OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Arts Council Oklahoma City is officially launching its 2027 Artist Application Season, inviting artists, performers, culinary creators, young leaders, and creative entrepreneurs to apply for opportunities that help shape one of Oklahoma City’s most celebrated cultural traditions.
Application opening July 13–Teen Arts Council
Application opening July 31
- Festival Visual Artists
- Festival Emerging Artists
- Festival Food Vendors
- Festival Performing Artists
- Fresh Paint Mural Artists
- Creators Collective Vendors
- Youth Art Sale Artists
Each year, these application periods mark the beginning of Festival planning, as hundreds of artists and creatives from Oklahoma and across the nation submit work for consideration. Behind every accepted application is a thoughtful review process designed to showcase artistic excellence, celebrate emerging talent, and ensure Festival of the Arts continues to evolve alongside today’s creative landscape.
Together, these programs create the vibrant mix of visual art, live performance, culinary experiences, public art, and interactive creativity that defines Festival of the Arts each spring.
Festival Director Susan Tate, who steps into her first year leading Festival production after a decade of folk music festival leadership experience and serving alongside the 2026 production team, identifies the application process as fundamental to preserving Festival’s reputation for artistic excellence while continually introducing audiences to new voices.
“Joining the Arts Council Team just before the 60th anniversary of Festival of the Arts allowed me to meet so many of our amazing visual, culinary, and performing artists during the event,” recounts Tate. “Our juried selection process ensures we maintain the high standards set by our returning favorites as well as create opportunities to feature professional artists new to Festival. With applications opening soon, I can’t wait to see the creativity and diversity of artists who apply! Applications are also opening for our other fantastic projects, including the Fresh Paint and the Emerging Artists mentorship programs, Youth Art Sale, and Creator’s Collective – all of which support our mission of ‘bringing the arts and community together.’”
Festival of the Arts welcomes applicants at every stage of their artistic careers. Whether applying as a nationally recognized exhibitor, an emerging artist, a performer, a culinary vendor, or a youth artist, each submission is evaluated according to the standards established for its respective program.
To help applicants prepare their strongest submissions, Arts Council OKC provides extensive online resources, including application guidelines, eligibility requirements, frequently asked questions, important deadlines, and portfolio recommendations. These resources are designed to demystify the application process and help applicants understand what juries are looking for before they submit.
https://www.artscouncilokc.com/festival-of-the-arts/
For Oklahoma high school students, Teen Arts Council offers a different kind of creative opportunity.
Opening July 13, Teen Arts Council applications invite students entering grades 9–12 to join a year-long leadership program that explores the arts through service, professional development, event production, and community engagement. Participants build relationships with peers from across the metro while working alongside arts professionals and civic leaders to develop skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
According to Teen Arts Council Staff Liaison LaRissa Conn, one of the program’s greatest strengths is the community each class builds together.
“We present every Teen Arts Council class with a variety of unique opportunities within the local Arts Economy, including a behind-the-scenes look at Festival of the Arts,” Explains Conn. “But the biggest benefits of all are the relationships these students form that far outlast the initiative’s nine calendar months. Students get the chance to grow their network through introductions to professional artists and local art organizations, as well as the community they build within the cohort. Once you are a part of the TAC, you are always a part of the TAC. Through whatever roles you book, art exhibits you show in, performances you prepare for, film festivals you produce, the TAC community will be there cheering you on!”
Whether applicants are preparing a professional portfolio, pitching a new food concept, auditioning a performance, submitting their first mural proposal, or taking their first step into arts leadership, Arts Council OKC encourages creatives of every experience level to explore the opportunities available.
Complete application information, preparation resources, eligibility requirements, and submission deadlines can be found at:
www.artscouncilokc.com/allaccessarts/teen-arts-council/
About Arts Council Oklahoma City
Arts Council Oklahoma City is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the arts and the community together through exceptional cultural experiences, arts education, free public programming, and community engagement initiatives. Through Festival of the Arts, All Access Arts, Art Moves, and other year-round programs, Arts Council OKC serves more than 650,000 people annually while expanding equitable access to the arts throughout central Oklahoma.
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