Allied Arts has announced that it will award nearly $3.2 million in grants this fiscal year, benefiting local arts and cultural nonprofits through its comprehensive grant programs. Allied Arts funding supports educational youth outreach, capacity building, and COVID-19 relief efforts.

Educational Outreach

The focus of the Educational Outreach Program is to provide arts-based educational opportunities for K-12 students who may not otherwise have access to these vital experiences. “The Educational Outreach Program invests in arts opportunities for children across Oklahoma, especially in underserved and at-risk communities,” said Allied Arts President and CEO Sunny Cearley. “Thanks to our generous donors, these programs can make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people statewide”. This cycle awarded more than $156,700 in grants to organizations such as:

• A to Z Productions/Norman Philharmonic: Martin Luther King Celebration Concerts

• Oklahoma Children's Theatre: "A Sick Day for Amos McGee" Fieldtrips

• Oklahoma City Ballet: Dance Discovery Program

Capacity-Building Program

The Capacity-Building Program supports arts and cultural nonprofits in strengthening their organizational infrastructure. This includes funding for projects such as board and volunteer management, staff development and strategic planning. In this cycle, we awarded $52,598 to initiatives like:

• Oklahoma City Repertory Theater: Branding and Focus Group Efforts

• Oklahoma Contemporary: Technology Infrastructure Upgrade

These investments are essential for organizations striving to enhance their missions and increase community access to the arts.

COVID-19 Relief for Cultural Nonprofits

To address the ongoing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan and former Oklahoma County District 1 Commissioner Carrie Blumert approved ARPA funding to Allied Arts to provide critical assistance to the local nonprofit cultural sector most negatively affected by the pandemic. The purpose of the funds is to help eligible arts nonprofits headquartered in Oklahoma County that have been hardest hit by the pandemic to help in their efforts to rebuild and recover specifically by supporting revenue loss, investing in human resources, and creating new and expanding existing programs, particularly to increase arts access in underserved communities. Funding totaled $321,499.25, benefiting organizations such as:

• Arts Council Oklahoma City: Financial Loss

• Red Earth: Financial Loss

Arts & Humanities Month

October is not only a time to recognize the transformative power of the arts but also celebrates Arts and Humanities Month, culminating in a formal declaration by Oklahoma City Council on October 22. As we celebrate Arts and Humanities Month, Allied Arts remains committed to enhancing Oklahoma’s cultural landscape through strategic funding and support for our diverse arts organizations. We extend our deepest gratitude to all our donors and partners for making this vital work possible.

For more information about Allied Arts and our grant programs, please visit alliedartsokc.com/grants.

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