Causes

Arts & culture Community & economic development

Posted by

Julia K.

Executive Director

Our mission

Supporting Oklahoma’s visual arts and artists and their power to enrich communities.

What we do

The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) helps artists throughout Oklahoma realize their potential through education, exposure and funding. For almost 25 years, OVAC has cultivated artists, making our communities better places to live.

OVAC also seeks to encourage enriched and vibrant Oklahoma communities by helping the public gain appreciation and understanding of art. OVAC gives the general public access to artists and art with programs that reach more than 16,000 in person and 35,000 online. OVAC helps audiences understand the ideas behind the artwork, encouraging lifelong learning through exhibitions, open studios, an online gallery, and a bimonthly magazine,

OVAC works ensure that artists have vital, fulfilling careers and artistic practices in Oklahoma. To reach these long-range outcomes, OVAC focuses on intermediate goals to help artists increase their capacity to show their art locally, regionally, or nationally. OVAC encourages artists’ ability to plan and set goals for success in their artistic practice.

OVAC has developed a mix of programs that enable Oklahoma artists to connect with new audiences, build their business practices, and pursue artistic quality. These include curated exhibitions, opportunity for critical dialogue and validation, professional development training, and the largest grants and awards for artists in the state. OVAC serves artists, educators, curators, writers, and audiences across Oklahoma, working with more than 1,700 artists annually. Targeted programs are competitive, while other services are open to all aspiring artists. Artists do not have to be a member of OVAC to participate in programs, which are free, inexpensive, or available via scholarship. OVAC helps artists from many ethnicities, geographic locations within the state, and educational backgrounds. Oklahoma artists work in varied media and styles, from conventional media to digital media and performance.