Thanks to a tip via the Ogle Mole Network, we've learned that 170 local arts organizations that received "Oklahoma Arts and Cultural Industry Relief Grants" from the state are forced to "acknowledge" – and in turn, praise and promote – Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on social media.
Here are the details...
Last year, Kevin Stitt provided $3-million in CARES funding to the Oklahoma Arts Council for them to dole out to local arts organizations through a relief grants program. For those keeping score at home, that's a whopping 0.002% of the state's $1.5-billion CARES allotment.
To receive the funding, these arts organizations had to agree to some subservient demands, such as...
A) Writing grateful letters of appreciation to the Governor, their State Senator, and their State Representative.
B) Sharing heavily-guided social media posts that acknowledge Kevin Stitt for providing the funding.