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Oklahoma Arts Council News

August 2025

Oklahoma Arts Council Grant Opportunities for Organizations

With fiscal year 2026 under way, the Oklahoma Arts Council is highlighting its grant opportunities for organizations.

Below, explore six grant programs available to support a wide range of programming by eligible organizations across the state this fiscal year:

  • Community Arts Experience Grants – up to $5,000 is available to support audience-based programs (Learn more)
  • Community Arts Learning Grants – up to $5,000 is available to support workshops, classes, camps, after-school programs, and other instructional programming serving individuals of all ages and abilities (Learn more)  
  • Creative Aging Partnership Grants – provides funding to organizations to build and expand arts learning opportunities for older adults (Learn more)
  • Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants – up to $5,000 is available to support new or ongoing learning-based and audience-based arts programs serving military-connected individuals (Learn more)
  • Rural Arts Opportunity Grants – available to organizations in select counties, up to $5,000 is available for capacity building and professional development, learning-based, or audience-based programs (Learn more)
  • Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnership Grants – provides funding to arts-focused nonprofit organizations to provide learning-based arts programs to alternative education school sites (Learn more) 

Eligibility and match requirements vary according to grant program. Nonprofit organizations, local government entities, Tribal nations, and colleges and universities are encouraged to learn how they can take advantage of these grants in fiscal year 2026.

August 12 Webinar to Highlight Agency's Grants for Schools

Educators interested in learning about Oklahoma Arts Council grants for schools are encouraged to tune in to an August 12 webinar hosted by the agency's arts education and grant staff. Arts Education Director Jennifer Allen-Barron will lead an overview of the agency's funding opportunities and how they can help teachers inspire students to excel through creativity and the fine arts. Register for the webinar below.

Arts Education Grants for Schools Webinar
Tuesday, August 12
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Register for the webinar

Grants offered by the Oklahoma Arts Council for the 2025-2026 school year include:

For questions, contact Arts Education Director Jennifer Allen-Barron at (405) 249-7987 or jennifer.allen-barron@arts.ok.gov

Reminder: FY26 Grant Award Notifications Will be Delayed

Organizations applying for fiscal year 2026 grant funding from the Oklahoma Arts Council should expect a delay in their award notifications. The delay is due to to a deferred timeline for issuing federal funding through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which is impacting NEA state partnership grants to state arts agencies including the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Because of the deferred federal timeline, review and approval of our fiscal year 2026 budget and grants by our 15-member Governor-appointed Council took place later than normal this year, on July 15. Notices are expected to go out in August. Grant awards will cover the period of expenses starting July 1, 2025.

Oklahoma Arts Council staff is working under a condensed timeline to process more than 250 applications for fiscal year 2026 while closing out more than 600 grant awards from fiscal year 2025. We ask for your patience as we remain committed to ensuring timely service where possible to grantee organizations.

Questions can be directed to grants@arts.ok.gov.

RELATED: The Oklahoma Arts Council budget was front page news on The Oklahoman on August 1. The in-depth article features insight on the impact of delays and more from Executive Director Amber Sharples. Click here to see the article.

Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail Dedication August 19 in Tulsa

Commissioned through the Oklahoma Arts Council's Art in Public Places program, the Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail in Tulsa will be dedicated Tuesday, August 19, 10:00 a.m. at the Greenwood Cultural Center. The program will feature remarks from Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples, Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Executive Director Tim Gatz, and Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols.

Six dynamic, large-scale public art works comprise the trail, installed on underpasses of Interstate 244 near the historic Greenwood district north of downtown. Each work reflects a different theme tied to the people and history of the district: creativity, resilience, vision, justice, hope, and remembrance. The project is a collaboration of the Oklahoma Arts Council and ODOT.

After the dedication program, shuttles will be available for attendees to ride to view the artwork. There is no cost to attend, and the public is invited.

Learn more about the works in this 2024 update about the project.

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

Operating Support for Creative Aging Available from OCCF

Beginning August 12, select organizations that provide creative aging and other services for older adults (age 65+) can apply for general operating support of up to $30,000 from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF). The foundation's Services for Older Adults Community Grant program supports organizations whose programs focus on wellness and physical activities, social and recreation opportunities, and independent living for older Oklahomans.

Guidelines will be posted August 12. A letter of intent is due September 11, and the deadline for applications is September 25. Learn about the grant.

Keep Route 66 Beautiful Grant Opportunity for Murals and More

The nonprofit organization Keep Oklahoma Beautiful has announced a funding opportunity to help communities along Route 66 beautify their stretch of the historic highway in advance of its centennial celebration and increased tourism in 2026. Up to $5,000 is available for projects led by cities and municipalities as well as small local organizations.

Murals, painting and restoration, and other projects that contribute to enhancing or preserving Route 66 communities may qualify for funding. Grants through the program are available on a rolling basis through 2026. 

Apply for a Keep Route 66 Beautiful Grant.

RELATED: Round four of the Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grant program opens August 15. 

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.

Call for Artists: Downtown Tulsa Public Arts Project

Founded in 2021 to champion a prosperous and vibrant downtown Tulsa, the Downtown Tulsa Partnership is seeking artist qualifications for a public art installation as part of its W 5th Street Alley project, which will convert an underutilized urban space into a welcoming, interactive environment.

Open to artists nationwide—with local artists encouraged to apply—the project will focus on safety, placemaking, and celebrating Tulsa's unique characteristics. The artwork must feature permanent lighting or illumination and be built for long-term durability.

Total artist budget for the project is $110,000. Deadline for RFQs is August 18. To submit qualifications and for details, visit downtowntulsa.com.

Oklahoma Arts Council Offices Undergoing Maintenance in July and August

A deferred maintenance project at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is requiring the staff of the Oklahoma Arts Council to shift temporarily to remote work during July and August. The building in the Oklahoma State Capitol complex is the current office space for the Oklahoma Arts Council.

During the two-month stretch, staff will continue to be available during normal work hours and can be reached via email and phone. As some phone numbers have recently changed, be sure to review our staff page and update your records before calling us.