Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

PROJECT PURPOSE

Oklahoma Contemporary?s new home in Oklahoma City?s Automobile Alley opened in March of 2020 ? just as the pandemic?s full impact struck our community. Our grand opening celebrations, along with initial programming, were delayed or canceled. As we recover from the effects, Oklahoma Contemporary is planning a series of major exhibitions in our two galleries and outdoor exhibition spaces to engage and educate our local community ? and spur tourism and economic development for our state. Our proposal includes support for seven major exhibitions, which, paired with private philanthropy, represents a significant investment in Oklahoma Contemporary?s free exhibition program and our recovery from the pandemic. With each exhibition comes a variety of free educational and public programming for the community. These programs contribute to making Oklahoma a thriving place to live, work, and do business ? attracting visitors from across the country and around the world. According to Americans for the Arts, Oklahoma Contemporary?s approximate economic impact is nearly $7.5 million ? supporting more than 250 jobs, and generating nearly $1 million in state and local government revenue annually. Investment in our exhibitions program contributes directly to economic development and helps to establish Oklahoma as a national destination for arts and culture .

EVIDENCE

Investment in the arts drives economic development and tourism. The Arts and Economic Prosperity Report (Americans for the Arts) provides data: nearly 90% of Americans believe arts and culture are important to quality of life ? businesses and individuals consider these factors when deciding where to move or invest. Among tourists, arts/culture travelers spend more, stay longer, and have a greater financial impact than the average visitor. A single visit to an arts organization generates more than $30 in spending with local businesses. Oklahoma Contemporary has an exponential effect, improving quality of life for Oklahomans, drawing visitors from around the world, and driving economic activity .

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Oklahoma Contemporary is free to visit ? ensuring there are no economic barriers to accessing our galleries, exhibitions, and many programs. Our programs, inspired by our exhibitions, include outreach to communities otherwise traditionally lacking arts opportunities. Examples include school group visits, offered at no cost to Title I schools (those least likely to offer art courses). Our Creative Communities initiative, built on our longstanding commitment to programs that meet the needs of veterans, is now expanding to serve other populations ? including our Hispanic, African-American, and refugee communities in the coming years. Along with our free exhibitions, these initiatives are aimed at ensuring equity and accessibility for visitors of all backgrounds. We aim to be a welcoming and inclusive space for our entire community. National data suggests that many of the diverse communities we serve, particularly those we are expanding outreach to through the programs detailed above, have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. We look forward to welcoming these communities to have meaningful arts experiences as our community recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Oklahoma Contemporary carefully analyzes the impact of exhibitions and associated programming through attendance numbers and survey data. Visitors and program participants are asked to complete surveys, including demographic data, so we can understand our audience and better serve the diverse populations of our state. Our surveys request zip code, race/ethnicity, and details on the visitor experience to ensure Oklahoma Contemporary is providing an exemplary service for Oklahoma?s residents and visitors alike. This data inform programs like our Creative Communities initiative, which builds relationships with specific populations, like military veterans, to provide artistic and educational programming, fulfilling unmet needs in our community.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma