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The Future is Bright for Arts in Okaloosa County
Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) is the officially designated arts agency for Okaloosa County. The purpose of OAA is to support and promote art and culture in Okaloosa County through a variety of means. These include:
- sponsoring workshops and seminars for arts organizations and individual artists
- providing grants to non-profit arts organizations
- offering art programs and performances in public schools
- acting as a clearinghouse for arts related information to art organizations and artists
- promoting corporate involvement in support of the arts
Since 1995 most of the art organizations in Okaloosa County have met and worked together as a committee of the Arts Council of Northwest Florida, headquartered in Pensacola. Early in 2004 these constituent groups decided that they could more efficiently promote the arts in Okaloosa County by becoming independent of the Council. Accordingly, the group incorporated as a Florida non-profit organization, Okaloosa Arts Alliance, Inc. and was designated by the Okaloosa County Commission as the Local Arts Agency for the county.
At this early phase of OAA's development, support has been strong among leading arts organizations of the area as well as county officials. The future is bright for OAA in this dynamic and growing region of Northwest Florida. The OAA meets the 2nd Monday of the month at noon at Shalimar town hall.
OAA News
2nd Annual Family Fun Arts Fest
The 2nd annual Family Fun Arts Fest was a success with nearly 1500 hundred people attending and raising nearly $2500. The 50/50 raffle winner generously donated his winnings to the OAA.
The first poster contest was a success with 46 entries. The High School winners were-1st place-Francesca Valverde, who is in 9th grade at Crestview High School, 2nd place- Madison Smith, who is in 10 grade at Crestview High School, and 3rd place- Sylvia Schutter, who is in 10th grade at Fort Walton Beach High School. The Middle School winners were-1st place-Kayerah Phillips, who is in 6th grade at WC Pryor Middle School, 2nd place-Tiara Rickman, who is in 5th grade at Wright Elementary, and 3rd place-Jasmine Barbour, who is in 7th grade at Bruner Middle School. The Elementary School winners were- 1st place-Gloria Clark, who is in 4th grade at Liza Jackson Preparatory School, 2nd place- Allyson Windham, who is in 1st grade at Antioch Elementary, and 3rd place- Nina Brown, who is in 3rd grade at Liza Jackson Preparatory School. Each 1st place winner received a $100 gift card and will be on the 2010 Family Fun Arts Fest flyer, each 2nd place winner received a $50 gift card, and each 3rd place winner received a $25 gift card. Thank you to everyone who participated.
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance greatly appreciates everyone who participated in the second Family Fun Arts Fest. Thank you to Dr. Tibbetts, to our sponsors: Boeing and Shadetree Sound. Thank you to Nationwide Tents’N’Events, Santa Rosa Mall, Okaloosa Chamber Singers, Emerald Coast Writers, jazzybluedance, Inc, Destin Target, Destin Best Buy, NWF State College, Youth Village, Emerald Coast Concert Association, Destin Longhorns, Scott Walton, Ann Wagner, Rave Movie Theater, “On the Coast” Magazine, Emerald Coast Pipe & Drum, Arts & Design Society, German Club, ResortQuest, Ursel Behnken, and Maison Le Cel for their generous donations. Finally, thank you to all the performers, vendors, volunteers, and everyone who attended the Family Fun Arts Fest.
Crestview Committee
A Call to ARTS!
Are you an artist or interested in the arts (fine and/or performing)?
Do you wish there was a networking organization to:
promote art events in our area?
connect people working in the arts?
offer mentoring to new groups?
offer grants and grant application help for groups in the arts?
publicize member activities?
make our area more aware of cultural opportunities?
Our area has many outstanding artists and performers, and many more who would be interested in becoming more actively involved in the arts. Even more would be interested in more cultural events in our communities. Does one of these statements describe you? Then please join us!
Where: Bob Sikes Library
When: Monday, July 20, 2009
6:00 PM
For more information about this committee contact Rae Schwartz at bakerny@yahoo.com.
OAA Awards Grants
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) recently awarded 6 grants totaling $10,000.00. The organizations and schools that received the grants were Fort Walton Beach High School Drama Department, Pensacola Opera, Emerald Coast Children’s Community Theatre, Northwest Florida Symphony Guild, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and Heritage Museum.
Last year, the Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) awarded 7 arts’ organizations and 3 schools grants ranging from $581.00 up to $1,000, totaling $9,412.00. The organizations and schools that received the grants were the Arts and Design Society, Oz, Emerald Coast Children’s Theater, The Philharmonic Society of NWF, Okaloosa Chamber Singers, Stagecrafters Community Theatre, Heritage Museum, Emerald Coast Chorus, Okaloosa County Head Start, Fort Walton Beach High School, and Lewis Middle School.
Wine, Cheese, & Dessert Reception
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance’s, Wine, Cheese, and Dessert Reception held at The Magnolia Grill of Fort Walton Beach on Sunday, January 11, 2009 was a success. Nearly $1000 was raised for the Okaloosa Arts Alliance.
Tom & Peggy Rice, owners of The Magnolia Grill in Fort Walton Beach, generously hosted the reception. Volunteers included board members and the executive director from the Okaloosa Arts Alliance. The Emerald Coast Pipes & Drums, “Destiny,” a quartet from the Emerald Coast Chorus, and the Fort Walton Beach High School Drama Department dazzled everyone with their musical talent. Artwork was on display from The Pastel Society of Northwest Florida and the Arts and Design Society. The raffle included tickets generously donated by the Sinfonia, the Fort Walton Beach High School Drama Department, and the Emerald Coast Concert Association.
OAA Receives UCAP Grant
The Florida Division of Cultural Affairs recently awarded the Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) with the Underserved Arts Communities Assistance Program (UACAP) Grant totaling $5,000. The grant will be used for salary assistance for the Okaloosa Arts Alliance.
"State of the Arts" Tags support OAA
Support the Okaloosa arts Alliance by purchasing a “State of the Arts” license plate from the Okaloosa County tag office. The Okaloosa County DMV tag office is a place that you can give charitably and make a personal statement. The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) is the officially designated 501(C) 3 non-profit arts agency for Okaloosa County. The mission of the OAA is to enrich the quality of life in Okaloosa County by nurturing, encouraging and promoting art and culture in our county. The money received through the tag program is used to sponsor workshops for arts organizations and individual artists, offer art programs and performances in public schools, give out grants to arts organizations, schools, and individual artists, act as a clearinghouse for arts related information to art organizations and artists, and to promote corporate involvement in support of the arts. For more information on the “State of the Arts” tag go to www.hsmv.state.fl.us.