Mission
Supporting Oklahoma’s visual arts and artists and their power to enrich communities.
Background
For 27 years, the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) has helped artists throughout Oklahoma realize their potential through education, exposure and funding. OVAC’s mission is to support Oklahoma’s visual arts and artists and their power to enrich communities.
Annually OVAC serves more than 1,700 artists and connects audiences of more than 24,000 to art and artists. OVAC’s programs facilitate artists creating compelling work, connecting with a comprehensive network and finding new audiences.
Distinctive in the state, OVAC offers artists professional development workshops, project funding, information resources and career-boosting awards. OVAC serves and presents a diverse group of artists, emerging and established, rural and urban. By concentrating funding, technical assistance, curatorial guidance and critical exchange, OVAC better equips artists to realize their best work.
OVAC works to foster strong art writing and curatorial work through a fellowship program, mentorships, and multiple publications. Also, OVAC helps audiences understand the ideas behind the artwork through exhibitions, open studios, an online gallery, and a bimonthly magazine. OVAC forms robust partnerships with collaborating organizations locally and regionally to maximize the reach and relevance of each program. Strategic programs build stronger regional interchange, integrating artists, curators, and writers into multiple programs for greater impact.
Needs
OVAC seeks enthusiastic audiences, volunteers, program underwriters and in-kind donors.
Program Underwriters: OVAC seeks designated support to extend the impact of programs. In this fiscal year, OVAC has secured support from several national and local funders. To ensure adequate artist awards, promotion and educational materials, OVAC seeks additional sponsors in the following areas:
- OVAC seeks $15,000 to support outreach of the Artist Survival Kit program offering business skills to artists and continuing the successful Artist INC program.
- Momentum - OVAC seeks $15,000 in sponsors for the $55,000 program that serves at least 300 young artists and 2,500 audience members in Tulsa and Oklahoma City annually.
12x12 Art Fundraiser Sponsors: Corporate, small businesses and individuals may sponsor the popular 12x12 Art Fundraiser. The 12x12 is OVAC's only regular fundraiser, featuring a lively art auction of 175 artists' work, live music, local food and a fun atmosphere. Corporate levels begin at $1,000 and headline sponsors donate $5,000. Individual donor levels are available. www.12x12okc.org
CEO/Executive Director Statement
With the help
of many volunteers, sponsors and board members, we are gratified that OVAC is the largest and most diverse artist service
organization in our state. OVAC regularly serves artists at all career stages,
from serious high school students to senior citizens. The multiplicity of
programs OVAC offers grows connection and access for a wide-range of artists. Thank
you for your interest in our work.