“Moving to the new BancFirst Tower is an exciting and progressive move for BancFirst, and a step forward in the revitalization of downtown Oklahoma City,” said David Harlow, BancFirst CEO. “ We are happy to have the Red Earth Art Center become such an important and visible partner with us in this new adventure.”
Plans call for the Red Earth Art Center to reopen to the public in early 2021 with their notable permanent collection of nearly 1,000 items of fine art including paintings, sculpture, pottery, and basketry. In the interim, Red Earth will host satellite exhibitions at venues throughout the city and state. Their current exhibition, a women’s art show entitled “She Persisted,” is currently on view through May 28 at Science Museum Oklahoma in northeast Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.
A major component of the downtown non-profit Red Earth Art Center will continue to be a sales gallery featuring original Native artwork both contemporary and traditional from local and regional artists. A mission of the non-profit organization is to provide Native artists a vehicle to sell their art to the public.
“We are thrilled with the opportunity afforded us by BancFirst,” said Lona Barrick, Executive Officer with the Chickasaw Nation and President of the Red Earth board of directors. “We have hosted a wide variety of acclaimed exhibitions during our 40 year history. Through their generosity, this beautiful new location will allow us to continue our mission to promote the rich traditions of American Indian arts and cultures through education, a premier festival, museum and fine art markets.
“Our future looks bright,” she said. “When people travel to Oklahoma they want to experience our tribal cultures, and with the Red Earth Art Center being in the heart of Oklahoma’s capitol city, we will continue our great tradition of enhancing the cultural climate of our state.”
Administrative offices for the non-profit 501 (c) 3 arts organization will also relocate to the BancFirst Tower as plans for the Red Earth Festival continue for the 33rd annual event scheduled this June 7-9 at the Cox Convention Center - one block south of the BancFirst Tower.
Red Earth is an Allied Arts member agency, and AdventureRoad travel partner. It is funded in part by the Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department and Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Authored by Eric Oesch