Allied Arts

Find out more about visual arts in Oklahoma...meet OVAC!

Name and Title: Kelsey Karper, Associate Director
Organization Name: Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (otherwise known as OVAC)
Organization Phone Number and Web Site: 405-879-2400, www.ovac-ok.org

Give us the gist of your organization, Twitter-style (that means 140 characters or less).
More than 4,000 artists paint, sculpt, photograph and create around our state and OVAC supports them through a magazine, career education, exhibitions and an online gallery.

What does your organization bring to Central Oklahoma?
Audiences experience work by talented local artists through exciting OVAC events such as Momentum: Art Doesn’t Stand Still, the 12x12 Art Show & Sale, and exhibitions like Art 365. Also, OVAC teaches our community’s artists the business side of art; helping them stay in the area and continue making artwork.

List a few things that your organization is looking forward to in the coming year.
OVAC is kicking off two new programs: The Public Art Mentorship and the Oklahoma Art Writing & Curatorial Fellowship.

The Public Art Mentorship, a partnership with Oklahoma Art in Public Places, gives three artists commissions through the percent-for-art program. OVAC supports the artists’ opportunity to work with an experienced public artist for advice, technical assistance and logistical issues.

The Oklahoma Art Writing & Curatorial Fellowship kicks off in January and lasts the calendar year. Through the program, OVAC hopes to increase scholarly activity about the visual arts in Oklahoma. Well known mentors will lead workshop days and public panels about current topics. The program is in partnership with the University of Oklahoma School of Art & Art History and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

How can people get involved with your organization?
OVAC has many opportunities for involvement. All Oklahoma artists are invited to submit /apply for our exhibitions, grants and awards, as well as to participate in our workshops.

We also have internships and volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can help OVAC with a variety of things, from selling tickets at the door of our events to organizing artist submissions in our office. Anyone interested in volunteering can email Sarah McElroy at office@ovac-ok.org for more information.

Everyone is welcome to our events and exhibitions. You can also enjoy artwork by Oklahoma artists by visiting our online gallery at www.ovacgallery.com.

Name your favorite piece of art or art performance.
OVAC is a fan of original art made by Oklahoma artists!

Which artist would you most like to meet?
We would love to meet artists who love their own work and wants ways to show them off to the public, grow their careers, or start creative events.  We are lucky to get to meet many artists throughout the state. It seems that Oklahoma has an endless supply of artists, as they can be found in even the unlikeliest of places. We always look forward to meeting more Oklahoma artists (especially in their working studios to see their tools, process and cool spaces!).