[MainstreetManagers] NEWS RELEASE: Oklahoma Arts Council Announces Fiscal Year 2027 Grants Investment for Arts Programs Across the State

[Anna Schilling]

Good afternoon, everyone. Below is some information on the Arts Council grant opportunities for 2027; it will be here before you know it.

The Oklahoma Arts Council is investing more than $3.2 million in communities and schools across Oklahoma through its Fiscal Year 2027 grants, strengthening the arts as a vital part of a thriving state. These grants will support festivals, performances, exhibitions, youth art camps, community theater, creative aging, programs for veterans and military families, and arts education—bringing creativity, connection, wellness, and opportunity to Oklahomans of all ages. This investment is more than funding; it is an investment in people, communities, and the future of Oklahoma. The arts create jobs, inspire creativity, strengthen quality of life, and help communities become places where people want to live, work, visit, and grow. When we invest in the arts, we invest in the heart, identity, and future of Oklahoma.

Eligibility Verification
Before applying for a grant, organizations must complete an Eligibility Verification Request through the Oklahoma Arts Council grant portal<https://okarts.fluxx.io/>.
If you have questions, the Arts Council contacts are below.
Questions?
[Photo of Thomas Tran]<https://oklahoma.gov/arts/grants.html#>
Grants Director
Thomas Tran
(405) 967-3290
thomas.tran at arts.ok.gov
[Photo by Martyna Sandoval]<https://oklahoma.gov/arts/grants.html#>
Grants and Programs Associate
Martyna Sandoval
(405) 239-0257
martyna.sandoval at arts.ok.gov<mailto:martyna.sandoval at arts.ok.gov>.ok.gov<mailto:martyna.sandoval at arts.ok.gov>
Thanks,
Anna Schilling | Oklahoma Main Street

Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Anna.Schilling at okcommerce.gov<mailto:Anna.Schilling at okcommerce.gov>

c. 405-212-8633 (text capable)

OKcommerce.gov<https://okcommerce.gov/>

[Title: State of Oklahoma logo - Description: Multi-color chevron pinwheel with the word Oklahoma to the right.]




________________________________
From: Oklahoma Arts Council <okarts.arts.ok.gov at tv3ab.e2ma.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 2:19 PM
To: Anna Schilling <Anna.Schilling at okcommerce.gov>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] NEWS RELEASE: Oklahoma Arts Council Announces Fiscal Year 2027 Grants Investment for Arts Programs Across the State

The state arts agency's Council has approved a $3,200,237 grants budget.

[https://d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfront.net/20260812/6c/25/2d/5a/fe3efea0d6dec00b47c622d6.png]
 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

 
Oklahoma Arts Council Announces Fiscal Year 2027 Grants Investment for Arts Programs Across the State

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 12, 2026) – The Oklahoma Arts Council has announced the approval of its fiscal year 2027 grants budget for arts and arts education programs across Oklahoma. In June, the Governor-appointed members of the official state arts agency and leader for the arts approved an investment of up to $3,200,237 for grants to be awarded through June 30, 2027.

Representing a direct investment in communities and schools across Oklahoma through various grant programs, the amount is a significant portion of the agency’s overall budget. Nonprofit organizations, schools, local governments, libraries, tribal nations, and other organizations leverage the funding to give Oklahomans access to the benefits of attending, participating, and learning through the arts.

Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples commented on what the funding for the sector means for Oklahomans.

“The return on our grant investments is undeniable,” said Sharples. “We are putting people to work, preparing creative thinkers to enter and lead the workforce, delivering proven benefits on health and wellbeing, and fueling vibrancy and quality of life in communities large and small. Through the Oklahoma Arts Council’s investment of these grants as the state arts agency and leader for the arts, we are ensuring the arts remain a dependable cornerstone for a thriving Oklahoma.”

A wide range of activities will be supported by the funding including festivals in rural communities, live dance and music performances, visual art exhibitions, summer art camps for youth, workshops for adults, community theatre, and more.

Annual funding totaling $2,083,225 was awarded to 84 nonprofit organizations whose arts programs have broad reach in their region or across the state.

Additional grants were awarded through special grant programs designed to leverage the arts to meet priority needs, including 13 grants totaling $165,000 awarded for creative aging programs addressing health and wellness needs of older adults through the arts. Nine grants totaling $92,980 awarded to nonprofit arts organizations to support their partnerships with alternative education school sites, allowing them to leverage their expertise and resources in the arts to serve students who are at a higher risk of not completing high school. Fifteen grants totaling $67,602 awarded organizations through the agency’s Arts and the Military Initiative to serve veterans and military families. And, a $20,000 grant was awarded to Oklahoma A+ Schools to manage the statewide Oklahoma Poetry Out Loud program.

Funding is available year-round from the Oklahoma Arts Council through other grant programs<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://t.e2ma.net/click/tnlnmn/tbop40ae/9jpcbfb__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!uIU22st_NBsdSXUQjZ2sJQqLgJ3byZ81ihzQsLX6yChuPYzg-YJ9PXgOUepHD94KskihB4A_-ywi0Tcf87-MljoARszHzjyayaAqz24IETM$>, with varying deadlines. Organizations interested in learning more about Oklahoma Arts Council funding are encouraged to contact the agency or visit arts.ok.gov<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://t.e2ma.net/click/tnlnmn/tbop40ae/pcqcbfb__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!uIU22st_NBsdSXUQjZ2sJQqLgJ3byZ81ihzQsLX6yChuPYzg-YJ9PXgOUepHD94KskihB4A_-ywi0Tcf87-MljoARszHzjyayaAqCvtqJTA$>.

###

About the Oklahoma Arts Council
The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The agency’s mission is to lead, cultivate, and amplify the transformative power of the arts for all Oklahomans and their communities. The Oklahoma Arts Council provides hundreds of grants to organizations and schools in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state's arts and cultural industry, and manages the art collections at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://t.e2ma.net/click/tnlnmn/tbop40ae/54qcbfb__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!uIU22st_NBsdSXUQjZ2sJQqLgJ3byZ81ihzQsLX6yChuPYzg-YJ9PXgOUepHD94KskihB4A_-ywi0Tcf87-MljoARszHzjyayaAqzN2DFms$>.

 

Media Contact
Joel Gavin
Director of Marketing and Communications
(405) 312-1838
joel.gavin at arts.ok.gov

 

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P.O. Box 52001-2001 | Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2001 US

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