Culture & Community

Project: deadCenter Continuum:
Year-Round Educational and Cultural Programming

Summary: Continuum connects audiences to films that explore a variety of cultures/populations that are underrepresented on the big screen. Activities include screenings, film discussions, education, and community gatherings presented in partnership with organizations representing specific Oklahoma City cultural communities, such as OKC Latino Young Professionals, the OKC Pride Alliance, First Americans Museum, and Freedom Oklahoma.

Amount: $20,000

Project: Cultural Theatre Productions

Summary: The production of two family-friendly, culturally relevant shows celebrating Oklahoma’s cultural diversity: 1) “Tomás and the Library Lady”, the true story of a young Mexican immigrant’s journey to the US, and 2) “Little Loksi”, a stage adaptation of a children’s novel by author Trey Hays that tells the story of Loksi the turtle using Chickasaw language and imagery.

Amount: $26,000

Project: Unboxed

Summary: A new performance in collaboration with Oklahoma Contemporary that pairs internationally acclaimed artists with Oklahoma artists to create innovative works inspired by Oklahoma culture. The premiere of “Unboxed” will take place on June 23-25, 2023, and will feature works by visual artist Yatika Starr Fields and choreographer Rena Butler. A free family matinee and movement workshop led by Founder of the Groovemeant Community and expert in street dance culture, Alfonso Pulé, will also be offered.

Amount: $30,000

Project: Fiestas Patrias

Summary: OCCC organized a free public festival celebrating Fiestas Patrias, a national holiday rooted in Latin cultures and celebrated as an independence holiday in Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru and Guatemala. The festival featured the food, music, dance and heritage of the region’s growing Hispanic community. The event featured 100 performers and hosted 23 service providers and 27 vendors. OCCC provided technical assistance to many minority-owned businesses to become first-time vendors for the event.

Amount: $25,000

Program: Native Knowledge OKC

Summary: OKCPS Native American Student Services (NASS) showcased and celebrated Native culture by organizing three engaging events for Oklahoma City residents. These events included an OKCPS Pow-wow, an OKCPS Stompdance, and a Native American Student Art Show.

Amount: $15,000

Program: “Let’s Talk About It” Reading and Discussion Program

Summary: A literature-based reading and discussion program that consists of scholar-led book discussions hosted by libraries, veterans’ centers, senior centers, prisons, and other nonprofits. Each program features books from one of 39 discussion themes that explore diverse Oklahoma cultural identities such as the Immigrant Experience, Civil Rights and Equality, The Modern Indigenous Experience, The Cowboy, and more.

Amount: $25,000

Program: RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker – Spanish Immersion

Summary: Each year, RACE collaborates with Oklahoma City Public School District dance programs, to produce a performance that retells the traditional story of the Nutcracker through an urban lens. For the first time in its 13-year history, RACE launched a Spanish-language version of the performance alongside its English performance that was made available at no cost to the public. RACE worked with eight public school dance programs and 96 students to produce the 2023 performances.

Amount: $15,000

Program: Five Moons Dance Festival

Summary: The OU School of Dance held its 2nd Five Moons Dance Festival celebrating the five Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma known as the Five Moons. As part of the event, NYC-based choreographer Sidra Bell taught a master class for seven Native American dance students from Osage County. Sidra is the first black female choreographer commissioned by the NYC Ballet and her critically acclaimed work has been seen throughout the US and internationally.

Amount: $12,000