OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 50 SUMMERS OF INSPIRING OKLAHOMA’S YOUNG ARTISTS
OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 50 SUMMERS OF INSPIRING OKLAHOMA'S YOUNG ARTISTS
OKLAHOMA ARTS INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 50 SUMMERS OF INSPIRING OKLAHOMA’S YOUNG ARTISTS
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Arts Institute (OAI) is launching a yearlong celebration recognizing 50 Summers of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain, one of the nation’s premier residential arts education programs for high school students.
Founded in the late 1970s, OAI has impacted thousands of students and educators through nationally recognized programs, including the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain and the Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute. For 50 years, participants from across Oklahoma have gathered to learn from accomplished artists and educators while exploring disciplines such as visual arts, creative writing, dance, drama, film and video, orchestra and chorus.
Today, OAI alumni can be found working across industries, including education, business, entertainment, healthcare, public service and the arts, carrying with them the creativity, confidence and leadership skills developed through their experiences at Quartz Mountain.
“For 50 summers, the Oklahoma Arts Institute has helped young people discover their voices, build confidence and realize what is possible for their future,” said Shannon Gilbert, President & CEO of the Oklahoma Arts Institute. “This celebration honors every student, educator, artist, donor and supporter who has helped make Quartz Mountain a transformational experience for generations of Oklahomans.”
The celebration officially kicks off June 13, 2026, with the opening of the 50th Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. This summer, 233 of Oklahoma’s most talented high school students will head to Quartz Mountain and join more than 35 nationally recognized faculty members and guest artists from across the country for two weeks of intensive artistic training, collaboration and creative exploration.
In recognition of this milestone, Governor Kevin Stitt issued a special commendation honoring the Oklahoma Arts Institute and its lasting impact on generations of Oklahoma students, educators and communities.
The organization’s impact has extended far beyond artistic training. OAI programs help students develop leadership, collaboration, communication and creative problem-solving skills that prepare them for success in every field.
“Oklahoma Arts Institute represents the best of what arts education can accomplish,” Gilbert said. “The arts help students grow not only as artists, but as people. They teach resilience, empathy, discipline and creativity. Those skills matter everywhere.”
Throughout the anniversary year, OAI plans to celebrate its history and alumni through special events, storytelling initiatives and community engagement efforts highlighting the organization’s lasting impact in Oklahoma and beyond.
The public is also invited to experience the next generation of Oklahoma artists during several performances and showcases at Quartz Mountain this summer. On June 19, OAI is planning a special presentation of HITCity: Temptations Edition, an immersive concert celebrating the music, legacy, and enduring influence of The Temptations and the iconic Motown sound that helped shape American culture. Featuring five of Broadway’s distinguished leading men, the production is led by Broadway producers Elliott Cornelious and returning OAI guest artist Pamela Ross. On June 24, OAI will join the nationwide America250 celebration featuring the 145th Army Band “The Governor’s Own”, alongside student performances from across artistic disciplines. The Institute’s signature OnStage Weekend, June 26- 27, will feature final student performances and exhibitions in dance, acting, creative writing, film and video, visual arts, chorus and orchestra, providing the public with an opportunity to experience the culmination of two weeks of intensive artistic study. All performances are free and open to the public at the Robert M. Kerr Performing Arts Center at Quartz Mountain.
Additional information about the 50 Summers celebration, public performances and alumni events will be announced throughout 2026 and 2027. To learn more about the Oklahoma Arts Institute and the 50 Summers celebration, visit https://oaiquartz.org/onstage.
Major support for the Oklahoma Arts Institute is provided in part by Kirkpatrick Foundation, Inc., The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation and Crawley Family Foundation, with additional support from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Oklahoma Arts Council receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For a full listing of our generous sponsors, visit https://oaiquartz.org/support/donors.
OAI is recognized by the state legislature as Oklahoma’s Official School of the Arts, empowering young artists to refine their craft, expand their creative horizons, and join a statewide network of accomplished alumni.
Quartz Mountain State Park & Lodge has been home to OAI’s residential programs since 1978, a state-owned facility of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
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Taylor Ketchum, APR
Vice President
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