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Community Initiatives
Community Arts Fund
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance enhances the cultural environment of its community, through the promotion, coordination, and nurturing of high quality arts and cultural resources that enrich the lives of residents and visitors. With support from the State of Florida's State of the Arts license plate proceeds and private funding, the Okaloosa Arts Alliance is pleased to offer the Community Arts Fund Grant program. Applicants are evaluated on how their proposed project affects the arts in Okaloosa County, how it advances the mission of the OAA and how it relates to the criteria listed in the grant application.
Community Arts Fund Application 2008-2009 Grant Application
OVAL Art Program
The OVAL Art program (Okaloosa Volunteer Art Lessons) is a series of lessons based on grade-appropriate art prints which have been selected by the School Board. The District also provides an OVAL manual. These lessons, about 30 minutes long each, are provided by volunteers who have been trained in the program. OVAL can be offered to grades K through 5. In these lessons, students learn about the lives and works of the selected artists, and also about some basic art principles (proportion and perspective) and art materials. Lessons are presented in a question-and-answer format, designed to enhance critical thinking skills through observation and comparison, and also in the form of drawing sessions using select works. These drawing projects measure and enhance direction-following skills, as well as visual interpretation of information, and problem-solving skills. Volunteers for OVAL do not need any artistic skills or background. The training session will teach the volunteer how to use the manual, how to create a lesson, and how to set up class sessions with a grade level. In addition, the trainer will be available throughout the year as a coach and mentor. There will be supplemental materials available to augment the OVAL materials. The teacher is always in the classroom with the OVAL volunteer, so class management is not a problem. This is a fun way to work with children, helping them learn about art and artists, developing skills which will carry over into other academic areas, and giving them the confidence to enjoy art in museum and other settings. PLEASE consider volunteering with OVAL! For more information, click here to e-mail Rae Schwartz.
Workshops and Seminars
OAA plans to support and promote the arts through the sponsorship of workshops and seminars for arts organizations and individual artists.