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Art 365-Supporting Oklahoma Artists

The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition celebrated the success of the Art 365 exhibition held in 2008, with well over 3,500 people viewing the exhibit in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The two-phase project, supported in part by the Kirkpatrick Foundation, piloted a new model of supporting artists in Oklahoma. The entire project featured the work of several Oklahoma artists, artist talks, a documentary film and a catalog documenting and analyzing the exhibition. The process began with numerous Oklahoma artists submitting proposals which were screened and narrowed to six selected artists. Those artists, identified by guest curator Diane Barber, from Diverseworks in Houston, received feedback from her, as they started their artistic projects and continuing over the course of several months. During the second phase, the curator visited artists’ studios twice to refine the artists’ vision as they completed the work for exhibition.

The artists chosen for the exhibition were: Sarah Atlee, Norman; Betsy Barnum, Edmond; Joseph Daun, Oklahoma City; Ashley Griffith, Oklahoma City; Darshan Phillips & Aaron Whisner (collaborative), Tulsa; and Liz Roth, Stillwater. Most deeply impacted, the six participating artists received in-depth interaction with the curator, financial assistance for their artistic research and development, and increased exposure through the exhibitions and catalog. They varied in age from 23 to 45 and were at stages of their careers - from an established art professor with an accomplished exhibition record to a young artistic team who designs snow boards as well as creates fine art looking at their artwork as an extension of all their activities.

Diverseworks will host the exhibition in early 2009. OVAC is negotiating with other potential venues in Iowa and Missouri. Marketing will include ambitious advertising in national publications and intense regional promotion. It will also travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Houston Texas over the coming months.

At each venue, OVAC will coordinate lectures, artist panel discussions, educational tours and production of a full color catalog with essays by regional scholars. Through Art 365, OVAC demonstrates its investment in the development of Oklahoma artists. Art 365 pushed innovative artistic creation, educating a broad audience and expanding the vision and visibility of OVAC to a national level. Art 365 will be held every three years. The exhibition is open to individuals, 18 years or older who reside in Oklahoma at time of application and throughout exhibition. The next call for entries will be available in fall of 2009. For more information, visit: www.ovac-ok.org.

Season Sponsorship - Canterbury Choral Society 
With Presenting Sponsor support from the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Canterbury Choral Society continues to further its mission to maintain adult and children's performing community choruses through training and education. Canterbury fosters appreciation of choral singing throughout Oklahoma and the nation, collaborating with such organizations as the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Ballet Oklahoma, Enid Symphony and other area musicians. Canterbury also collaborates with non-arts agencies such as City Rescue Mission, World Neighbors and the American Red Cross and shares choral/music education positions with Oklahoma City University.
The 2008-2009 Season opened with Tony-nominated singer Kelli O’Hara in the Broadway to Bricktown concert, attracting near sold-out audiences and further solidifying the idea of featuring headliners as part of its season. Canterbury Choral Society is the seventh largest volunteer choral organization in the United States, according to figures provided by Chorus America.It features a 125-member Adult Chorus - the flagship program of the organization and the largest of its kind in the state of Oklahoma, receiving numerous community appearance invitations each year. Canterbury is dedicated to a wide array of choral music from the great masterworks to jazz and Broadway music. Collaborations with area high schools, give students the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the Adult Chorus.
Educational programs of the organization have expanded, including the Canterbury Youth Choruses (CYC) designed to reach students in grades 2-9, whose schools may not include choral music education. Canterbury has added a Young Men’s Chorus, offering musical education for children whose voices are beginning to change. Two Saturday Morning Musicianship Classes are offered to foster musical literacy through intensive, age appropriate music theory and ear training for young children.

In the future, a pilot satellite program will reach children in outlying areas of Oklahoma City in order to attract more children to the CYC program and make music education more accessible. A high school honor choir, comprised of highly talented local high school students is planned for the fall of 2009. For additional information about Canterbury, visit: www.canterburyokc.com