Scholarship Application

Homer Council on the Arts
Summer Fine Arts Scholarship Policy

GOAL: To encourage youth to continue intensive artistic endeavors during the summer.

Important dates to remember:
April 2 - deadline for application submission
April 12, 13 - interviews
April 23 - winners announced at Jubilee performance

Scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in grades 6 through 11, who are attending school in the Homer area, and who plan to return to school in the Homer area the following year.
Applicants must fill out their own application and submit it by the deadline. Applicants may apply in one category only, and this should be their chosen area of study for the summer program they have selected.
1. Applicant should attach brochure or information on program.
2. Applicant should submit statement of what their art means to them (100 word minimum/500 word maximum), which must accompany application.
3. Applicants for private lessons are required to fill out a contract for those lessons. The contract needs to be signed by the applicant, the instructor, and the applicant's parent. Payment will be held until the contract is complete.
4. All applicants are required to submit two (2) letters of recommendation with their application. Letters should be from adults very familiar with the applicant's artistic abilities and accomplishments, but should not be from parents, or teachers who will be receiving funds via the scholarship award.
All applicants who pass the initial screening process will be interviewed on scheduled dates. The interview and artistic presentation are major parts of the scholarship scoring procedure, of which personal appearance, communications, and preparedness are key factors. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their artistic goals and general knowledge of their art form. Adjudications will be scheduled for the performing artists. Literary and visual artists are asked to submit three (3) samples of their work with their application. Visual art should be presentation ready. Music applicants must bring written music to accompany their playing, including their own compositions. Drama/Theatre applicants should prepare a 1-2 minute recitation from memory.
Students receiving scholarships will be awarded the final $25.00 of their scholarship upon completing, by September 15, a brief essay describing his/her experience. Digital photos of the experience are requested, but not mandatory.
Scholarship recipients may be invited to the annual HCOA meeting to talk about their scholarship experience.
Students who have received HCOA Summer Fine Arts Scholarships previously may apply. However, students who do not turn in their evaluation essay will not be eligible for any type of HCOA scholarship the following fiscal year. In the event that a student is expelled from a program for which scholarship funds were awarded, the student must return said scholarship money and would not be eligible to apply for any type of HCOA scholarship for one (1) full year.
Scholarships will be awarded competitively based on the following point system:
1. Complete/Accurate Application 10%
2. Applicant's Statement 10%
3. Two Letters of Recommendation 10%
4. Interview 35%
5. Adjudication 35%
The HCOA Summer Fine Arts Scholarships are awarded in varying amounts, but not exceeding 75% of the tuition excluding travel, materials, room and board. Scholarship awards are program specific. In the event your program is canceled, scholarship funds must be returned to HCOA. Requests for considerations of a new program or change of program must be submitted in writing and is at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee. Award reimbursement checks will be issued once proof of payment is submitted. Private lessons awards are made as reimbursement upon completion of contract and submission of receipts.