OKPOP Fund to help boost fundraising efforts approved by committee

Members of the Senate Tourism and Wildlife Committee voted in favor of creating a revolving fund to deposit the $18 million the state allocated last year for the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture.

Trait Thompson, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said fundraising momentum for the project is starting to pick up again, which is important.

He said he expects the needed $18 million in matching funding commitments will be met soon to move the museum forward toward an eventual grand opening within the next two years.

The museum, now a mostly empty three-story building across Main Street from Cain’s Ballroom in the Arts District, has dealt with significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, Thompson said, they are holding another fundraiser.

“I’m optimistic. We had some successful fundraising events in the fall, but the more we can get people into our building in Tulsa and show them what we’re working on, the more enthusiastic we are. It’s going to get even higher,” he said.

He said about $8 million in matching funds has been promised.

“To date we have raised a little over $8 million. We continue to raise funds and hope to be able to raise the remaining funds and move from there in the coming months.” said Thompson. “All of that ($8 million committed) is in donations from individuals, non-profits or businesses. As for what we still have to collect, what we can get, whether locally or nationally. Wherever that is, we will move towards it.”

The historical society broke ground on the 60,000-square-foot museum in late 2019 after receiving $25 million in initial bond funding from the state. Construction on the building’s exterior was expected to be completed by 2021, with an opening scheduled for the same year, but the coronavirus pandemic has effectively put a brake on fundraising efforts.

OKPOP staff are currently beginning to move forward with the exhibit design.

“The building is complete, but we still need to design and build all the exhibits inside,” Thompson said. “Once we raise (the matching funds), it will take about two years. We are optimistic that we will be able to raise the funds and complete this project.”

OKPOP is “dedicated to the creative spirit of the people of Oklahoma and the influence of Oklahoma artists on popular culture around the world,” and features Oklahoma entertainers such as Leon Russell, Reba McEntire, Alfre Woodard, and Bill Hader. We plan to put a spotlight on

Ada native Blake Shelton has been named honorary fundraising chair for the OKPOP Foundation, the museum’s fundraising vehicle.