OKC Receives $50,000 Grant for Public Art Plans

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded a $50,000 grant for Oklahoma City's comprehensive public art master plan.

The grant was announced Wednesday and will be used to hire a consultant to develop a plan to support the city's public arts initiative.

The city commissioned a cultural plan from the Cultural Development Corporation of Central Oklahoma in 2009. The plan was completed in 2010 and includes a recommendation for a comprehensive public art master plan.

Cultural group President Julia Kirt says the grant validates past efforts and advances future work on initiatives to advance arts education, celebrate cultural and demographic diversity and unify existing arts organizations. The grant money will also help expand the arts and cultural tourism and increase financial support to sustain the cultural efforts.