February 1, 2008

The Woodlands, TX – As event organizers make plans for The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival set for April 12 and 13, 2008, in The Woodlands Town Center, local high school juniors and 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 juniors and 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.
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council has awarded $25,000 in art scholarships over the past two years.

This year, students can enter the Student Art Scholarship Program in four categories:  1) painting/mixed media, 2) drawing, 3) electronic media and photography, and 4) 3-D art.  Student artists may submit one original art piece in each category that is created during the 2007-08 school year.  Students should bring their artwork and completed 2008 Entry Form and Entry Detail Form to the Mary Matteson-Parrish Art Gallery located on the Lone Star College – Montgomery Campus, Building D, from 6-8 p.m. on March 12.  Copying previously published material, by hand or by mechanical means, is strictly prohibited.

Student artwork is evaluated using the following criteria: Purpose, execution of intent; Technique, effective use of tools and media; Personal Expression, the degree of imagination, creativity and individuality; Organization, use of elements and principles of art; and Integration, the suitable technique, expression and organization toward the intent of the work. 

Artwork is evaluated by a jury of art educators, art administrators and art professionals on March 13.   All submitted artwork receives one of the following ribbons: Blue for superior work; Red for excellent work; or White for honorable mention.  From the blue ribbon recipients, jurors select artwork of “Exceptional Quality.”  These pieces are displayed at The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival April 12 and 13.  These students also are eligible for one of 12 scholarships.  Scholarships in the amounts of $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500 are awarded in all four categories. 

Please visit www.woodlandsartsfestival.com for eligibility requirements, rules and regulations, and to obtain official entry forms.  For additional information, contact Cindy Hardin at rosehardin@aol.com, Jim Kitchen at jkitchen@conroeisd.net, Amy Cooper at amy.f.cooper@lonestar.edu or Deb Spiess at dspiess@johncooper.org.

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. – 6 p.m. Sunday.  Admission is $10 for adults.  Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge.