The City Arts Center encourages artistic expression in all its forms through education and exhibitions.  We endeavor to instill in the public a lifetime appreciation of the arts and enthusiasm for creative practice.

History

In 1961, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Kirkpatrick contributed funds to build a facility for the Oklahoma Science & Arts Foundation on the Fairgrounds, to complement the recently constructed Oklahoma Art Center. The purpose of OSAF was to provide educational programming for children and adults, with a focus on science and the visual arts.

The Academy of Ballet was added to the Science and Arts Museum in the fall of 1962. The planetarium became so popular that OSAF outgrew the facility, and the Kirkpatrick Center (currently the Science Museum Oklahoma) was constructed near the zoo to house OSAF, which later changed its name to Omniplex.

The Oklahoma Art Center, then took over management of the former OSAF building and changed the name to the Arts Annex and continued visual arts and dance programming.

In 1987, following a period of inactivity, the Kirkpatrick Foundation with Christian K. Keesee and Marilyn Myers, agreed to reopen and revitalize the Arts Annex program.

During 1988, arts classes and the use of the dance studios resumed. Several arts related organizations began to utilize the building for classes, meetings, demonstrations and social events. At this time, City Arts Center was formed as a non-profit organization committed to providing the community with quality, accessible and affordable arts programming.

Mr. and Mrs. John E. Kirkpatrick