Festival of the Arts
April 24-29, 2012
Downtown Oklahoma City
The Festival of the Arts was founded in 1967 as a project of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. This six-day event features 144 fine artists from across the country with live entertainment on four stages, street performers, international cuisine prepared by 30 food vendors, extensive programming for young people and “hands on” activities for art lovers of all ages.
Opening Night
December 31
Downtown Oklahoma City
Opening Night is the place for families and friends to celebrate the performing arts and the arrival of the New Year in the spirit of the community. Downtown Oklahoma City showcases a variety of Opening Night performers and artists in a five-hour entertainment extravaganza, ending in a dazzling fireworks display. Opening Night provides something for everyone whether it's two-stepping to country music, swing dancing to big bands, or playing in the children’s area. There is always great music and entertainment for Opening Night revelers to dance into the new year.
Oklahoma City Storytelling Festival
September 9-10, 2011
StageCenter in Downtown Oklahoma City
Rated by USA Today as "one of the best places in the country to hear (or tell) a good story," The Oklahoma City Storytelling Festival, formely known as WinterTales, brings some of the nation's best storytellers to Oklahoma City where they teach, touch, and entertain through the art of storytelling. The two-day festival consists of evening performances and educational workshops that help people learn how to enhance their communication skills with storytelling. The storytellers also participate in special outreach programs where they visit local schools, universities and community organizations to share their work.
Sunday Twilight Concert Series
June - August 2011
Downtown Oklahoma City
Throughout the summer, the Arts Council presents free concerts at the Myriad Botanical Gardens for all to enjoy. Families and friends gather, bringing picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs, listening to the sounds of talented local performers as the sun sets on the Oklahoma horizon.
Arts Move, Presented by Devon
Year-round in Downtown Oklahoma City
The Arts a la Carte Program is a brand new Arts Council initiative that will provide free, daily lunchtime arts programming to the downtown area. We are working with various locations, such as the Downtown Library, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and the newly-renovated Myriad Gardens, to host these events. An emphasis will be placed on collaborating with our downtown partners. This might include special boxed lunches from local restaurants, as well as events tailored to augment existing programming at each site.
Community Arts
Year-round
The Community Arts Program coordinates arts education programs for at-risk or underserved youth throughout the greater Oklahoma City area.
Neighborhood Arts, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Library System, and Play in the Park, with the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department, bring educational performances and arts instruction to thousands of children each summer. Arts After School offers high quality, in-depth arts classes during the academic year, and Gear Up at the Festival of the Arts gives high school students the chance to interact with arts professionals and consider a career in the arts. In all, Community Arts Program projects reach over 17,000 youth each year.
Out of the Box
Year-round
Downtown and Bricktown
Out of the Box Productions (OTB) is the newest program of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. OTB has been developed to help cultivate new and creative street performers in Downtown OKC, as well as to familiarize the public with the art of street performance. OTB’s performance roster contains over 40 performers/groups, offering a variety of musical genres, visual arts mediums, and variety acts. This group of amateurs and professionals has provided more than 60 performances this year, reaching an estimated 25,000 people.
