OKC Plan, 2000-2020 - City of Oklahoma City

Assets
Oklahoma City’s cultural assets provide a strong foundation for a public/private partnership that will
enhance cultural activity in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is the cultural center of central Oklahoma, with facilities, events and programs
attracting people from throughout the region and beyond. The map on page 78 shows the wide
range of cultural facilities available in Oklahoma City.
Arts and culture play a vital role in bringing businesses and tourists to Oklahoma City.
Three major concentrations of cultural facilities—downtown/Bricktown, the Fairgrounds, and
the museums/racetrack/zoo area, have had major facility improvements since the last plan
update.
Publicly owned cultural facilities include the Civic Center Music Hall, the new Ballpark, Zoo,
Fairgrounds, recreation centers, State history museum, Myriad Gardens, libraries, school
auditoriums and park amphitheaters.
Privately owned or operated facilities have and continue to provide the focus for cultural activity
which include the Oklahoma City Art Museum, City Art Center, Omniplex, Enterprise Square,
Arts Council Complex, Stage Center, Jewel Box Theater and amphitheater, and the future
facility for the Lyric Theatre.
Additionally, college and university facilities including Oklahoma City University,
Oklahoma City Community College, Rose State College, Southern Nazarene University, and
Oklahoma Christian University are centers for community cultural activity.
Neighborhood and business groups provide cultural identity to commercial areas (including
ethnic diversity), and support programs to honor Oklahoma City’s history by preserving
significant sites and buildings.
The City government’s current level of service includes support for community events and
facilities; basic arts and cultural programs in community centers for children and seniors; work
with Downtown Now to coordinate services and knowledge of events; recognition of the need
for public art; and support of partnership programs such as Play in the Park.
The Greater Oklahoma City Cultural Plan provides a framework for a public/private partnership
that outlines goals developed with input from cultural organizations, artists, citizens and
community volunteer leadership.
Oklahoma City has an outstanding “human capital” of artists and artisans, and cultural
organizational leadership, both staff and volunteer leaders. Plus, a more recent development of
collaboration and citizen cooperation and trust are additional resources for the region’s
development.
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