Red Earth announces co-chairmen for 22nd annual Native American Cultural Festival
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Community leaders Christy Alcox and Nathan Hart have been named co-chairmen of the 22nd annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival scheduled June 6-8, 2008 at the Cox Business Services Convention Center in Oklahoma City. The 2007 Red Earth Festival, recognized as the largest event of its type in the nation, drew nearly 26,000 attendees to downtown Oklahoma City including 300 artists and exhibitors and 668 dancers from throughout North America. Utilizing the formula provided by the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Commission, the Economic Impact of the Visitor Industry by the 2007 Red Earth Festival in Oklahoma City equaled $7,464,305.
Alcox has more than 25 years of nonprofit management experience, and is currently Finance & Development Officer for the Oklahoma Heritage Association. She was one of the first volunteers for the Red Earth Festival, serving as Chairman of the Computer Scoring committee and a member of the Dance and Parade Committees in 1987.
Alcox has served as the Red Earth Festival Director, and was Executive Director of Red Earth, Inc. from 1995-1998. She has also served as Chief of Staff to Oklahoma First Lady Cathy Keating. She is active in the community serving on the board of Oklahoma City Beautiful, Frontier Country Marketing Association, Oklahoma Travel Industry Association and Red Earth, Inc.
Hart is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and has worked within Native communities, the investment industry and in the artistic arena. He is a woodturning artist who has had his contemporary art featured in museum exhibitions and at Native American art shows throughout the nation including the Red Earth Festival, Santa Fe Indian Market, Philbrook Museum of Art, Heard Museum, Southwest Association for Indian Arts, Eiteljorg Museum, Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, and New York’s Museum of Arts & Design.
Hart is currently Director of Community Affairs for the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum in Oklahoma City. He has worked with American Indian communities during his professional career including serving as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, and Director of Cash Management for the Chickasaw Nation. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Red Earth, Inc.
Through the years Red Earth has matured into one of the most respected visual and performing arts event of its type – setting the standard for many of today’s Indian art shows held throughout the nation. At Red Earth, guests can sample the work of some of the America’s most celebrated artists, with opportunities to purchase contemporary and traditional examples of beadwork, basketry, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, paintings, graphics and cultural attire during the juried art show and market.
The dance competition at Red Earth is one of the rare occasions when dancers from America’s Northern and Southern tribes can be seen together in one venue. Red Earth dancers represent the elite of Native American dance, some of the most gifted and accomplished in the world. The masters, each in their own distinctive tribal dress, exhibit their originality and skills in one of the most prestigious of all native dance competitions.
Red Earth, Inc is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that promotes the rich traditions of American Indian arts and cultures through education, a premier festival, a museum and fine art markets. Formed in 1978, Red Earth accomplishes its mission through the Red Earth Museum, the annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival, and year-round educational programs that share the historical and living diversity of American Indian art, dance, music and literature.
Alcox has more than 25 years of nonprofit management experience, and is currently Finance & Development Officer for the Oklahoma Heritage Association. She was one of the first volunteers for the Red Earth Festival, serving as Chairman of the Computer Scoring committee and a member of the Dance and Parade Committees in 1987.
Alcox has served as the Red Earth Festival Director, and was Executive Director of Red Earth, Inc. from 1995-1998. She has also served as Chief of Staff to Oklahoma First Lady Cathy Keating. She is active in the community serving on the board of Oklahoma City Beautiful, Frontier Country Marketing Association, Oklahoma Travel Industry Association and Red Earth, Inc.
Hart is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and has worked within Native communities, the investment industry and in the artistic arena. He is a woodturning artist who has had his contemporary art featured in museum exhibitions and at Native American art shows throughout the nation including the Red Earth Festival, Santa Fe Indian Market, Philbrook Museum of Art, Heard Museum, Southwest Association for Indian Arts, Eiteljorg Museum, Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, and New York’s Museum of Arts & Design.
Hart is currently Director of Community Affairs for the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum in Oklahoma City. He has worked with American Indian communities during his professional career including serving as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, and Director of Cash Management for the Chickasaw Nation. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Red Earth, Inc.
Through the years Red Earth has matured into one of the most respected visual and performing arts event of its type – setting the standard for many of today’s Indian art shows held throughout the nation. At Red Earth, guests can sample the work of some of the America’s most celebrated artists, with opportunities to purchase contemporary and traditional examples of beadwork, basketry, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, paintings, graphics and cultural attire during the juried art show and market.
The dance competition at Red Earth is one of the rare occasions when dancers from America’s Northern and Southern tribes can be seen together in one venue. Red Earth dancers represent the elite of Native American dance, some of the most gifted and accomplished in the world. The masters, each in their own distinctive tribal dress, exhibit their originality and skills in one of the most prestigious of all native dance competitions.
Red Earth, Inc is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that promotes the rich traditions of American Indian arts and cultures through education, a premier festival, a museum and fine art markets. Formed in 1978, Red Earth accomplishes its mission through the Red Earth Museum, the annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival, and year-round educational programs that share the historical and living diversity of American Indian art, dance, music and literature.
