September 26, 2026 Issue, Page 10 of 12

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NEWS 10• SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026 The Elk City News Oklahoma Arts Council Awards Grants for Creative Aging Programs Statewide OKLAHOMA CITY (September cil’s Creative Aging Initiative, the Cimmaron Opera (Norman) for ity, and strength. ma City) for Sing Me a Story, an Research consistently demon- 21, 2026) – Grant awards announced grants are supporting programming their Opera Club and AWE-pera Oklahoma City Museum of Art eight-session, hands-on program strates that creative aging programs today by the Oklahoma Arts Coun- that will take place through June Chorus where activities will include for Making Memories, monthly that provides sequential learning improve health outcomes for older cil will help organizations meet the 2027. Applications for the grants education, participation, and perfor- art-making sessions in partnership activities and culminates in a final adults. Cognitive health through health and wellness needs of older open in the spring. mance. with four memory care facilities in storytelling performance. lifelong learning, mental health Oklahomans. The state agency and Organizations awarded funding City of Ada for Creative Connec- the Oklahoma City metro area, with Ponca City Arts & Humanities through social connection, and im- leader for the arts announced awards were: tions: Purposeful Aging Through quarterly public programs at the mu- Council for Soulful Art workshops proved physical health and mobility totaling $165,000 for 13 creative ag- Art Maker (Pawhuska) for Wis- the Arts, a 30-week program of vi- seum that include free access to gal- featuring acrylic painting, watercolor were among the benefits cited by ing programs for fiscal year 2027, dom Arts, with visual arts instruc- sual arts, movement, and storytell- leries and classrooms. journaling, music and movement, participants in a recent assessment with investments in arts programs tion and ballet instruction provided ing. Participants build skills, share Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition tap, ballet, and clay handbuilding. performed by the agency of creative serving older Oklahomans in Ada, to older adults. The project will cul- personal narratives, and strengthen (Statewide) for Artistic Legacy: Cre- Sapulpa Arts & Humanities Foun- aging programs in Oklahoma. Norman, Oklahoma City, Ponca minate in an art exhibition open to social connections, culminating in ative Connections for Oklahoma Se- dation for ARTeries, featuring four- Support for creative aging is City, Pawhuska, Sapulpa, Spencer, the public and a public performance. exhibitions, performances, and a niors, a 20-week program featuring week sessions of hands-on learning among the ways the Oklahoma Arts Tulsa and other communities. Bring Back the Music (Spencer) published anthology. instruction in visual arts and creative in a variety of visual art mediums. Council, as the official state arts Available through the agency’s for Music for Seniors, designed to Fab Lab Tulsa for hands on mak- writing culminating in a community The program includes educational agency, is leading the arts sector in Creative Aging Partnership Grants, support the cognitive, emotional and er projects led by professional artists showcase. field trips. leveraging the arts as a proven tool to the funding supports programs that physical well-being of older adults. focused on digital fabrication and Norman Firehouse Art Center for Tulsa Opera for Songs by Heart, a boost health and wellness outcomes. engage older learners with partic- Introduces participants to musical traditional craft tools. Healing Outreach and Healing Stu- music program that includes singing, Creative Aging Partnership ipatory skill-building experiences instruments, vocal techniques, and Oklahoma City Ballet for Golden dio, hands-on art lessons for older movement, conversation, and con- Grants are made possible with through hands-on sequential arts dance. Techniques will improve mo- Swans, featuring Dance for Parkin- adults with disabilities and elderly nection for older adults living with funding from the Oklahoma State learning led by qualified teaching bility, coordination, and flexibility son’s, Move and Groove, and ballet adults at assisted living facilities and dementia and age-related memory Legislature, National Endowment artists. through movement-based exercises teaching dance techniques to im- adult day centers. loss at senior living and adult day for the Arts, and the Tobacco Set- Part of the Oklahoma Arts Coun- like dance and drumming. prove coordination, balance, flexibil- Painted Sky Opera (Oklaho- sites. tlement Endowment Trust (TSET). SWOSU Welcomes 12 Institutions for Speech, Theatre and Communication Conference Southwestern Oklahoma State The conference gave SWOSU stu- a workshop on marketing theatrical tional rebrand proposal that OSTCA western. Their contributions helped classroom. The organization also University (SWOSU) hosted the dents an opportunity to share their productions. Dr. Lisa Boyles shared members approved during the con- make the full day of presentations, publishes the Oklahoma Communi- 2026 annual conference of the Okla- work in a professional setting along- research about public speaking and ference. workshops and professional discus- cation Journal and addresses issues homa Speech Theatre Communi- side faculty and professionals from equality in teaching formats. Togeth- OSTCA also honored one SWO- sions possible. affecting communication education. cation Association (OSTCA) on other institutions. Presenters includ- er, the faculty and student presen- SU student and two faculty members The Oklahoma Speech Theatre For more information about Saturday, Sept. 12. About 60 faculty ed Lillian Maxey, Sarah McDonald, tations gave colleagues from other during the conference. McAdoo re- Communication Association brings SWOSU’s Department of Creative members, researchers, students and Ela Dougherty, Branigyn McAdoo, universities a closer look at the work ceived the Top Student Paper award. together college and university fac- Media & Visual Arts, visit swo- professionals from 12 colleges and Lucas Punneo, Joi Chappel and Lea taking place within SWOSU’s Cre- Doughty was named Young Theatre ulty from Oklahoma and the sur- su.edu/academics/creative-me- universities came to Weatherford Bidault. Their projects addressed po- ative Media & Visual Arts and Lan- Professor of the Year, and Julian re- rounding region. Its annual con- dia-and-visual-arts for the event. SWOSU students and litical communication on social me- guage & Literature programs. ceived the Ruth Arrington Theatre ference allows members to share faculty took an active role through- dia, women in entertainment media, Several SWOSU faculty members Professor of the Year award. The research and practical ideas for the out the day as presenters, hosts and professional blogging, crisis commu- also hold OSTCA leadership posi- Ruth Arrington award has now gone CBA association leaders. nication, organizational communi- tions. Dr. Matthew Dorr served as to a SWOSU faculty member two This year’s conference centered cation and student journalism. president-elect and conference host years in a row, following Salmans on the theme “Routes and Roots: SWOSU faculty also contribut- before assuming the organization’s Meditz’s recognition last year. Honoring Oklahoma’s Voices, Map- ed research papers, workshops and presidency during the luncheon. Conference sessions took place ping Future Pathways.” Participants presentations. Dr. Patrick Julian led Julian served as head of the Theatre in the General Thomas P. Stafford shared research, teaching ideas and a workshop about keeping Shake- Division during the past year, and Center, followed by a luncheon in creative work related to communi- speare relevant for younger audi- Steven Doughty serves as head of the Memorial Student Center. Sup- cation, theatre, forensics and mass ences, and Dr. Nolan Meditz from the Multimedia Division. Salmans port for the event came from SWO- communication. Ten Oklahoma the Department of Language & Meditz serves as OSTCA’s social me- SU Food Services, Campus Police, institutions were represented, along Literature presented a workshop on dia coordinator and communication Information Technology Services, with Eastern New Mexico University spoken word poetry. Jessica Salmans coordinator. In addition to these Stafford Center staff, Creative Media and Liberty University. Meditz and Angela Keeler Reeves led roles, she presented a full organiza- & Visual Arts faculty and The South- CANUTE Coach Peyton McNutt addresses his team. Congratulations to Milee Porter! She ran Cross Country and placed 10th out of 86 Runners in Class A at Carl Albert Small Congratulations to the JH Fast Pitch Trojanettes! They are the Champions of the JH Arapaho Invitational. School Pre State Meet. Congratulations to Milee Porter and Isaac Gutierrez! They ran Cross Country at Sayre. Milee placed 4th out of 48 in the HS and Isaac 38th out of 76 in JH. We proudly support the students, staff and administration at Canute Schools ~ Great Plains Bank ~ First National Bank Mega Farmers Union Co-Op Gin Breeze & Mini Breeze Call For Pricing! Parts Available! 720 S. Main, Elk City 580-225-6554 580-225-0191 One of the largest metal 918 N. Van Buren suppliers between Elk City, OK 73644 www.elkcitycoop.com OKC and Amarillo www.janningwelding.com