{"id":32972,"date":"2020-06-25T06:07:22","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T11:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=32972"},"modified":"2020-06-24T16:48:06","modified_gmt":"2020-06-24T21:48:06","slug":"oklahoma-arts-institute-moves-off-quartz-mountain-and-into-students-living-rooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/06\/25\/oklahoma-arts-institute-moves-off-quartz-mountain-and-into-students-living-rooms\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma Arts Institute moves off Quartz Mountain and into students\u2019 living rooms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_32975\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 347px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-32975 \" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-504x672.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-504x672.jpg 504w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-1439x1920.jpg 1439w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-112x150.jpg 112w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-620x827.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-810x1080.jpg 810w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-1122x1496.jpg 1122w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-840x1120.jpg 840w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-687x916.jpg 687w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-414x552.jpg 414w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Maida-portrait-354x472.jpg 354w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Courtesy Maida Escobar<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maida Escobar, an Oklahoma Arts Institute choral student from Muskogee.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.simplecast.com\/509747ee-6d30-4c1e-bfb9-8ec51a795f9c?dark=false\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maida Escobar was hesitant to attend the Oklahoma Arts Institute this summer.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She had so many questions about how the state\u2019s premier arts program for high school students could go online.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was like how is that gonna work?\u201d the Muskogee High School student said. \u201cShould I even do it? Is it gonna be the same?\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But Escobar weighed her options. She was one of only 270 students to be admitted after more than 1,000 auditioned. The Institute might have been online, but it was also shortened to a week. So she decided to go for it. And she\u2019s glad she did.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s been pretty great,\u201d Escobar said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The alto choir singer said she\u2019s learned a lot about not focusing on being perfect. Instead she says she needs to be vulnerable and willing to talk about her mistakes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019s a really big thing for me,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause I just wanna be good all the time. But it is really good to admit to yourself and admit to your choir director and your fellow members that you were the one who made a mistake.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Escobar, like so many other students, went to classes multiple times a day, practicing her craft and then coming back to class again. The format is very different from past classes said photography student Nathaniel Black. Black is attending his third Oklahoma Arts Institute and this one isn\u2019t really comparable to the ones he\u2019s been to in the past.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019d say it\u2019s apples to oranges,\u201d Black said. \u201cAnd don\u2019t get me wrong, I love apple juice. But orange juice is perfectly fine as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32977\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignright\" style=\"max-width: 266px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-32977\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-490x672.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"266\" height=\"365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-490x672.jpg 490w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-1399x1920.jpg 1399w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-768x1054.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-109x150.jpg 109w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-620x851.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait-787x1080.jpg 787w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/Cohen-portrait.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Courtesy Oklahoma Arts Institute<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Julie Cohen, President & CEO of the Oklahoma Arts Institute.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3><b>Moving the institute online<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a difficult decision to move the institute online. But it was a necessary one, said Julie Cohen, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">President & CEO of the Oklahoma Arts Institute.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some students have auditioned many times to get into the selective program that only takes a few hundred students. So giving them <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">something<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was important.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe guiding factor for us was what can we do for the students who got in this summer?\u201d Cohen said. \u201cAnd what kind of opportunity can we make sure they have so they can push themselves to this higher level?\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s come via a number of online classes. Students meet in the morning, break for practice, meet again and then attend lectures in the evening.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cohen said she thinks the program will lean on more online tools moving forward. For example, the guest speaking lineup was among the best the institute has ever had. It included ballet dancer Misty Copeland and Radiolab host Jad Abumrad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She said she\u2019s also been able to be in multiple places at once, witnessing tiny moments in classes that have helped her have a better understanding of what\u2019s going on at every level of the institute.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black says the move online has exceeded his expectations. He\u2019s looking at photography in a whole new way. In the past, he\u2019s leaned on the beautiful scenery around Quartz Mountain for his photos. But he can\u2019t do that in his Oklahoma City home.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s required me to be really creative, which is actually a good thing,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause I\u2019ve been able to see a lot of things in my neighborhood, or in my house or in my own backyard differently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32982\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 672px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32982\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-672x448.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"672\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-672x448.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-620x413.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/HOL0015-1620x1080.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Courtesy Oklahoma Arts Institute<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nathaniel Black, a photography student from Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3><b>Financial challenges and the future<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Oklahoma Arts Institute has historically received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state to operate and keep the program free for the state\u2019s students.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It costs more than $3,000 to put each student through the two-week program, Cohen said. That is paid by some state funds, but mostly through private donations.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this year\u2019s institute, OAI received $200,000 from the state. However, for next year\u2019s program they\u2019ll receive nothing after their allocation was cut out of the State Department of Education\u2019s budget by the state legislature.