Ozarks Plateau Initiative
The Ozarks Plateau Initiative (OPI) gives Ozarks’ communities the opportunity to experience unique performing and visual arts offerings from the Mid-America Arts Alliance. Through a collaboration with Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Mid-America Arts Alliance provides an exhibition and a thematically related performance to a community through one a CFO Endowment Partner or a regional affiliate foundation.
OPI programs were held in three communities last summer (2007), Carthage, Clinton and West Plains. The events proved to be a success in each community.
In Carthage, the Carthage Council on the Arts worked with the Powers Museum and the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri to bring the Grand Ole Opry exhibit and a performance by High C Diva, Colleen Mallette to the community to coincide with the Carthage Acoustic Music Festival in June. Educational activities were also part of the program, including a chance for 50 students to tell stories about the Grand Ole Opry and develop their own folk song to sing.
The West Plains Council on the Arts brought in the exhibition titled This Contest Is for Real Hands: Rodeo Photographs of the 1930s and scheduled two performances from the legendary Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys to take place during the three-day Old Time Music and Heritage Festival. Fans flooded the stage during Thompson’s performance and educational activities stirred the imaginations and summer school enjoyable for more than 500 students.
Not even the fury or summer storms kept residents of Clinton away from the Grand Old Opry exhibit and a performance by Les Gilliam. The Truman Lake Community Foundation collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce and the Clinton Arts Council to integrate the OPI program into the community’s Old Glory Days festival.
“The Ozarks Plateau Initiative provided our foundation with an opportunity to provide a total arts experience to our community,” said Sandie Sorbo, Truman Lake Community Foundation president. “We are grateful for all the help and support provided by this project.”
The Ozarks Plateau Initiative is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and matching contributions from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Participating communities receive one-on-one assistance from Mid-America Arts Alliance (MAAA) staff members for program planning and implementation. Additionally, a one day workshop devoted to audience development was held this year. OPI participants developed strategies for reaching out to audiences and engaging them in the programs. Details about this year’s Ozarks Plateau Initiative events will be available in the coming months.
