OKLAHOMA CITY — Since establishing itself in its now-iconic Downtown location, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art has seen plenty of changes, from new layouts and renovations to the constantly shifting collections and displays.
But one thing that’s been consistent for now two whole decades is the fan-favorite ARTonTAP event, pairing the cultural stimulant of fine art with the social lubricant of the state’s best brews in what has surely become the museum’s most important and anticipated annual fundraiser.
On Friday, October 13th, ARTonTAP will celebrate its 20th anniversary by swinging the museum doors wide and finally hosting the event inside once again, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic moved the festivities out onto the Couch Drive lawn.
“This year, we can move it back inside to kind of bring back that nostalgic feeling,” said Sara Miller, events manager for OKCMOA. “It’s ‘twenty years of beers and cheers,’ which we’re really excited about.”
Beers and Bites
A ticket this year gets you into the museum, but of course, even surrounded by the staggering collection of sculptures, paintings, and glassworks, the star of the night will undoubtedly be the beer.
“We have seventeen vendors this year, with both breweries and distilleries,” Miller said. “Some like American Solera, Enid Brewing Company, and Fair-Weather Friend are all new this year.”
The new additions round out the biggest drink selection in the event’s history, with the sprawling roster of breweries such as Stonecloud, Lively, Prairie, Anthem, and even Duncan, OK’s Kochendorfer joined by showcases from the state’s burgeoning distilling game in the forms of award-winning WanderFolk Spirits and Woodworks Distilling.
McNellie’s will also be on hand to provide the light bites needed to cut all the alcohol.
Sights and Sounds
Of course, an after-hours party at an art museum sounds like a perfect time to get a little loosened-up and appreciate some artworks, and for the first time since 2019, that’ll be possible for these anniversary celebrations.
“We’ll have our permanent galleries open all night,” Miller said. “In the past, especially for the outdoor block party concept the past couple of years, we didn’t have the museum galleries open. This year, we will. The first and second floors will be open to attendees so they can go inside the art galleries.”
The smash-hit traveling exhibition “True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism” will be closed for the evening, preparing for its final week before closing on October 22nd, but the night will be a perfect time to get reacquainted with OKCMOA’s remarkable collection of permanent works.
You can also expect some music to get guests dancing, both inside the lobby and on the roof, surrounded by one of the city’s best skyline views.
“We’ll have DJ Tangerine inside and the museum, right by the entrance,” said Miller, “and everybody will have access to the roof terrace this year, and that’s where we’re going to have the band Groove Merchants.”
Visibility and Sustainability
In addition to being one of the most beloved and longest-running events on the museum’s calendar, ARTonTAP is also an integral part of the institution’s fundraising.
“This is one of our most important and visible avenues to raise money for our special exhibitions and programs throughout the year,” Miller said. “We’re very fortunate that all the breweries donate their product, and most of the proceeds go directly to the museum so that we can be sustainable through the year.”
In this year’s case, much of the funding raised from the event will help the museum to present upcoming exhibitions like “Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight,” a unique multimedia showcase of groundbreaking, modern Native art, and next year’s hugely anticipated “Edith Head: Hollywood’s Costume Designer.”
“ARTonTAP is a great way for people that have never visited the museum to come check out our galleries and enjoy it in a fun setting,” Miller said, “and it’s also a great opportunity to see what we have coming up for the rest of the year.”
ARTonTAP 2023 runs from 7 pm to 10 pm on Friday, October 13th.
For tickets, or for more information about the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, visit okcmoa.com.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
