Investment in the arts

Did you know last year Oklahoma City was named the “Best Place in the Country for Public Art” by USA Today? Over the past decade, almost every nook and cranny in OKC has been filled with interesting and thought-provoking art. This hasn’t happened by accident or happenstance. It has been a concerted effort by city leaders and citizens alike to invest in the arts in Oklahoma City.

In 2009, the Oklahoma City Council pass the 1% for Arts Ordinance. This ordinance set aside 1% of the construction cost of any building, facility, trail or park built by the city for public art. The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs works with the Arts Commission to oversee the coordination of the 1% for Arts ordinance, guides stewardship of the public art collection, and facilitates cultural planning and implementation and the relationships between artists, cultural organizations, and other groups.

If you are interested in seeing all the great public art in OKC this awesome interactive map is the best place to plot out your OKC arts journey.