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A State Department of Education spokeswoman said the cut is expected to only be one year and state officials \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will advocate for funding to be restored next year.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Superintendent for Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister has been an advocate for the organization.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis is truly the\u00a0 jewel of Oklahoma arts for students,\u201d she said at a May meeting of the state\u2019s Board of Education. \u201cAnd it&#8217;s a jewel recognized across the nation.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State lawmakers plan to get the funding back in the future, according to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leigh Garrison, a fiscal technician for the Oklahoma State Senate. The cuts were necessary because of the coronavirus crisis that punched a $1.4 billion hole in the state budget.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cUnfortunately, when it came time to make the necessary budget cuts this was one program that was looked at,\u201d Garrison wrote. \u201cBecause of the needed repairs, and the move to a virtual program, funds were reduced for the upcoming fiscal year. It was not, and never has been, the intention to cut this funding permanently.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Quartz Mountain resort is also in major need of renovations. The normal home to the institute is in rough condition and it will be transferred from the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education to the Oklahoma Tourism Department in October. The regents, who themselves have seen two decades of budget cuts, have done little to maintain and improve the facility. That\u2019s led to a drop in occupancy.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A spokeswoman for the tourism department wrote the agency plans to make improvements after years of neglect.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOnce we can inject some funding into the lodge and surrounding facilities, this can return to a crown jewel of the system,\u201d department spokeswoman Leslie Blair wrote in an email. \u201cThis is a beautiful part of the state with landscapes and views you don\u2019t see anywhere else in Oklahoma.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And when asked about the role of the Oklahoma Arts Institute, Blair wrote the following:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe Oklahoma Arts Institute has been housed at Quartz Mountain for over four decades,\u201dshe wrote. \u201cWe look forward to working with the OAI to ensure a bright future of both OAI and Quartz Mountain.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the individual student, those issues seem far off. Escobar, the choral student from Muskogee, said she plans to audition again next year. And she really hopes the program will be in person again.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m definitely going to try out next year,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause if over Zoom, it\u2019s this good, I can\u2019t imagine what it\u2019s like in person, actually at Quartz Mountain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-32972 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/06\/25\/oklahoma-arts-institute-moves-off-quartz-mountain-and-into-students-living-rooms\/05-nathanielblack-stateimpact-qd1-7\/'><img width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-672x672.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-620x620.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-1472x1472.jpg 1472w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-1104x1104.jpg 1104w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-912x912.jpg 912w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/05-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-7-470x470.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32984'>\n\t\t\t\tA photo taken by Nathaniel Black during the Oklahoma Arts Institute at home program.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/06\/25\/oklahoma-arts-institute-moves-off-quartz-mountain-and-into-students-living-rooms\/04-nathanielblack-stateimpact-nathanfinal-12\/'><img width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-672x672.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-620x620.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-1472x1472.jpg 1472w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-1104x1104.jpg 1104w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-912x912.jpg 912w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/04-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-12-470x470.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32985'>\n\t\t\t\tA photo taken by Nathaniel Black during the Oklahoma Arts Institute at home program.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/06\/25\/oklahoma-arts-institute-moves-off-quartz-mountain-and-into-students-living-rooms\/03-nathanielblack-stateimpact-nathanfinal-05\/'><img width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-672x672.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-620x620.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-1472x1472.jpg 1472w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-1104x1104.jpg 1104w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-912x912.jpg 912w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/03-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-05-470x470.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32986'>\n\t\t\t\tA photo taken by Nathaniel Black during the Oklahoma Arts Institute at home program.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl><p><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><\/p>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/06\/25\/oklahoma-arts-institute-moves-off-quartz-mountain-and-into-students-living-rooms\/02-nathanielblack-stateimpact-qd1-4\/'><img width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-672x672.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-620x620.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-1472x1472.jpg 1472w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-1104x1104.jpg 1104w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-912x912.jpg 912w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/02-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-QD1-4-470x470.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32987'>\n\t\t\t\tA photo taken by Nathaniel Black during the Oklahoma Arts Institute at home program.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<dl class='gallery-item'>\n<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/06\/25\/oklahoma-arts-institute-moves-off-quartz-mountain-and-into-students-living-rooms\/01-nathanielblack-stateimpact-nathanfinal-02\/'><img width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-32988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-672x672.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-620x620.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-128x128.jpg 128w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-1472x1472.jpg 1472w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-1104x1104.jpg 1104w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-912x912.jpg 912w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/06\/01-NathanielBlack-StateImpact-NathanFinal-02-470x470.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-32988'>\n\t\t\t\tA photo taken by Nathaniel Black during the Oklahoma Arts Institute at home program.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/dl><p>\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maida Escobar was hesitant to attend the Oklahoma Arts Institute this summer.She had so many questions about how the state\u2019s premier arts program for high school students could go online.\u201cI was like how is that gonna work?\u201d the Muskogee High School student said. \u201cShould I even do it? Is it gonna be the same?\u201dBut Escobar [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":209,"featured_media":32983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[1010],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32972"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/209"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32972"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32981,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32972\/revisions\/32981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}