For nearly 50 years, the Oklahoma Arts Institute has provided unparalleled experiences to high school students from across the state. The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain provides exceptional multidisciplinary arts experiences that develop individual talent and inspire a lifelong passion for the arts.
Held at Quartz Mountain State Park & Lodge in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, OSAI offers an intensive summer program spanning the literary, visual and performing arts.
“We hear time and time again that the multidisciplinary aspect of our programs aids in creating artistic depth to the experience of not just the students of this program, but also the faculty and staff,” explains Stefanie Leland, OAI’s marketing and communications manager.
“Everyone who attends the Summer Arts Institute is immersed in artforms outside of their discipline by participating in community lab classes, and attending faculty and guest speaker presentations, student performances and extracurricular activities outside of their discipline. These opportunities challenge and inform the students of what their idea of art is.”
Through a competitive statewide audition process, over 200 high school students are selected into programs training in the disciplines of acting, chorus, creative writing, dance, drawing and painting, film and video, orchestra, and photography. These students spend two weeks working directly with OSAI faculty artists, which include winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy, Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards.
“OAI has sought out the highest-level teaching faculty both nationally and globally since its inception, bringing the best instructors together for two weeks,” she adds. “This level of professionalism helps to create character and confidence in the students. Each day, students attend six hours of uninterrupted study in their discipline, allowing for exponential growth in only two short weeks.”
Students may be accepted to attend OSAI more than once, and many attend for consecutive summers. Some choose to study the same discipline each summer, while others explore multiple disciplines from year to year.
“Students who attend the Summer Arts Institute leave the program with an expanded idea of art, which opens doors for them to explore a new art form or to collaborate with other disciplines. Exposing students to unexplored artforms allows the students to see their own art in new ways,” Stefanie concludes.
“OAI is one of many arts organizations helping to propel arts education in the state. We feel that collectively we are enriching the cultural landscape as well as raising awareness for the importance art has in connecting communities.”
All participants receive a full scholarship to attend, which allows students from all backgrounds to grow and learn as both artists and individuals. Here, we meet two talented students from the Cleveland County area who attended the 48th annual OSAI this past June.
CHRISTIAN YOUNG, ACTING STUDENT
From Norman; student at Epic Charter School, Oklahoma City
What initially drew me to the program was the idea of being able to immerse myself in an intensive and creative environment surrounded by other amazingly talented teenagers. When I found out I got accepted into the program, my excitement was through the roof and I just couldn’t wait to experience this place and make new friends and be in a place with young artists who have the same interests and creative mindset as me. It felt like I was back home when I returned to OSAI for the second year.
The experience at OSAI has already helped me grow so much not only as an actor but as a person. My mentor has pushed me to explore different techniques and approaches to my craft. This experience has deepened my understanding of performing for an audience and has taught me how to be more emotional and versatile with my acting skills.
Getting to know students in other disciplines has taught me a lot about the different types of art and the way they can be expressed. It has also sparked interest and inspired me to audition for more disciplines next year. What has been most surprising to me about the other disciplines is how much work and dedication and creativeness go into each discipline. I have found that my creative challenges are similar to others in different disciplines but yet are unique pertaining to what you are studying.
I would encourage other young artists to be part of OAI at Quartz Mountain because it is a transformative experience that goes beyond just practicing your craft. I have learned how to be myself more here and had an overall life-changing experience.
KALLAN MCKINNEY, CREATIVE WRITING
From Norman; student at Norman High School
When I found out I was accepted to Quartz again this year, I felt excited and sort of relieved to return. Quartz Mountain is a place I feel so present in, and every time I have gone to OSAI I have done more writing and thinking and feeling than I ever do on my own in a two-week period.
Participating in writing workshop time at OSAI for three summers with three wonderfully different instructors and groups of students has taught me different ways to look at a poem, respond to it and give feedback to its writer in ways that both celebrate and challenge the subject and craft. I have grown to be very receptive and appreciative of constructive criticism, and even excited about it.
In Creative Writing this year, we focused a lot on using language to create a specific image and hold it still, so during the dance performance this summer I noticed when the dancers paused mid-motion, holding an image for a moment. I know this concept of the power of an image is similarly valued in Photography and Drawing & Painting.
I think experiencing a creative community is a really good way to expand your understanding of your own art form and other art forms. When I go through more difficult parts of a year I remind myself of the love and beauty of my friends and teachers at OSAI. I remember there are places where art is valued and a place I am valued. It is more than just an arts camp, it is a place full of love.