(Stillwater, Okla.) —The Stillwater City Council formally adopted an ordinance establishing the Stillwater Public Art Program and accepted a $100,000 contribution from OnCue as the cornerstone gift to support the future of public art in Stillwater. This ordinance creates a dedicated public art committee and fund to support the development, preservation and celebration of public art throughout the community.
“Stillwater has long been a community that values creativity and supports both established and emerging artists,” Mayor Will Joyce said. “The Stillwater Public Art Program honors that history and promotes continued expansion of our public art collection. OnCue’s incredibly generous investment demonstrates how public-private partnerships can help expand opportunities for artists and enhance our shared spaces.”
The Stillwater Public Art Program includes adopting a formal process to identify and catalog public art, increase public awareness of art spaces, plan future installations and manage art donations and funding.
“Art ignites change,” said Laura Aufleger, President of OnCue. “It brings joy, strengthens pride in our hometown and creates shared spaces that are free and accessible for everyone. Public art has the power to inspire, connect people and tell the story of a city in a way nothing else can.
“On behalf of our entire team at OnCue, we are honored to commit $100,000 to launch the Stillwater Public Art Program. We believe investing in art is investing in the future of Stillwater. Our family and our company have always believed in the power of art, and we’re proud to support something that will enrich this community for generations to come.”
In the past, Stillwater Art Integration supported projects such as the utility art box program, communitywide public art identification website and the murals at Chris Salmon Plaza. The latter, which was developed alongside OSU art students and the Prairie Arts Center, will get its fourth installation in May in commemoration of Stillwater’s Sister City relationship with Kameoka, Japan.
“Stillwater has long recognized the role art plays in supporting creativity and building character in our community,” City Manager Brady Moore said. “By formally establishing Stillwater Public Art, the City Council is creating a sustainable structure that allows us to honor our past work while responsibly stewarding future investments and ensuring public art enriches our community for years to come.”
Stillwater Public Art builds on a broad network of community partners, including the Prairie Arts Center, Modella Art Gallery, Stillwater Public Schools, OSU Museum of Art, Stilly Arts, Meridian Technology Center, Visit Stillwater, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, Stillwater History Museum, StillWonder, Stillwater Community Center, Block 34, and other local businesses.
“This moment reflects the momentum Stillwater has built around public art,” Dawn Dodson, Stillwater’s Chief Public Affairs Officer said. “It reflects years of thoughtful work and strong community interest in seeing public art recognized, supported and woven into everyday spaces. This program exists because so many people – artists, partners and residents – believe public art matters and have helped bring that vision forward.”
For more information and updates on future projects and opportunities, go to stillwaterart.org.
