Changes Announced for Governor's Arts Awards, Conference

Two Oklahoma Arts Council programs are changing as the agency adjusts to a new reality in state arts funding resulting from state budget cuts in recent years.

The Governor's Arts Awards and the Oklahoma Arts Conference will now be offered in two-year cycles. Previously annual events, the programs are being changed to allow for realignment of staff workload and to empower the Oklahoma Arts Council to invest more time and resources serving Oklahomans in their communities. The Oklahoma Arts Council remains committed to both programs.

The next Governor's Arts Awards will take place in the spring of 2021. Nominations will be accepted beginning in summer 2020.

The next Oklahoma Arts Conference will take place in the fall of 2020.

See the full announcement about these program changes.

Learn what's ahead for the Oklahoma Arts Council in this letter from Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples.