Arts Council warns of NEA funding uncertainty and details relocation costs to OMES

The Oklahoma Arts Council told the Senate subcommittee it has distributed $10 million in ARPA relief to 178 nonprofit arts organizations and is asking for budget adjustments tied to federal funding uncertainty and an upcoming move back into a renovated state building.

Deputy Director Chandra Boyd said OMES has set a projected annual cost of $172,575 for the Arts Council based on an exclusive leased space of 11,850 square feet and a common-area allocation of 5,850 square feet. "We don't get to negotiate the rate," Boyd said. "So that includes, we have what we've worked on in our square footage...We don't get to pick. We don't get to pick." She added agencies will not be allowed to bring back their existing furniture and that OMES will own the new furniture in the building.

Council leadership warned that federal support through the National Endowment for the Arts could be cut; the director said OAC has modeled contingency plans for up to a 35% reduction to NEA funding and would prioritize rural and arts-education programs if cuts occur.

Several senators, including Chair Pugh, criticized the state practice of charging agencies for lease, relocation and furniture costs through OMES. "I actually think we've done the opposite," the chair said, urging the legislature to examine whether appropriations should instead be made directly to OMES or whether the pass-through process creates duplicative overhead.

The Arts Council also requested recurring pay adjustments and said it wants to minimize overhead so pandemic recovery dollars reach organizations across Oklahoma. The committee requested more detailed cost breakdowns and maps of the proposed office footprint.