Press Release
April 1, 2024
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nicole.harvey@history.ok.gov
www.okhistory.org/grants
Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is proud to announce that the Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
“The grant for the Black Liberated Arts Center is a significant step towards preserving our district’s cultural heritage,” said Sen. George Young, Oklahoma City. “This funding will ensure that vital historical documents and items are preserved, accessible for research, and shared with the community through exhibits.”
Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. received $15,000 for a project that will inventory, organize, catalog, and store all items and documents within its possession. This initiative is crucial for ensuring proper preservation for historical purposes, facilitating research, and supporting in-house and touring exhibits.
“We are truly excited to receive this generous grant from the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program,” said Anita Arnold, executive director of Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. “It will enable us to preserve and present our history to the community at large in person and through exhibits. Many thanks to all who worked to make this happen.”
The OHS will distribute over $520,000 in grant funds, with projects ranging from collections care and strategic planning to exhibit development and educational programming.
“Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program, we’re not just funding projects; we’re investing in the preservation of Oklahoma’s rich and dynamic history,” said Nicole Harvey, director of strategic initiatives for the Oklahoma Historical Society. “These grants empower communities across the state to uphold their heritage for future generations, ensuring that the stories of Oklahoma continue to inspire and educate for years to come.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a grants-in-aid program offered by the Oklahoma Historical Society to encourage the collection, preservation, and sharing of Oklahoma history at the grassroots level in all parts of the state. Open to tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations located in Oklahoma and registered with the Oklahoma secretary of state, this grants program offers funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for projects focused on collections, exhibits, and programming. Applications for this annual program open in the fall, and award announcements are made in January. For more information visit okhistory.org/grants.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
###
