Mission Statement
"Encourage and coordinate cultural activities, promote knowledge and appreciation of the fine arts; provide understanding, knowledge, enjoyment, and practice of the arts & humanities, advance the development of citizens & contributes to the general welfare of the city without limiting the freedom of expression which is essential with these activities; encourage and stimulate all forms of artistic expressions."
We support the cultural endeavors of the City of Lawton as well as the arts and humanities industries of the area such as organizations, individuals, and other governmental agencies. Our division manages the McMahon Memorial Auditorium. We are part of the Parks and Recreation Department. In addition, we provide assistance to the City of Lawton's various boards and trusts. Our office serves as the point of contact for Film, Music & Video Production Support Requests.
Arts and Humanities
Homepage801 NW Ferris Ave.
(Mail: PO Box 1054 - Lawton, OK. 73502)
Lawton, OK73507
United States
Mon to Fri, 8 am - 12 pm & 1-5 pm
Send us a message
About Us
Why the Arts & Humanities?
Oklahoma Arts Council: Oklahoma’s Nonprofit Arts & Culture:
- Has a direct impact of $314.8 million
- Supports 10,156 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs
- Generates $29.4 million in local & state government revenue
- Events attract 5.2 million audience members
Value
- Oklahomans for the Arts:
- Support funding of the Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC), efficiently administers with a low ratio of overhead to expense
- Makes up less than 0.04% of the state's budget
- Strengthens education, community development & the economy
- Every $1 of public funding invested from OAC grant, returns $8 in state & local tax revenue.
- Public funds from OAC grant leverages more community support, $1 generates $14 in private match.
- Mobilizes more than 29,000 volunteers who donate almost 850,000 hours annually
- OAC grants leverage of important arts education across the state. In 2015:
- 17,670 students participated in 62 projects in 57 schools in 34 different communities
- 142,593 youth participated in community-based arts activities across the state
- OAC's budget impacts teaching artists in schools, the performing artist roster, after school arts programs, community arts education and more.
- Support funding of the Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC), efficiently administers with a low ratio of overhead to expense
Film Production: Every $1 a production company spends in a community, results in $1.72 back to the community.
Cultural Tourism: Lawton’s unique and diverse culture attracts visitors from many countries around the world.
Children’s Education: Children who participate in the arts are less likely to have problems in school and have a measure of success in other areas of life.
Improved student achievement
Better attendance
Lower misconduct rates
Increased parental involvement
Problem solving skills
"Who Knew? Arts Education Fuels the Economy" by By Sunil Iyengar and Ayanna Hudson, Published March 10, 2017 in the Chronicle of Higher Education
- In 2011, arts education added $7.6-billion to the nation’s GDP.
- In that year alone, arts education as an industry employed 17,900 workers whose salaries and wages totaled $5.9-billion.
- For every dollar consumers spend on arts education, an additional 56 cents is generated elsewhere in the U.S. economy.
Access and Opportunity: A study of successful artists found that they all had access and opportunities in the arts.
- Oklahoma Arts Institute - Oklahoma’s Official School of the Arts
Preservation of Culture and Heritage: Priceless!!!!
Our office serves to support various City of Lawton trusts, boards and committees.
- Lawton Arts & Humanities Council, Public Trust, click links to see "Programs" and other information
- Lawton Enhancement Trust Authority, Public Trust
- Lawton - Ft. Sill Freedom Festival Committee
- Lawton Beautiful Awards Gala Committee
- Cultural Preservation Committee
- McMahon Auditorium Authority, Public Trust
Billie A. Whipp, Administrator
Andrea Morman, McMahon Memorial Auditorium Coordinator
Michael Leal, Arts Coordinator
Tereasa Neeley, Administrative Assistant
Broderick Jackson II, Maintenance Technician
Stavis Morman, House Manager
Manuel Smith Jr., Maintenance Technician (part time)
Local
- Arts for All, Inc. 425 SW B Ave, Lawton, OK 73501, (580) 248-5384, Email: afa425@att.net, Web: http://www.lawtonafa.org
- Business Development Center, Great Plains Technology Center, (Arts Incubator, Commercial Kitchen, Small Manufacturing and more...) 1604 SW Parkridge Blvd, Lawton, OK, (580) 250-5519, Cody Holt, Business Center Coordinator, email
State and Regional
- Oklahoma Arts Council, P.O. Box 52001-2001, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2001, (405) 521-2931, email, website: www.arts.ok.gov Note that select programming is made possible in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA), 7403 N. Kelley Ave., OKC, OK 73111, (405) 848-8501 or 800-879-6382, www.oeta.tv
Oklahoma Film & Music Office, 900 N. Stiles Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (405) 230-8440 In State, 800-766-3456 Toll-Free, (405) 230-8650 Fax, Website: www.ok.gov/oklahomafilm
Oklahomans For The Arts, (405) 887-3515, www.oklahomansforthearts.org
Oklahoma Humanities 428 W. California, Ste. 270, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, Tel: (405) 235-0280, Fax: (405) 235-0289, www.okhumanities.org
Oklahoma Museum Association 2020 Remington Place, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111, Tel: (405) 424-7757, email: info@okmuseums.org, web: www.okmuseums.org
Southwest Performing Arts Presenters (SWPAP), http://swpap.org
National and Federal
Americans for the Arts www.americansforthearts.org
National Endowments for the Arts www.arts.gov
National Endowment for the Humanities www.neh.gov
Staff Email and Contact Information - Arts & Humanities Division
City of Lawton Links
Arts & Humanities Division Office
West Entrance of McMahon Memorial Auditorium