Every year the best and brightest young Colorado artists come together to compete in the Scholastic Art Awards of Colorado. It’s a chance for these 7th through 12th graders to showcase their work to a national audience and be considered for one of the many college scholarships offered through the program—now totaling more than $300,000.
RMCAD serves as the home base for the competition, which boasts professional artists, professors and retired teachers as judges. Award recipients are recognized with “key” lapel pins and certificates at the regional level—those earning Gold Key Awards go on to the national competition.
The Colorado affiliate of the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is in its 64th year—the last five of which have been hosted at RMCAD. The Colorado affiliate is the nation’s fourth highest participating state and frequently counts our state’s students among the national winners. Pam Starck, who has overseen the Colorado Awards for 10 years, was selected as a 7News Everyday Hero in 2009 for her work with the Scholastic program. As a teacher herself, she knows the value and self-worth these types of programs can instill in up-and-coming artists and works tirelessly—alongside a large group of organizers, board members and volunteers—to make the annual event a success.
Entries are now being accepted for the 2013 Scholastic Art Awards of Colorado. The deadline to enter is January 13, 2013. For more information, visit saa.rmcad.edu.
The winners’ work will be on exhibit at RMCAD from February 14 – March 2 in the Philip J. Steele Gallery, Rotunda Pavilion and Alumni Gallery. Come see the talent of these emerging artists and support a program that promotes creativity in our schools. If you are a high school teacher who would like to schedule a visit for your students—including a free screenprinting workshop—email hsprograms@rmcad.edu.
