Allied Arts officially launched its 2026 fundraising campaign on February 3 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art with more than 200 supporters in attendance. Campaign co-chairs Susan Davis Jordan, Bank of Oklahoma, and Farooq Karim, REES, announced that more than $1 million has been raised toward the $3.85 million campaign goal.

The Allied Arts annual campaign supports more than 40 local arts nonprofits which provide world-class programming in our backyard while also expanding access to the arts for rural and underserved Oklahomans. Allied Arts funding reaches more than one million people each year including youth, families, veterans and people living with disabilities through in-school teaching artists, touring productions, and healing music, visual art and dance programs.

“Allied Arts has been strengthening central Oklahoma’s cultural landscape for 55 years, and this anniversary gives us a meaningful opportunity to build on that legacy,” said Jordan. “Expand Energy is helping us leverage that impact with a $55,000 match challenge during Allied Arts Month this February. We are hoping to inspire 10 new donors to join us with a $5,500 gift, which would allow us to unlock the full match and generate additional support to arts organizations that transform lives across our community.”

Throughout the event, guests enjoyed performances by Oklahoma Youth Orchestras, Oklahoma Opry and Perpetual Motion Dance, organizations supported by Allied Arts. During the program, Jordan and Karim premiered the 2026 campaign video, which will be featured at local businesses participating in the Allied Arts employee giving program. Workplace giving is a critical part of the annual effort, generating nearly one-quarter of all funds raised.

Joining Jordan and Karim as part of this year’s campaign leadership, Allied Arts will recognize Leslie and Cliff Hudson as Honorary Chairs, celebrating their long-standing service and leadership in public health, education and the arts.

“As both an architect and a practicing artist, I see every day how the arts enhance our communities - sparking imagination, building connection and helping people of all ages see

new possibilities for themselves,” said Karim. “I have been fortunate to work with many of our local arts organizations, and I have seen the impact they have when the community invests in them. The Allied Arts campaign is a chance to come together and ensure that the arts remain accessible, vibrant and transformative for all of us.”

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 $100 million to advance the arts in central Oklahoma. 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

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