USAO Logo

Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute brings flurry of activity to USAO campus this summer


OSAI students live and learn on the USAO campus this July
OSAI students live and learn on the USAO campus this July

For the first time in their more than 40-year history, the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute is being held at USAO! We are absolutely thrilled to welcome these extraordinarily talented high school students to our beautiful and historic campus!

OSAI group

OSAI art2

OSAI ballet2

World-class artists join the OSAI faculty each summer to mentor hundreds of young Oklahomans in acting, chorus, creative writing, dance, drawing and painting, film and video, orchestra and photography. Students are selected through a competitive audition process.

OSAI music2

OSAI art1

OSAI writing

OSAI drama1

OSAI ballet3

OSAI music3

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still a serious concern, the organization had to look for innovative ways to still fulfill their mission while also ensuring the health and safety of all of their students, staff and faculty. The USAO infrastructure allows for a greater variety of housing, classroom and rehearsal spaces, ensuring that social distancing can be maintained during an unusual summer. 

OSAI art3

OSAI drama2

OSAI ballet1

OSAI music1

“With OSAI's distinguished history, it seems only natural to host them at one of the state’s oldest public institutions of higher education, and the only one exclusively dedicated to an interdisciplinary education in the arts and sciences," said USAO President John Feaver. "We have learned a lot through the pandemic, and we are happy that our experience can help another important institution fulfill their mission while keeping everyone safe!”