OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA (KOKH) — Hundreds of artists and advocates gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol this morning, April 17, to promote the importance of art in communities and local economies.

According to federal data, more than 48,000 Oklahomans are employed in arts and culture, including independent artists, performers, librarians, advertisers, and others.

Many arts organizations are experiencing federal cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Earlier this month, Oklahoma Humanities lost general operating support grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities at the direction of DOGE.

Before the cut from DOGE, the council gave more than $250,000 in grants to Oklahoma museums, libraries, universities, and historical societies.

As the loss of funds continues, libraries, historical societies, universities, and Oklahoma’s 520 museums will feel the impact.

“The Oklahoma Humanities … they actually gift grants to many museums across our state. So really it’s going to be really felt at the local level,” said Brenda Granger, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Museums Association. “The humanities are a fabric of communities. Many of our rural museums are going to fill the impact as well as our large museums.”

Oklahoma museums bring in approximately six million visitors and half a billion dollars to the state, and the federal cuts may disproportionately impact rural museums and communities.

“We are one of the only economic drivers outside of agriculture in our county, so when you’re cutting the cultural funding, you’re cutting the money that comes into public programs and new exhibits and engagement for visitors,” said Jason Harris, Executive Director of The Chisholm in Kingfisher. “So when you stop doing those things, tourism drops and has a widespread economic impact.”

Organizers said another million dollars in arts funding from the federal government is still in question.

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