The City of Tulsa is pleased to announce the Vision Arts 7 grantees, with $150,000 going to support 18 local arts organizations.
Since its inception, the Vision Arts program has provided crucial support to local nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, strengthening Tulsa's creative economy and enriching the city's cultural landscape.
“When we invest in Tulsa’s arts community, we’re investing in the people, places, and experiences that make our city unique,” said Mayor Monroe Nichols. “The Vision Arts grant helps local organizations bring new ideas to life, attract visitors and create opportunities for residents to experience arts and culture in every part of our city. I’m excited to see the impact these projects will have in the months ahead.”
Vision Arts supports organizations and activities that provide high-quality arts and cultural programing to Tulsa residents while also promoting tourism and economic development throughout the city. The program is funded through the Vision Tulsa economic development package, approved by voters in April of 2016 and will fund identified civic investments through 2031.
Awardees were required to specify how their proposal will promote tourism or have an economic impact within Tulsa. The proposals were based upon the following:
• A single event, performance, project, and/or work of art, OR;
• A series of events, performances, and/or works of art that are promoted and marketed as a single integrated occurrence, OR;
• Another initiative of an arts organization featuring demonstrable economic impacts or the promotion of cultural tourism
“Our goal is to find and fund artists in our city whose creative work serves to highlight Tulsa’s artistic genius, and we are so proud of our recipients,” District 2 City Councilor Anthony Archie, said. “From productions and festivals to murals and exhibitions, each project will help to bring our city together and strengthen Tulsa as a regional art destination.”
To ensure neutrality, an independent review panel oversee application review, with approval from the full Arts Commission and former Vision Arts sub-committee Chair Obum Ukabam. Due to Vision Arts' emphasis on economic impact, the review includes economic development leaders, including a representative from Partner Tulsa and the Greater Tulsa Chamber of Commerce's Office of Film, Music, Arts, and Culture (FMAC), as well as 2 at-large community members. Two city councilors also served on the independent review panel, working alongside the two community panelists, FMAC, and PartnerTulsa to evaluate proposals and recommend funding allocations
The Arts Commission also provided multiple information sessions, along with additional grant writing and technical assistance sessions for organizations to craft their applications and future arts grants as well. This round of grant applications was one of the largest to date with 34 organizations submitting applications requesting almost $660,000 in project funding.
Arts Commission Chair Sara Phoenix explained the value of the program, saying, "I'm thrilled Vision Arts is supporting so many great local organizations that help Tulsa thrive. These funds will help bring more art and culture to Tulsa, attract visitors, and boost our economy. Thank you to the voters who made this possible and congratulations to all the awardees. We can't wait to see the creative projects and community energy they bring to the city."
Of the $150,00 allocated, the program will invest a total of $109,000 in 11 organizations whose annual donations do not exceed $400,000 per year:
Additionally, the program will invest a total of $41,000 in seven organizations whose annual donations equal or exceed $400,000 per year:
About Vision Tulsa
Vision Tulsa, an $884 million sales tax renewal package approved by voters in 2016, is making substantial investments in economic development, education, public safety, streets, and transportation needs citywide. With citizen priorities providing the driving force behind the creation of Vision Tulsa, transformative projects and enhancements are setting the stage for a bright future for Tulsa.
For more information about Vision Tulsa, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/vision.
For more information about Arts in Tulsa, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/arts.
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