A New Year's message from Oklahoma Contemporary leadership

A dramatic metal building reflects the sunset

Your new arts center at NW 11th and Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City.

2020 might not have gone quite as planned, but that's not stopping Oklahoma Contemporary from building excitement for the year ahead. Despite unprecedented hardship and setbacks, we found plenty of hope and and inspiration through our exhibiting artists, public programs and local community members like you who supported your new arts center throughout these challenging past months. That's the energy Oklahoma Contemporary leadership wants to bring to 2021.

"Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we're extremely proud of our accomplishments this first year," said Oklahoma Contemporary Executive Director Eddie Walker. Among those accomplishments are more than 12,000 visitors who came to safely experience our vibrant and dynamic inaugural exhibitions through our limited access, timed ticketing system.

Two people eat and drink outdoors, overlooking a concert on a green lawn

Visitors enjoy a bite on the terrace from Cafe Contemporary during a Spotlight Concert on the North Lawn.

"On top of that, we had tens of thousands more people engage with us through online Studio School classes and public programs, including people around the world for the livestream reading of Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey," said Oklahoma Contemporary Artistic Director Jeremiah Matthew Davis. "It's been an extraordinarily challenging year, but our staff and visitors responded with passion and boundless creativity to keep the engine of art humming along."

To reiterate our appreciation for those of you who've kept us going this past year, Walker and Davis teamed up to bring viewers a special New Year's message. As they'll tell you in the video below, we can't wait to welcome you safely through our doors again in 2021.