Oklahoma Arts Council

11/11/2026

Art has the power to bring people together, build connections, and create opportunities for self-expression—all vital for our Oklahoma veteran community. 🇺🇸

This , we’re highlighting our Oklahoma Arts and the Military Initiative! These programs help expand access to art and support military communities with meaningful arts experiences. ❤️

Thank you to all the incredible men and women who have served. Read more about the initiative here: https://bit.ly/4il8m2t

11/10/2026

🎨 Creative Aging Program Spotlight 🎨

Across the state, our Creative Aging Partnership Grants give older adults opportunities to get creative, learn new skills, and build community. Today we’re featuring the Oklahoma City Ballet’s Golden Swans and Dance for Parkinson’s programs—both of which we recently awarded funding for fiscal year 2027. 🕺 🩰

These free classes are designed to help older adults and those with Parkinson’s stay active, improve balance and mobility, and explore dance in a fun, social atmosphere. We love the incredible impact both initiatives have had and will continue to make. 💕

Head to okcballet.org/community for class times and more info.

Creative Aging Partnership Grants are made possible with funding from the Oklahoma State Legislature, National Endowment for the Arts, and the To***co Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET).

11/09/2026

For students at Shawnee's Jim Thorpe Academy, it's lights, camera, AND action! 🎬🗣️ Our Alternative Education Community Partnership Grants are empowering arts organizations like deadCenter Film to use their resources and expertise to help students succeed in school and be workforce ready.

11/06/2026

Take a closer look at the new public art installation in the renovated Jim Thorpe Office Building (soon to be our home again!). 👀 👇

Crafted by Oklahoma artists Dr. Jessica Moore Harjo and Erica Pretty Eagle Cozad, these pieces work together to celebrate Jim Thorpe’s athletic achievements and Sac and Fox heritage.

𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝟭-𝟯)
Three scissortails made of copper, brass, and stainless steel represent agility, swiftness, and Thorpe’s Olympic legacy. Colored acrylic, iridescent glass beads, and lighting symbolize his name “Bright Path.”

𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀 𝟰-𝟱)
Sac and Fox appliqué designs representing the state flower (the Oklahoma rose), state wildflower (the Indian Blanket), and the swan symbolize cultural continuity and resilience.

This building is an important part of our state’s history, and we know these beautiful additions will be enjoyed by many generations to come!

The artwork was made possible through our Oklahoma Art in Public Places program in partnership with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

11/06/2026

Outdoor music festivals bring Oklahoma communities together, luring out-of-town visitors and boosting the bottom lines of local vendors and retailers. Grants from the Levitt Family Foundation can help make your outdoor festival possible in 2027!

Apply by November 20 for up to $5,000 in funding through their Festival Grants program. Get the details using the link in the comments ⤵️

11/04/2026

Getting great insight from local economist Mark Snead of RegionTrack, Inc. at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber's "State of the Economy" luncheon today, where labor needs were discussed. State workforce needs require the durable skills and creative thinking inherent to the arts and arts education. As an agency of state government, we're focused on meeting those needs.

11/02/2026

The Oklahoma Arts Council shares in the grief being felt and expressed throughout the city and state arts communities today as we learn of Fernando's passing. Our hearts go out to Fernando's family, friends, and colleagues. Our thoughts remain with Lawrence and his recovery from this tragic accident. Such outpouring of condolences and support by so many across Oklahoma reflects one of the truly special things about the arts in our state—our remarkable unity of which Fernando was and will always be a part. We encourage that spirit of unity as we gather with OVAC and many of you in a show of support on Tuesday evening.

10/30/2026

Now at five (5!) airports across our state, a warm welcome greets people arriving to our state, following the completion of our latest airport mural, created in partnership with the Lieutenant Governor's office, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and Ardmore Municipal Airport.

Today, our Executive Director Amber Sharples was joined by Ardmore Municipal Airport Operations Manager Chase Tindle, Ardmore Development Authority board member Jeff Moen, and Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell to see the mural, created by Jillian Selene Bell.

About the Mural
Inspired by the natural beauty and beloved icons of the Oklahoma landscape—horses roaming, blanket wildflowers, prairie grasses, and a big blue sky—this mural features the official state brand and logo and utilizes the colors throughout the piece.

The accents featured in the horse, greenery, and border are a nod to classic Western culture, rodeo, and vintage bandana motifs. The piece is meant to evoke a feeling of vastness with the expansiveness of the sun and sky, while grounding the design with the warmth of the prairie and the culture of our community. The artist's goal was to evoke the sense of traveling through the Oklahoma countryside, whether by plane, car, or horseback.

10/30/2026

Our state's arts community is a tight-knit community. We know each other well and work together often. Today, the Oklahoma Arts Council joins countless others who are thinking of Fernando, his family, his colleagues at Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition - OVAC, and his friends as we wait to know more.

Fernando Calvillo, the local director of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC), is missing following a crash of two high-speed trains on Wednesday, killing at least 69 people and injuring dozens more. Link in comments for full story.

10/26/2026

Congrats to our very own Amber Sharples, Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director, for this huge acknowledgment by state leaders and community development peers across the state! She was recognized for her leadership and outstanding efforts in enriching the cultural landscape of Oklahoma Route 66 communities.