West Valley Arts Council

Arts Season 2006-2007

Welcome to West Valley Arts Center

A Message from the Executive Director

Creative Arts Scholarships

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12:00pm FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008.

The West Valley Arts Council is proud to support students interested in furthering their education in the arts by providing a competitive scholarship fund. We will give away one $2,000 scholarship, one $1,500 scholarship and one $1,000 scholarship for a total of $4,500 in scholarship funds!

Download an application form: 2008 Creative Arts Scholarship Form

Call the West Valley Arts Council at 623.935.6384 to receive an application form by mail.

ELIGIBILITY

A. Applicant must be a current student at one of the following:

  • Agua Fria Union High School District
  • Buckeye High School District
  • Dysart Unified School District
  • Estrella Mountain Community College
  • Glendale Union High School District
  • Peoria Unified School District
  • Tolleson Union High School District OR
  • a resident of Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Sun City, Surprise or Tolleson and currently enrolled in a charter, home school or any other Arizona Department of Education approved school.

B. Applicant must be seeking post-secondary education in visual or performing arts or towards an arts related career at the Higher Education institution of his/her choice.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fill out application form (download Creative Arts Scholarship Application) or call the West Valley Arts Council at 623.935.6384 to receive an application form by mail.

2. Once form is complete, attach three (3) letters of recommendation that attest to your:

  • experience and interest in the arts
  • work ethic
  • maturity

from sources such as the following:

  • Your high school, college, university OR technical arts instructor
  • A community leader or social agency representative where you have served
  • A college, university OR school administrator who personally knows of your work
  • Current or former employer

3. Attach a list of arts performances, arts competitions, arts exhibitions and/or publications that have included your work.

4. Attach a copy of your academic transcript.

5. Send, e-mail or fax applications to:

Bernadette Mills, Director of Programs and Education
West Valley Arts Council
525 N. Central Ave.
Avondale, AZ 85323
E-mail: bmills@westvalleyarts.org
Fax: 623.935.4327

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12:00pm FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008.
Applications that are late or incomplete will NOT be considered in the selection process.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the written application, applicant interview, and demonstration of talent. Financial need and grade point average are considered but are not the sole criteria.
  • The West Valley Arts Council is an equal opportunity organization. This means that the WVAC will not discriminate, nor tolerate discrimination, against any applicant or recipient on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or veteran status in the award of scholarships, nor in the application, participation, access and treatment of persons in the scholarship process and activities. Additionally, the WVAC will provide an environment for each scholarship applicant and recipient that is free from sexual harassment, as well as harassment and intimidation on account of an individual's race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or veteran status.
  • Selection of finalist candidates is made on the basis of a point rating awarded by Committee members for each written application.
  • Selection of scholarship recipients requires further evaluation via a verbal interview and/or a brief performance (or presentation of actual artwork) by the applicant as deemed necessary by the Scholarship Committee.

SELECTION PROCESS

  • Complete applications that are received by the due date are screened for candidate eligibility.
  • At least three (3) members of the Scholarship Committee examine the remaining applications and identify finalists.
  • Finalists are asked to attend a short interview in the week beginning March 24, 2008. These candidates should be prepared to answer questions based on their applications and present samples of their art, visual or performing, through actual samples (visual only) or CD, DVD, Video (visual or performing), and speak to the role of the arts in their future goals.

PRESENTATION CEREMONY

Certificates of Scholarship are presented at a formal Scholarship Award Ceremony at the Annual Goodyear Lakeside Symphony Pops Concert on April 27, 2008 at Estrella Mountain Ranch. All winners are expected to attend. The West Valley Arts Council will provide complimentary tickets to the concert for the immediate family members of all scholarship recipients.

AWARDS

Scholarship awards are paid directly to the recipient's higher education institution upon WVAC receipt of proof of enrollment and course schedule. Note: If a scholarship winner does not use scholarship money during either the fall or spring semester following its award, said winner forfeits right to scholarship money. Note: The disbursement of scholarship funds remains at the sole discretion of the West Valley Arts Council.

CONDITIONS OF AWARD

By the end of the academic year in which the scholarship has been used, each scholarship recipient must provide the WVAC Board of Directors with a letter that

  • addresses how the recipient thinks he/she has matured as an artist,
  • lists all accomplishments (including a list of courses and grades earned),
  • describes the impact of the Creative Arts Scholarship on the recipient, and
  • indicates the recipient's artistic goals for the future.

The West Valley Arts Council reserves the right to notify the appropriate authorities at the recipient's academic institution of this requirement.

The Creative Arts Scholarship process affords several media opportunities in which applicants and recipients are required to participate. Participation in said opportunities indicates the consent of all applicants/recipients to release and hold harmless WVAC, its members, officials, agents and employees from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, complaints, suits or other forms of liability that shall arise out of, or by reason of, or be caused by the use of the applicant/recipient's image on television, radio, motion pictures, in the print medium or in the digital medium. It is further understood that, beyond the award amount approved by the WVAC Board of Directors and expressly stipulated in the aforementioned letter of endowment, all applicants/recipients agree that no monies or other consideration in any form including reimbursement for any expenses incurred by the applicant/recipient will become due to the applicant/recipient, his/her heir/s, agents, or assigns at any time because of the applicant/recipient's participation in the scholarship process and activities.

INFORMATION

Bernadette Mills, Director of Programs & Education
623.935.6384, bmills@westvalleyarts.org