ArtConnectEd is currently offering five programs for scholarships and career interests for aspiring student artists. These programs offer a variety of exhibitions and opportunities in which students can enroll.
“Our last art show was the Saint Francis University art show. The grand prize for it was a $10,000 scholarship for that school,” Art Ambassador Kaitlin Russel said.
ArtConnectEd has given $620M in scholarships to students since 2013, with an additional 500k in early college program scholarships since then.
“Last year, we had eighteen seniors participate in this, that’s our goal, is to have fifteen or more. And last year of those eighteen, they received like over two and a half million dollars worth of scholarships,” Fine Arts Department Chair Michael Skura said.
Some of the opportunities include the Northern Regional Exhibition: One of the largest exhibitions in Illinois where students’ work will be showcased for professional artists to critique.
The exhibition offers many awards and scholarships such as the Blick Student & Teacher Award, Social Justice Award, Jurors Choice Awards, Early College Program Scholarships, and more.
The Senior Scholarship Exhibition where students create a portfolio and have it reviewed by collegiate sponsors for consideration of scholarships. Students will have the chance to win gold, silver, bronze, and honorable mention Visionary Award.
The Central Regional Exhibition where students will compete and showcase their artwork virtually on a state level. The exhibition features schools from around Illinois. Students who succeed at this exhibition will proceed to Illinois State University to showcase their work.
Students will be able to win bronze, silver, gold in Time Arts, pottery, sculpture, design, photography, mixed/alternative media, drawing, and painting.
The Early College Program is part of the Northern Regional Exhibition, students are able to submit their own early college portfolio to be considered for scholarships.
Lastly, there is the Art Throwdown, The Art Throwdown is an exciting experience for all competitive artists. Students are placed in a live setting where they will be timed to create a piece with a prompt. This can be an intense but entertaining environment for any participants. Students will be competing for the bronze, silver, and gold award.
Who should enroll?
Skura strongly suggests that students currently enrolled in AP art courses should consider these opportunities, as well as anyone heavily interested in art regardless if they’re taking any AP courses.
“The other thing we emphasize is that just because you’re not majoring in it, you could do it because you could put it on your resume saying ‘Hey, I received $120,000 in scholarship money…’ Let’s say the internships in school and stuff like that they can see that you know, you’re really proactive and you’re really taking care of yourself,” said Skura.
I am a senior at OHS, I am currently involved in the Panther Credit Union, 42Fifty, and Youth and Government. You can contact me at 30881537@students.sd308.org.
