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Membership has its benefits at Oklahoma Contemporary — including exclusive, after-hours access

Member and Bright Golden Haze presenting sponsor Annie Bohanon with Black glass eclipse by Olafur Eliasson, on view in Bright Golden Haze. (Photo by Shevaun Williams.)

When we say you belong at your new arts center, we mean it. That's why exhibitions and related public programming at Oklahoma Contemporary are always free, and why our growing staff prides itself on providing accessible, unforgettable arts experiences to people from all walks of life.

"What that really requires is the generosity of the community to support the organization so everybody can have access to it," said Associate Director of Development Dan O'Donoghue. "What we aspire to do through our membership program is give Oklahoma Contemporary an available source of support of annual support, year over year, while also giving the members of the community a way of interacting with us that is special and unusual and interesting."

O'Donoghue says the idea is to create a sense of ownership among the community who relies on Oklahoma Contemporary for world-class arts experiences they won't find anywhere else. "We want to be able to help people who want to be involved with us in a more intimate way," he said. "If you are someone who wants a place like us to exist moving forward, and likes the idea of a contemporary art center that's modern and inclusive — a place that is going to really push Oklahoma forward, culturally — the best way to support us is as a member."

Some people might think art is just something you look at on a wall. But Oklahoma Contemporary opens up so many other opportunities.

In appreciation of the members who have helped sustain its mission during the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oklahoma Contemporary is offering special Member After Hours. This exclusive access from 6-9 p.m. every Wednesday through the end of the year provides after-hours access to our inaugural exhibitions, Bright Golden Haze, presented by Annie Bohanon and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in memory of Marilyn Myers, and Shadow on the Glare, an exhibition of photo and video works by Oklahoma artists currently on view in the Mary LeFlore Clements Oklahoma Gallery.

Oklahoma Contemporary membership benefits include 10 percent off all camps, classes and workshops, with discounts extending to any children in the household. (Photo by Shevaun Williams.)

Oklahoma's arts and culture nonprofits boosted the state economy to the tune of more than $870 million in 2015, according to a study by Oklahomans for the Arts. Without a vibrant community of organizations dedicated to connecting people to meaningful cultural experiences, both our personal and public lives would be less rich. For members like Bright Golden Haze presenting sponsor Annie Bohanon, the value of supporting Oklahoma Contemporary extends beyond dollars and cents.

"Some people might think art is just something you look at on a wall. But Oklahoma Contemporary opens up so many other opportunities. You can take classes that might be focused on something you know how to do, or it might be something you've never experienced," Bohanon said. "So much is being offered to bring out different sides of a person. The offerings for young people are especially wonderful — things they might not ever be exposed to, and many of those are free."

Individual memberships start at $65, with benefits including discounts on camps, classes and workshops, exclusive member programs, 10 percent off in our retail store and Café Contemporary, and a whole lot more. Learn more and join today to forge a deeper connection with your community arts center, where you always belong.

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Oklahoma Contemporary membership arts education Bright Golden Haze Shadow on the Glare

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