form
Categories include:
The Governor's Award
Arts in Education Award
Business in the Arts Award
Community Service Award
Media in the Arts Award
George Nigh Public Service in the Arts (Mayors, State Legislators, and others)
Let us know about individuals or organizations in your community that deserve recognition!
Learn more about the selection process, eligibility criteria, and award categories.