Oklahoma Organizations to Receive NEA Funding to Present Military Bands
As America prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence on July 4, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced grant awards for two Oklahoma arts organizations that will present military band programs in 2026. The Oklahoma Arts Institute and Oklahoma A+ Schools are two of only 33 organizations nationwide receiving funding to present performances and educational programming featuring U.S. military bands.
Funding for the Oklahoma Arts Institute will support a performance of the 145th Army Band of the Oklahoma National Guard as part of the culminating performance showcase at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (OSAI) at Quartz Mountain. Open to the public, the performance will highlight America’s 250th anniversary through themes of artistic expression, national service, and cultural heritage.
Funding for Oklahoma A+ Schools will support public performances featuring the 145th Army Band of the Oklahoma National Guard and the 395th Army Band as part of a professional development training programs for educators in the fall. In addition to ensemble performances from each band, the project will feature a presentation on military band history and a guided collaborative watercolor workshop culminating in a public exhibition.
In the announcement, NEA Chairman Mary Anne Carter said, “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support projects that celebrate the enduring legacy of U.S. military bands."
