Oklahoma Arts Council

PROJECT PURPOSE

To fortify the resilience of the arts, creativity and cultural sector in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Arts Council proposes a three-year investment initiative, the Creative Sector and Cultural Tourism Plan. The collaborative initiative provides a tiered response to the severe impact of the pandemic by: (1) investing in the long-term recovery and sustainability of arts and cultural organizations statewide with a strong emphasis on rural and vulnerable populations; (2) capacity building and workforce development to build resilience and strengthen the sector?s role in Oklahoma?s economy and as small business operators; (3) leveraging the strength of the arts to stimulate rural downtowns and urban neighborhoods through a unique economic development through the arts partnership between the Oklahoma Arts Council?s Cultural District Initiative and the Department of Commerce?s Main Street Program; and, (4) an economic impact study of the sector to assess its strength and impact. The goals of our plan directly respond to the negative impacts of the pandemic on one of the hardest hit sectors, provides an opportunity to diversify Oklahoma's economy through robust investment in the arts and focuses on how the arts enhance quality of life, education and economic opportunities for all Oklahomans through the arts, especially the most vulnerable.

EVIDENCE

A first-of-its-kind empirical analysis conducted by Douglas Noonan at Indiana University studied the role of the arts in economic recovery after the Great Recession, and the data reveals that the creative sector grew more quickly than the general economy in those years. Unlike conventional industrial supply chains, the arts often grow independently from other sectors, which helps to diversify state economies. States with varied arts ecosystems (including the performing, visual, media, design and publishing subsectors) posted bigger economic gains after the Great Recession than their less-diversified neighbors. https://nasaa-arts.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ArtsCultureContribEconRecovery-KeyFindings.pdf Creativity also stimulates workforce, rural and tourism development while bolstering civic engagement, making the arts a powerful superfood for building economic strength. Here in Oklahoma and across the nation, arts and culture have a critical role to play in stimulating economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. That is the conclusion of a recent study commissioned by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). The Arts and Culture Sector?s Contributions to Economic Recovery and Resiliency in the United States reveals that the arts are an agile and resilient sector with the capacity to ignite job growth, reduce economic risk, stimulate commerce and attract tourism. https://nasaa-arts.org/nasaa_research/the-arts-and-culture-sectors-contributions-to-economic-recovery-and-resiliency-in-the-united-states-key-findings/ Our multi-year recovery initiative capitalizes on our sector?s unique ability to stimulate economic recovery while investing in those hardest hit by the pandemic in the short term and empowering rural communities in the long run.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The arts sector was disproportionately impacted relative to othe sectors as it was the first to close its doors and one of the last to fully reopen. Fundraisers, events, galas and other mechanisms for revenue and corporate support were eliminated or drastically reduced, compounding the loss of ticket and other revenue mechanisms for the arts. The agency has prioritized artists/small business operators, rural arts/cultural nonprofits, performing artists and arts organizations, organizations that serve military/veterans, culturally diverse communities, individuals with disabilities, rural schools and community partners, rural towns and downtowns and urban-based blighted neighborhoods, among the most impacted by the loss of arts revenue and programs. From March-December 2020, nearly 170 organizations reported that grantees reported -$43,737,267 for total loss in revenue and contributed income between March 2020-December 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Our agency?s distribution of $3.4M to 200+ orgs in CARES Act funding through our inhouse grant system, review by the LOFT Committee, demonstrate our robust/thorough process and capacity.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding