OVAC ARTIST ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM: Call for Oklahoma City-Based Artists in the Visual and Performing Arts

Oklahoma City-based artists are invited to submit an application to be considered for participation in the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's Artist Entrepreneur Program. This program is open to creatives with artistic businesses in the fields of visual arts, music, dance, theater, film/cinematography. Over the course of 10 weeks, artists selected to participate in this program will learn about topics such as business plans, legal, taxes, marketing, grant writing, and more. The program will culminate in a pitch night where artists present their projects for the opportunity to secure funding for future projects.

Learn more at https://www.ovac-ok.org/aep 

APPLICATION COMPONENTS:

__ Artwork samples and corresponding information

__ Resume or CV

__ Proof of Business Operations (contracts, Articles of Incorporation, Tax Returns, etc.)

__ Proof of Eligibility Qualifications
 

ELIGIBILITY - To qualify for project funding and participation in the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1) Be a practicing artist in Oklahoma City in any of the following disciplines or artistic genres since 2021:

• Visual Art (including, but not limited to 2D, 3D, textile, photography, etc.)
• Music
• Dance
• Theater
• Film/Cinematography

2) Maintain a for-profit business registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State and demonstrate records of business operations. (Examples include contracts, articles of incorporation, tax returns, business licenses, business insurance, partnerships, evidence of completed work/projects, and income statements).

3) Established at a physical location within Oklahoma City limits before March 3, 2021*

4) Meets at least ONE of the following (A, B, or C): A. Minority-owned business. (for the purposes of AEP minority-owned is defined by race/ethnicity) B. Operating in Qualified Census Tract (QCT)** C. Demonstration of negative impact due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, as defined and determined by the City of Oklahoma and the ARPA Program, since March 2021. ***

* The business must be operating within Oklahoma City limits. To determine that, applicants must be able to demonstrate where normal business operations occur. P.O. Boxes or mail service location cannot be used to determine the physical location of a business. Businesses operating out of a co-working space as a place of business must have that business listed on their W9 as their official place of business and a lease or contract with said co-working space that began on or before March 3, 2021.

** The Primary place of business will be utilized to determine if the business is operating within a Qualified Census Tract (QCT). Businesses must be located within the QCT by March 3, 2021 in order to qualify for the programs under QCT eligibility.

*** OVAC will work with The Alliance and The City of Oklahoma City to finalize an applicant’s financial circumstance to meet program eligibility. 
 

TIMELINE:

April 23 - Applications Open

April 25 - Info Session via Zoom (12PM–1PM) - Register

May 7 - Office Hours via Zoom (12PM–1PM)

May 21 - Office Hours via Zoom (12PM–1PM and 5:30PM–6:30PM)

June 11 - Applications Due at 11:59PM

July 19 - Artists Notified

September 3 - November 5 - Weekly Course Sessions (Tuesday Nights 5:30-9:00PM, Course Content 6:00 - 8:30PM, with networking before and after)
 

QUESTIONS:

Questions are encouraged! Contact: Kaitlyn Hardiman, Arts Management Solutions, ovac.aep@gmail.com