Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series receives $20,000 grant as part of American Rescue Plan Act
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma’s Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series was recently awarded a $20,000 grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance, made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of their allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act.
The grant will support costs of presenting workshops, educational outreach performances, masterclasses and performances by world-class professional performing artists.
“For the past 20 seasons, our performing arts series has served the USAO campus, K-12 schools and our community by making attendance accessible and affordable,” said Katie Davis, professor of theatre arts and DWPAS executive director. “We are so grateful for the generous support from the MAAA which is helping us to meet the increased costs of presenting the series during the pandemic. Last season, our virtual series was available free for all subscribers and this year adult ticket prices have not increased, and all students have been offered free tickets to all artist series events. Ensuring local availability of high-quality, professional performance is one way in which we enrich the quality of life for our region.”
The USAO Foundation presents the DWPAS with additional support from the Oklahoma Arts Council, Chickasha Public School Foundation, Mid-America Arts Alliance, and corporate and community partners. Its mission is to encourage attendance at high-quality performing arts events as an aspect of a liberal arts education for students, to provide an affordable entertainment resource for the community, and to become a leader in local arts education by presenting relevant and culturally diverse programming that broadens the aesthetic of our audiences.
“The impacts of COVID-19 on the arts and creative sector have been tremendous,” said Todd Stein, president and CEO of the MAAA. “We are thankful to share these funds from the NEA to assist in their recovery from the ongoing pandemic.”
Strengthening and supporting artists, cultural organizations and communities, the MAAA recently awarded more than $1.1 million in grants to 50 different organizations thanks to funds originating with the American Rescue Plan Act. They have awarded over $6 million in relief funding to artists and arts organizations throughout its six-state region during the pandemic.
Arkansas Recipients:
Arkansans for the Arts, Little Rock, AR: $11,150
Calico Rock Museum & Visitors Center, Calico Rock, AR: $40,000
Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, Hot Springs, AR: $10,000
Open Mouth Reading Series, Fayetteville, AR: $10,000
Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation, Bentonville, AR: $20,000
Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council, Jonesboro, AR: $20,000
Kansas Recipients:
Arts Council of Johnson County, Overland Park, KS: $40,000
Harvester Arts, Wichita, KS: $20,000
Kansas Alliance for the Arts in Education, Salina, KS: $10,000
Lawrence Children’s Choir, Lawrence, KS: $20,000
Manhattan Arts Center, Manhattan, KS: $20,000
Missouri Recipients:
Arts Asylum, Kansas City, MO: $10,000
Black Archives of Mid-America, Kansas City, MO: $40,000
Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO: $20,000
Bootheel Youth Museum, Malden, MO: $40,000
Dances of India, St. Louis, MO: $10,000
Intercultural Music Initiative, St. Louis, MO: $40,000
Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, Maryland Heights, MO: $21,150
No Divide KC, Kansas City, MO: $20,000
Nebraska Recipients:
Benson First Friday, Omaha, NE: $40,000
Blue River Arts Council, Crete, NE: $10,000
Circle Theatre, Omaha, NE: $20,000
El Museo Latino, Omaha, NE: $40,000
BLIXT Locally Grown, Lincoln, NE: $20,000
Nebraskans for the Arts, Omaha, NE: $11,150
Nebraska Writers Collective, Omaha, NE: $40,000
Prairie Arts Center/Creativity Unlimited Arts Council, North Platte, NE: $20,000
West Nebraska Arts Center, Scottsbluff, NE: $10,000
Why Arts, Omaha, NE: $20,000
Oklahoma Recipients:
Osage Ballet, Skiatook, OK: $10,000
Black Liberated Arts Center, Oklahoma City, OK: $40,000
Choregus Productions, Tulsa, OK: $40,000
David-Waldorf Performing Arts Series at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma,
Chickasha, OK: $20,000
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee, OK: $20,000
Oklahomans for the Arts, Oklahoma City, OK: $40,000
Texas Recipients:
Capitol View Arts, Austin, TX: $20,000
Community Artists Collective, Houston, TX: $20,000
Community Music Center of Houston, Houston, TX: $40,000
East Lubbock Art House, Lubbock, TX: $10,000
Flatlands Dance Theater, Lubbock, TX: $10,000
Harris County Cultural Arts Council, Houston, TX: $20,000
India Fine Arts, Austin, TX: $20,000
Make Art with Purpose, Dallas, TX: $10,000
Museum of Human Achievement, Austin, TX: $40,000
Pegasus Media Project, Dallas, TX: $20,000
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance, Austin, TX: $20,000
Texans for the Arts, Austin, TX: $11,150
TILT, Austin, TX: $10,000
Trucha, McAllen, TX: $20,000
USA Film Festival, Dallas, TX: $10,000
For more information, visit usao.edu/dwpas or call (405) 574-1213.