January 24, 2007

The Woodlands, TX – As event organizers make plans for The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival set for April 14 and 15, 2007, in The Woodlands Town Center, local high school seniors have the opportunity to create original artwork for display at the event and the chance to earn scholarship money for their efforts.  The festival's Student Art Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors from all school districts and private/parochial schools within Montgomery County.  The Student Art Scholarship Program is designed to recognize exemplary student achievement in the visual arts and to provide an opportunity to display these works to the public.  In 2006, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council awarded $12,000 in art scholarships.

Students can enter the Student Art Scholarship Program in two categories:  2-dimensional and 3-dimensional work.  Student artists may submit one original art piece in each category that is created during the 2006-07 school year.  Students are to bring their artwork, completed official 2007 Entry and Entry Detail forms to the Montgomery College Art Gallery, located on the Montgomery College Campus in Building D from 6-8 p.m. on March 8.  Copying previously published material, by hand or by mechanical means, is strictly prohibited.
Student artwork will be evaluated using the following criteria: Intent, communication through the artwork; Technique, effective use of tools and media to enhance the appearance; Personal Expression, unique presentation of concepts; Organization, use of elements and principles; and Integration, the suitable technique, expression and organization toward the intent of the work. 

The artwork will be evaluated by a jury of art educators, art administrators and art professionals March 9.   All submitted artwork will receive one of the following ribbons: Blue for superior work; Red for excellent work; and White for honorable mention.  From the blue ribbon recipients, jurors will select artwork of “Exceptional Quality.”  These pieces will be displayed at The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival April 14 and 15 and these students will be eligible for one of six scholarships.  Scholarships in the amounts of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 will be awarded in both 2-D and 3-D categories. 

Please visit www.woodlandsartsfestival.com for eligibility requirements, rules and regulations and to obtain an official entry form.  For additional information, contact Cindy Hardin at rosehardin@aol.com, Pat Paris at pparis@conroeisd.net or Amy Cooper at amy.f.cooper@nhmccd.edu.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival features more than 200 national and regional artists of various mediums selling their original creations.  The two-day festival takes place along The Woodlands Waterway® from The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center alongside The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and culminating at Town Green Park.  Festival hours are 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday.  Admission is $10 for adults.  Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. 

For more information about The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, visit www.woodlandsartsfestival.com, or send an e-mail to info@woodlandsartsfestival.com