ALLIED ARTS CELEBRATES CHRISTIAN KEESEE AND LARRY KEIGWIN

AS 2025 HONORARY CHAIRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 18, 2025) –– Allied Arts hosted its annual Honorary Chair Event on April 15 to celebrate the visionary leadership and philanthropy of 2025 Honorary Chairs Christian Keesee and Larry Keigwin. Held at Oklahoma Contemporary, more than 200 friends, arts advocates and Allied Arts supporters attended the event to pay tribute to Keesee and Keigwin’s steadfast work to make the arts accessible to more Oklahomans.

The evening’s festivities integrated a few of their favorite things, including a welcome from Mariachi Lopez, a tap performance from Metropolitan School of Dance and a flamenco piece from Calderón Dance Festival/SPARK! Creative Lab.

“Through his roles with the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Chris has been strategic, deliberate and thoughtful in his many efforts and initiatives that are enhancing arts education, public art and creative spaces in Oklahoma,” said Sally Starling, Allied Arts 2025 Campaign Co-Chair. A passionate collector and advocate for contemporary art, Keesee is also the founder and chairman of Oklahoma Contemporary.

“Keigwin, an acclaimed choreographer and artistic director, brings a bold and innovative vision to the world of dance. As the founder of KEIGWIN + COMPANY, he has captivated audiences worldwide with dynamic and engaging performances,” said Jeff Starling, Allied Arts 2025 Campaign Co-Chair. As a trustee of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, Keigwin founded OK Let’s Dance, a dance initiative focusing on bringing the joy of movement to Oklahomans of all ages and backgrounds.

In addition to celebrating Christian Keesee and Larry Keigwin as Honorary Chairs, the event recognizes the contributions of Allied Arts leadership donors. The Starlings announced at the event that more than $2.6 million had been raised as of the date of the event. Since then, the campaign has generated $2.7 million toward the $3.9 million goal.

Donations can be made at www.alliedartsokc.com. A gift in any amount will help Allied Arts reach the campaign goal to support world-class exhibits, performances and productions; arts education in school classrooms, afterschool sites and neighborhood centers; outreach into underserved areas to transport the arts beyond museum walls and performing art halls; and increased access to the beauty and power of the arts for all.

About Allied Arts

As a United Arts Fund, Allied Arts works to broaden support for the arts by raising financial support for cultural organizations, encouraging participation and attendance, advocating for arts education, and promoting excellence in the arts and arts management. Since its founding in 1971, the organization has raised nearly $95 million to advance the arts in central Oklahoma. Learn more at www.alliedartsokc.com. Allied Arts has more than 40 nonprofit cultural organizations under its umbrella. Member agencies include:

• Ambassadors’ Concert Choir

• Arts Council Oklahoma City

• Canterbury Voices

• Carpenter Square Theatre

• Cimarron Opera

• deadCenter Film

• Firehouse Art Center

• Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Thelma Gaylord Academy

• Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art

• Metropolitan School of Dance

• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

• OK City Chorus

• Oklahoma Children’s Theatre

• Oklahoma City Ballet

• Oklahoma City Museum of Art

• Oklahoma Opry

• Oklahoma City Philharmonic

• Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

• Oklahoma Shakespeare

• Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC)

• Oklahoma Youth Orchestras

• Prairie Dance Theatre

• Red Earth, Inc.

• Science Museum Oklahoma

• Sooner Theatre

For more information, contact Allied Arts at 405.278.8944 or visit alliedartsokc.com.

‍