Vision Arts 4 Grant Winners Announced

4/14/2023

The City of Tulsa, Tulsa City Council and the Tulsa Arts Commission are pleased to announce the selected Vision Arts 4 grantees. Since this Vision Tulsa program began, this is the fourth installment of $150,000 in grants to local nonprofit arts, humanities, and cultural organizations.  

“Tulsans are investing in themselves, their quality of life, and their future through Vision Tulsa,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “We see this not only in the structures we are building, but also in the arts experiences that we are supporting through the Vision Arts program. Tulsa’s arts scene benefits from these grant funds, making possible more art offerings to the public and more arts jobs created, strengthening Tulsa’s economy and attractiveness as a tourist destination.” 

Vision Arts supports organizations and activities that provide quality arts and cultural programming to the citizens of Tulsa while simultaneously promoting and encouraging tourism and economic development throughout the city.  

Funds for the program are made possible through the Vision Tulsa economic development package approved by Tulsa voters in April 2016.  

Awardees were required to specify how their proposal will promote tourism or have an economic impact within Tulsa. The proposals were based upon the following: 

• A single event, performance, project, and/or work of art, OR 
• A series of events, performances, and/or works of art that are promoted and marketed as a single integrated occurrence, OR 
• Another initiative of an arts organization featuring demonstrable economic impacts or the promotion of cultural tourism. 

Two City Councilors, Crista Patrick and Lori Decter Wright, serve on the Independent Review Panel to assist the Arts Commission in the review process.  

“I am honored to continue to take part in this grant process to help support the arts in our community during a time when it is needed more than ever,” City Council Chair Crista Patrick said. “The arts are crucial during challenging times not only to stimulate the economy, but also to help unite people.” 

City Councilor Lori Decter Wright said, “This fourth grant cycle of the Vision Arts Grants brings forward two dozen exciting proposals from Tulsa’s visual and performing arts producers, cultural institutions and creatives. These projects are a boost to our economy and continue to promote Tulsa as destination for world-class art, entertainment and culture for local residents and visitors from across the region and around the globe.” 

The program will invest a total of $76,000 in 14 organizations whose annual donations do not exceed $400,000/year: 

• $35,000 to five performing arts organizations   
• $5,000 to Heller Theatre Company 
• $5,000 to Portico Dance Theatre DBA Oklahoma Movement 
• $7,500 to Friends of Starlight Concerts, Inc. 
• $7,500 to Theatre North            
• $10,000 to Chamber Music Tulsa Inc.
   
• $21,000 to three miscellaneous organizations:   
• $8,000 to Historic Greenwood District Main Street 
• $8,000 to J’Parle’ Artist Group Inc. 
• $5,000 to MapWorks Tulsa, Inc. 
   
• $5,000 to one film or media organizations: 
• $5,000 to Tulsa Inclusive Entertainment           
   
• $10,000 to one culturally- focused institution: 
  • $10,000 to The Church Studio Music Foundation.  

• $5,000 to one art gallery: 
• $5,000 to Brady Craft Inc. 

Additionally, the program will invest a total of $74,000 in 11 larger organizations whose annual donations equal or exceed $400,000/year: 

• $5,000 to one art gallery: 
• $5,000 to Living Arts of Tulsa.
   
• $21,000 to three art museums: 
• $3,000 to Jewish Federation of Tulsa. 
• $10,000 to Philbrook Museum of Art, Inc. 
• $8,000 to The Gilcrease Museum Management Trust. 
   
• $8,000 to one film or media organization: 
• $8,000 to Circle Cinema Foundation Inc. 
   
• $40,000 to four performing arts organizations: 
• $10,000 to Tulsa Opera. 
• $10,000 to Choregus Productions, Inc. 
• $10,000 to Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. 
• $10,000 to Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust. 

About Vision Tulsa 

Vision Tulsa, an $884 million sales tax renewal package approved by voters in 2016, is making substantial investments in economic development, education, public safety, streets and transportation needs citywide. With citizen priorities providing the driving force behind the creation of Vision Tulsa, transformative projects and enhancements are setting the stage for a bright future for Tulsa.