Cultural Affairs

The mission of the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is to enhance the vitality of the city and the quality of life for all Columbia citizens by creating an environment wherein artists and cultural organizations can thrive, and fostering opportunities for creative expression and the preservation and celebration of the city’s multi-cultural heritage.

Office of Cultural Affairs

The mission of the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is to enhance the vitality of the city and the quality of life for all citizens by creating an environment wherein artists and cultural organizations can thrive. By fostering opportunities for creative expression, the OCA assists in preservation and celebration of the city's multi-cultural heritage. A Commission on Cultural Affairs, appointed by City Council, assists the OCA in planning, promoting and encouraging programs that further public awareness of, accessibility to, participation in and support for artistic and cultural development. Learn more about the Commission on Cultural Affairs here.

Artist Opportunity: Traffic Box Art project in downtown Columbia, postmark deadline 02-16-09
Artist Opportunity: Commemorative Poster, postmark deadline 03-10-09

Services

Arts Express.....a free bi-monthly newsletter of cultural events and opportunities to experience visual, performing and literary art. A special section highlights offerings just for kids. Click here to read the most recent issue of Arts Express in Adobe Acrobat. Click here to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Sign up for e-mail notifications when the latest version is posted online. To have Arts Express mailed to you, phone, fax or e-mail your name, address and zip code. Submissions to Arts Express are welcomed; contact us for deadlines. The OCA reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. Arts Express is a free service to arts organizations and readers.

Artists' Registry.....Want to commission a portrait? Need live music at an upcoming event? Interested in local theater or dance? Check out our on-line Artists’ Registry...an effort to link potential patrons with individuals and groups working in dance, literary art, music, theater and visual art. Visitors can search for a specific medium or artist or just browse. The on-line listings are also available in a hard copy form (contact us for a copy). If you want to be listed, go to "About the Registry" in the site or call or e-mail for an application. And let us know what you think about the Registry by completing a survey, also included in the "About the Registry" section. Bookmark the Registry and visit often!

Gallery Guide.....Expect to see an array of art at the galleries and museums listed in this guide. Painting, photography, ceramics, fiber, sculpture, jewelry, glass, metal and more, made by local and regional artists as well as those from around the nation and the world. Get a free copy of the guide at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, in the lobby of the Daniel Boone City Building or at the OCA, 1 S. 7th Street. Call or e-mail and we'll send you a copy...or view it here (1.81 mb).

Public Art Guide.....take a tour of Columbia's largest museum...visit more than 20 works on a self-guided walking or driving tour of publicly accessible art. Get a free copy of the guide at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, in the lobby of the Daniel Boone Building or at the OCA, 1 S. 7th Street. Call or e-mail and we'll send you a copy...or take the virtual tour. Related resource materials for teachers are available as well and are free of charge; they are also included in the virtual tour.

Technical Assistance.....Workshops with visiting speakers and experts as well as year-round one-on-one assistance are all components of this service that aims to enhance the administrative, technical and artistic capacities of local arts agencies. Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment to meet with staff.

Programs

Columbia Festival of the Arts.....this weekend-long celebration of visual, performing and literary arts is the signature event of the OCA. The multi-discipline, multi-cultural event is held annually the last full weekend of September in downtown Columbia. With performances stages, participatory art experiences for all ages, a juried fine arts fair, displays by area arts agencies and food, the Festival has something for everyone. The Festival is supported by corporate sponsorships, grants and individual donations. Visual, performing and literary artists as well as food vendors are encouraged to contact us to be added to mailing lists. To get a sense of the event, see general info. on the 2008 Festival here.

Arts Funding Support
Annual Arts Funding.....the city supports arts-related projects to meet the needs of local arts organizations. Currently, $95,000 is being provided to 18 local arts organizations. Contact us for specific guidelines (revised every January); or view the online version program guidelines and application.
Small Requests.....applications (for $500 or less) are accepted year round on a quarterly basis that conforms to the city's fiscal year (due Sept. 10 for the 1st quarter, Dec. 10 for the 2nd quarter, March 10 for the 3rd quarter and June 10 for the 4th quarter). Contact us for specific guidelines or use the online application form.
Funded Agencies.....may access additional resources here, including the OCA's city logo for use in publicity and the final report form to be used for both Annual Awards and Small Requests.

C.A.R.E. Gallery.....begun in 2000, the C.A.R.E. Gallery (Columbia's Art Related Experience) employs youth ages 14-18 to work on community art projects with arts professionals. Gallery objectives are to encourage young artists to continue to develop their skills, to provide them with outlets for their talents, to demonstrate career options in the arts and to provide opportunities to contribute to the community in positive ways. The Gallery is coordinated by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. For more info., contact us or Parks and Recreation.

Percent for Art.....initiated in May 1997, this program allows for one percent of the cost of new city construction or renovation projects to be used for site specific art. Certain above ground capital improvement projects are eligible to have a public art component. A Standing Committee on Public Art is appointed by City Council to assist with this program. Learn more about the Standing Committee on Public Art and view the Percent for Art ordinance here. The first Percent for Art projects occurred at the Eighth and Cherry Parking Garage and at the Oakland Family Aquatic Center; both were completed in 1999. A project at Fire Station No. 8 was installed in late 2001 and one at the Activity and Recreation Center was completed in late 2002. More recently, works at the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services were installed in June 2004 and a project for Stephens Lake Park was completed in 2005. In 2007, two works were completed and installed at the historic Wabash Station and a project was initiated for the new City Hall. In 2008, a project at the new Fire Station No. 7 got underway. Sometime in 2009, an artist will be selected for a project at the planned Fire Station No. 9. If you are an artist and want to receive information about upcoming projects, contact us.

OCA's Budget Information

Office of Cultural Affairs

Programs

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