Community Initiatives
Community Arts Fund
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance is the official arts agency for Okaloosa County . With support from the State of Florida ’s “State of the Arts” license plate proceeds, Florida State Division of Cultural Affairs, and private funding, the Okaloosa Arts Alliance is able to offer the Community Arts Fund Grant program. The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) recently awarded 4 grants totaling $6,000.00. The organizations that received the grants were Fort Walton Beach High School, Okaloosa Chamber Singers, Pyramid Inc., and the NWFL Symphony Guild. The grants can be awarded and used anytime from January 1, 2012- December 31, 2012 .
A long with giving grants, the OAA supports and promotes art and culture in Okaloosa County by sponsoring workshops for arts organizations and individual artists, offering art programs and performances in public schools, acting as a clearinghouse for arts related information to art organizations and artists, and promoting corporate involvement in support of the arts. If you would like more information on the OAA go to www.okaloosaarts.org.
Community Arts Fund Application CommunityArtsFundapplication 2011-12
OAA Awarded Grants:
2006-2007-The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) awarded 5 arts’ organizations and 3 schools grants ranging from $581.00 up to $1,000, totaling $7,412.00. 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, Okaloosa County Head Start, Fort Walton Beach High School, and Lewis Middle School.
2007-2008-The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) awarded 4 arts’ organizations grants totaling $2000.00. The organizations that just received the grants were Heritage Museum, Okaloosa Chamber Singers, Emerald Coast Chorus, and the Philharmonic Society.
2009-2010- The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) awarded 4 grants totaling $2,000.00. The organizations that received the grants were Pensacola Opera, Heritage Museum, Children in Crisis, and William Augustus Bowles Museum & Historical Foundation.
2011-2012-The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) recently awarded 4 grants totaling $6,000.00. The organizations that received the grants were Fort Walton Beach High School, Okaloosa Chamber Singers, Pyramid Inc., and the NWFL Symphony Guild.
OVAL Art Program
The OVAL Art program (Okaloosa Volunteer Art Lessons) is a series of lessons based on grade-appropriate art prints which have been selected by the School Board. The District also provides an OVAL manual. These lessons, about 30 minutes long each, are provided by volunteers who have been trained in the program. OVAL can be offered to grades K through 5. In these lessons, students learn about the lives and works of the selected artists, and also about some basic art principles (proportion and perspective) and art materials. Lessons are presented in a question-and-answer format, designed to enhance critical thinking skills through observation and comparison, and also in the form of drawing sessions using select works. These drawing projects measure and enhance direction-following skills, as well as visual interpretation of information, and problem-solving skills. Volunteers for OVAL do not need any artistic skills or background. The training session will teach the volunteer how to use the manual, how to create a lesson, and how to set up class sessions with a grade level. In addition, the trainer will be available throughout the year as a coach and mentor. There will be supplemental materials available to augment the OVAL materials. The teacher is always in the classroom with the OVAL volunteer, so class management is not a problem. This is a fun way to work with children, helping them learn about art and artists, developing skills which will carry over into other academic areas, and giving them the confidence to enjoy art in museum and other settings. PLEASE consider volunteering with OVAL! For more information, click here to e-mail Rae Schwartz.