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The mission of the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is to enhance the vitality of the city and the quality of life for all citizens by creating an environment wherein artists and cultural organizations can thrive. By fostering opportunities for creative expression, the OCA assists in preservation and celebration of the city's multi-cultural heritage. A Commission on Cultural Affairs, appointed by City Council, assists the OCA in planning, promoting and encouraging programs that further public awareness of, accessibility to, participation in and support for artistic and cultural development. Learn more about the Commission on Cultural Affairs here.
Arts Agency Opportunity: Annual Arts Funding, due May 2, 2011
Arts Agency Opportunity: Quarterly Arts Funding, due March, June, Sept. & Dec. every year
Artist Opportunity: Commemorative Poster, open to Missouri artists, deadline March 25
Arts Express.....We produce a a
free bi-monthly newsletter of cultural events and
opportunities to experience visual, performing and
literary art. A special section highlights offerings
just for kids. Click here
to read the most recent issue of Arts Express in Adobe Acrobat. Click
here to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Sign up for e-mail
notifications when the latest version is posted
online. To have Arts Express mailed to you, phone, fax
or e-mail your name, address and zip code. Submissions
to Arts Express are welcomed; contact us for deadlines.
The OCA reserves the right to edit or reject submissions.
Artists'
Registry.....Want to commission a portrait?
Need live music at an upcoming event? Interested in
local theater or dance? Check out our on-line
Artists’
Registry...an effort to link potential patrons
with individuals and groups working in dance, literary
art, music, theater and visual art. Visitors can search
for a specific medium or artist or just browse. The
on-line listings are also available in a hard copy
form (contact us for a copy). If you want to be listed,
go to "About the Registry" in the site or
call or e-mail for an application. And let us know
what you think about the Registry by completing
a survey, also included in the "About the Registry"
section. Bookmark the Registry and visit often!
Arts Funding Support
Annual Arts Funding.....The
city supports arts-related projects to meet the needs
of local arts organizations. Currently, $96,000 is being provided to 18 local arts organizations.
Contact us for specific guidelines (revised every
January); or view the online
version of the program guidelines and application. Applications are generally accepted in early May of every year.
Small
Requests.....Applications (for $500 or less) are accepted
year round on a quarterly basis that conforms to the
city's fiscal year (due Sept. 10 for the 1st quarter,
Dec. 10 for the 2nd quarter, March 10 for the 3rd
quarter and June 10 for the 4th quarter). Contact
us for specific guidelines or use the online application form.
Funded
Agencies.....Arts organizations receiving city arts funding may access additional
resources here, including the OCA's logo for use in publicity, the revised project form and final
report form (to be used for both Annual Awards and Small Requests).
Watch a video about the impact of city arts funding on three local organizations here.
C.A.R.E. Gallery.....Begun in 2000, the C.A.R.E. Gallery (Columbia's Art Related Experience) employs youth ages 14-18 to work on community art projects with arts professionals. Gallery objectives are to encourage young artists to continue to develop their skills, to provide them with outlets for their talents, to demonstrate career options in the arts and to provide opportunities to contribute to the community in positive ways. The Gallery is coordinated by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. For more info., contact us or Parks and Recreation.
Columbia
Festival of the Arts.....This
weekend-long celebration of visual, performing and
literary arts was presented annually by the OCA for seventeen years, since 1992, but is being discontinued starting in 2009 (see here for background on this decision). Some aspects of the Festival may be maintained by combining them with other aspects of the OCA's programs and services so please stay in touch as our planning process continues, especially if you are a visual or performing artist. Our sincerest thanks go to the many artists who participated in the Festival over the years, and to the local businesses and individuals who supported
the event with their donations of time and funding. We recognize, too, the Missouri Arts Council's important sponsorship of the Festival over the years.
Commemorative Poster.....Each year since 1992 the OCA has produced an annual Commemorative Poster. The poster is intended to communicate the vitality and beauty of mid Missouri and the significance of the arts. The official poster is unveiled at a get-together of arts enthusiasts in August and is available for purchase year round. An award of $1000 is presented to the artist for the right to reproduce art work for the poster. To view previous posters and the listing of past artists, visit our Poster Gallery. See application guidelines and eligibility here.
Cultural Planning.....The city's cultural plan, "Creative Columbia: A Blueprint for Action," was first adopted in 1993 after extensive consultation in the community. It sets out four main goal areas of arts education, arts business, arts visibility and arts policy, with specific goal statements in each that guide OCA programming decisions. Plan revisions have continued over the years, generally in five year increments as is standard for other city planning documents. The next update is expected to be complete in late 2010 or early 2011. See the most recent version of the plan here.
Gallery Guide.....Expect to see an array of art at the galleries and museums listed in this guide. Painting, photography, ceramics, fiber, sculpture, jewelry, glass, metal and more, made by local and regional artists as well as those from around the nation and the world. Get a free copy of the guide at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, in the lobby of the Daniel Boone City Building or at the OCA, 1 S. 7th Street. Call or e-mail and we'll send you a copy...or view it here (1.81 mb).
Percent for Art.....initiated
in May 1997, this program allows for one percent of
the cost of new city construction or renovation projects
to be used for site specific art. Certain above
ground capital improvement projects are eligible to
have a public art component. A Standing Committee
on Public Art is appointed by City Council to assist
with this program. Learn more about the Standing Committee on Public Art and view the Percent for Art ordinance here. The first Percent for Art projects
occurred at the Eighth and Cherry Parking Garage and
at the Oakland Family Aquatic Center; both were completed
in 1999. A project at Fire Station No. 8 was installed
in late 2001 and one at the Activity and Recreation
Center was completed in late 2002. More recently,
works at the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services
were installed in June 2004 and a project for Stephens
Lake Park was completed in 2005. In 2007, two works were completed and installed at the historic Wabash Station and a project was initiated for the new City Hall. In 2009, a project was completed at Fire Station No. 7. Project were installed in the plaza of the addition to City Hall and at Fire Station No. 9 in 2010. Presently, projects at the Fifth and Walnut Parking Garage and interior spaces of the new addition to City Hall are underway. If you are an artist and want to receive information about upcoming projects, contact us.
Public Art Guide.....take a tour of
Columbia's largest museum, and visit more than 25 works on
a self-guided walking or driving tour of publicly
accessible art. Get a free copy of the guide
at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, in the lobby
of the Daniel Boone Building or at the OCA, 1 S. 7th Street. Call or e-mail and we'll send you
a copy...or take the virtual or audio tours. The audio includes interviews with select artists. Related
resource materials for teachers
are available and are free of charge; they
are also included in the virtual tour.
Technical Assistance.....Workshops with visiting speakers and experts as well as year-round one-on-one assistance are all
components of this service that aims to enhance the administrative,
technical and artistic capacities of local arts agencies.
Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment to meet with staff.
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 6015,
Columbia, MO 65205
Office Location:
in the city's Gentry Building,
1 S. Seventh Street
Telephone:
573.874.6386
Fax:
573.874.7681
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