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The Future is Bright for Arts in Okaloosa County
Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) is the officially designated arts agency for Okaloosa County. The purpose of OAA is to support and promote art and culture in Okaloosa County through a variety of means. These include:
- sponsoring workshops and seminars for arts organizations and individual artists
- providing grants to non-profit arts organizations
- offering art programs and performances in public schools
- acting as a clearinghouse for arts related information to art organizations and artists
- promoting corporate involvement in support of the arts
Since 1995 most of the art organizations in Okaloosa County have met and worked together as a committee of the Arts Council of Northwest Florida, headquartered in Pensacola. Early in 2004 these constituent groups decided that they could more efficiently promote the arts in Okaloosa County by becoming independent of the Council. Accordingly, the group incorporated as a Florida non-profit organization, Okaloosa Arts Alliance, Inc. and was designated by the Okaloosa County Commission as the Local Arts Agency for the county.
At this early phase of OAA's development, support has been strong among leading arts organizations of the area as well as county officials. The future is bright for OAA in this dynamic and growing region of Northwest Florida. The OAA meets the 2nd Monday of the month at noon at Shalimar town hall.
OAA News
First Annual Family Fun Arts Fest
The Family Fun Arts Fest held on May 18th and sponsored by the Okaloosa Arts Alliance was a huge success. Over 1300 people attended the first annual Family Fun Arts Fest. Kids had fun painting on a large canvas, competing in the sandcastle contest, and learning from the performers. The silent auction raised over a thousand dollars. David Crawford, who generously donated his winnings back to the OAA, won the 50/50 raffle. Ted Corcoran, FWB Chamber president and Dr. Alexis Tibbetts, Superintendent of Okaloosa County School District emceed at the performance venue to a receptive audience.
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance greatly appreciates everyone who participated in the first Family Fun Arts Fest. Thank you to, Dr. Alexis Tibbetts, Ted Corcoran, to our sponsors, Z96, “On the Coast” Magazine, and Shadetree Sound, to all the performers, vendors, volunteers, silent auction donators, and to everyone who attended the Family Fun Arts Fest.
OAA Awards Grants totaling $9,412
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) has awarded 7 arts’ organizations and 3 schools grants ranging from $581.00 up to $1,000, totaling $9,412.00 in the past year. 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, Heritage Museum, Emerald Coast Chorus, Okaloosa County Head Start, Fort Walton Beach High School, and Lewis Middle School.