City, Tulsa Arts Commission Announce Seventh Round of Vision Arts Grants for Nonprofit Organizations

City, Tulsa Arts Commission Announce Seventh Round of Vision Arts Grants for Nonprofit Organizations

10/31/2025

Vision Arts 7 to Serve as Catalyst for Civic Engagement, Economic Growth

The City of Tulsa's Office of Public Art & Community Partnerships (OPACP), in partnership with the Tulsa Arts Commission, has announced the opening of the Vision Arts 7 Grant Cycle, which invests $150,000 annually in Tulsa-based arts and cultural organizations whose work advances public access to the arts, community storytelling, economic vitality, and tourism.

Vision Arts Purpose

In April 2016, voters approved Vision Tulsa, which included funding for a program supporting arts projects that stimulate economic development throughout Tulsa. As part of the package, $2,250,000 was allocated to the Tulsa Arts Commission to provide annual arts support over a 15-year cycle, with $150,000 awarded every year to eligible organizations.

Building on the foundation established through the Vision Tulsa economic development initiative, Vision Arts 7 continues the City's commitment to leveraging the arts as both an economic driver and a cornerstone of civic infrastructure. The program invites artists and cultural organizations to submit proposals that revitalize neighborhoods, strengthen community pride, and elevate Tulsa's cultural profile as a creative hub.

"Tulsa's creative sector is not just about art - it's about opportunity," said Ashanti Chaplin, the City of Tulsa's Director of Public Art & Community Partnerships. "When we invest in artists and cultural organizations, we're investing in safer neighborhoods, stronger schools, and a more vibrant economy."

Goals and Guidelines

Vision Arts 7 supports projects that demonstrate how the arts fuel both economic and civic outcomes. Proposals should reflect artistic excellence, community engagement, and measurable impact in at least one of the following areas:

• Economic Development & Tourism - Draw visitors, stimulate spending, and enhance Tulsa's reputation as an arts and culture destination. Promote visibility and awareness of Tulsa's creative economic ecosystem. Fortify economic development by directly supporting arts organizations and emphasizing artist-led projects.
• Neighborhood Revitalization - Activate underutilized spaces and reduce blight through creative placemaking.
• Public Safety & Belonging - Foster civic pride, connection, and community well-being.
• Student Outcomes & Youth Engagement - Expand access to arts learning, mentorship, and creative pathways for youth and or TPS students.
• Equitable Access to the Arts - Bring arts and cultural amenities to neighborhoods historically under-resourced or under-represented. Build and diversify arts audiences from research and marketing strategies. Organizations or projects that engage historically under-represented communities, youth, TPS sites, or activate neighborhoods with limited access to cultural amenities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility & Requirements

• Applicants must be Tulsa-based nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3)) or operate under an eligible Tulsa-based fiscal sponsor. Individual artists are eligible to apply if they are Tulsa-based and have fiscal sponsorship.
• Projects must occur within Tulsa city limits in ADA-compliant venues or sites.
• Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project.
• Funding may support artistic fees, materials, production, public programs, and community engagement costs.
• Proposals should align with Vision Tulsa's goals of economic development, cultural tourism, and community revitalization.
• Collaborative partnerships between organizations of different scales and disciplines are strongly encouraged.

Key Dates & More Information

• Application Timeline: November 1 - January 5 at 11:59 p.m.
• Awards Announced: March 30, 2026

Applications are open to Tulsa-based 501(c)(3) organizations or those working with an eligible fiscal sponsor. Projects must occur within Tulsa city limits and in ADA-compliant venues.

For more information and to see the link to the application, visit: https://www.cityoftulsa.org/visionarts

For additional questions, contact: [email protected]

Mandatory Virtual Informational Sessions (all sessions present the same information via Zoom) - Register Online

• Thursday, November 13, 2025, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10 a.m.

Virtual Vision Arts 7 Workshops (not mandatory) - Register Online

• Grant Writing 101: Monday, November 17, 2025, 6 p.m.
• Writing Clear Grant Narratives: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 10 a.m.
• Marketing for Arts & Culture: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 6 p.m.
• Budgeting for the Grant Process: Friday, December 19, 2025, 1 p.m.

ABOUT VISION ARTS

Vision Tulsa, a $884 million sales tax renewal package approved by voters in 2016, is making substantial investments in economic development, education, public safety, streets, and transportation throughout the city. With citizen priorities serving as the driving force behind the creation of Vision Tulsa, transformative projects and enhancements are setting the stage for a bright future in Tulsa. Administered by the Office of Public Art & Community Partnerships in partnership with the Tulsa Arts Commission, the initiative invests in projects that enhance Tulsa's identity as a place of cultural equity, innovation, creativity, and belonging.