The Future of Our Past

The OKPOP Foundation has officially completed the $18 million Heart & Soul Campaign, and the State Treasurer has now approved and certified the pledges, releasing the state’s matching funds. This milestone marks the beginning of OKPOP’s next chapter: exhibit design, fabrication, and the build-out of Oklahoma’s first museum dedicated to the global creative impact of its people.

Hello Friends and Potential Donors,

 “You know, this whole campaign wasn’t just about raising $18 million – it was about backing a mission that means something. OKPOP is here to celebrate the crazy amount of creativity that comes out of Oklahoma, to tell the stories of the folks who shaped music, film, and art, and to fire up the next generation to chase their own big dreams. The way people showed up to support this blows me away. Oklahoma should be proud of what’s coming.”

Honorary Campaign Chair

okpoptulsa

2,110 10,818

#OKPOP Museum located in #TulsaArtsDistrict will celebrate #OklahomaCreatives who impact pop culture and #inspire the next generation of creatives.

From the Vault: A Japanese poster for the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath.

Few stories are more deeply connected to Oklahoma than The Grapes of Wrath. Published in 1939, John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel followed the Joad family as they fled the Dust Bowl and economic hardship in Oklahoma in search of opportunity in California. A year later, legendary director John Ford brought the story to the screen, starring Henry Fonda as Tom Joad.

This Japanese release poster is a reminder that an Oklahoma story became a global story. What began amid the red dirt, wind, and hardship of the Great Depression resonated with audiences around the world, carrying themes of resilience, family, dignity, and hope across cultures and continents.

Artifacts like this help tell not only the story of Oklahoma, but the story of how Oklahoma’s people, places, and experiences have shaped popular culture far beyond our borders.

#FromTheVault #OKPOPMuseum #GrapesOfWrath #DustBowl #OklahomaHistory

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Open post by okpoptulsa with ID 17875290870502360
From the Vault: A Japanese poster for the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. Few stories are more deeply connected to Oklahoma than The Grapes of Wrath. Published in 1939, John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel followed the Joad family as they fled the Dust Bowl and economic hardship in Oklahoma in search of opportunity in California. A year later, legendary director John Ford brought the story to the screen, starring Henry Fonda as Tom Joad. This Japanese release poster is a reminder that an Oklahoma story became a global story. What began amid the red dirt, wind, and hardship of the Great Depression resonated with audiences around the world, carrying themes of resilience, family, dignity, and hope across cultures and continents. Artifacts like this help tell not only the story of Oklahoma, but the story of how Oklahoma’s people, places, and experiences have shaped popular culture far beyond our borders. #FromTheVault #OKPOPMuseum #GrapesOfWrath #DustBowl #OklahomaHistory

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Today we remember John Simmons, born on this day in 1918 in Haskell, Oklahoma.

Simmons became one of the great bassists of the swing and bebop eras, bringing a steady, melodic foundation to some of the most important music of the twentieth century. His career carried him alongside giants like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet, and Art Tatum, placing this Oklahoma-born musician right in the middle of jazz’s most transformative years.

Though often heard in support of bigger names, Simmons’ artistry helped shape the sound around them — a reminder that Oklahoma’s influence on popular culture runs deep, sometimes in the rhythm underneath it all.

Happy birthday to a true Oklahoma jazz pioneer. 🎶

#OKPOP #JohnSimmons #OklahomaJazz #JazzHistory #BornOnThisDay

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Open post by okpoptulsa with ID 18064920248514731
Today we remember John Simmons, born on this day in 1918 in Haskell, Oklahoma. Simmons became one of the great bassists of the swing and bebop eras, bringing a steady, melodic foundation to some of the most important music of the twentieth century. His career carried him alongside giants like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet, and Art Tatum, placing this Oklahoma-born musician right in the middle of jazz’s most transformative years. Though often heard in support of bigger names, Simmons’ artistry helped shape the sound around them — a reminder that Oklahoma’s influence on popular culture runs deep, sometimes in the rhythm underneath it all. Happy birthday to a true Oklahoma jazz pioneer. 🎶 #OKPOP #JohnSimmons #OklahomaJazz #JazzHistory #BornOnThisDay

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