Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama State Council on the Arts announces statewide winners for the Visual Arts Achievement Program. Ninety-eight students from across the state will receive an award for their achievement as visual artists. By submitting a painting, drawing, print, mixed media, sculpture, photography, or digital art, each of these students had already won an award in their hometown district. Their work is being featured at the Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery in the RSA Tower in downtown Montgomery. This year, instead of the work being shown in the gallery through the end of April, it is being shown on a large screen projected at the entrance to the gallery. The state exhibit honors these exceptional students, their teachers and their schools. Every student who placed in the state exhibition will receive a Blue Ribbon Award. There will also be awards given for Best of District, Best of Category, and Best of Show.

This year’s Best of Show features O’Melia Macpherson, a 10th  grade student at Bayside Academy, in Daphne, AL. County Schools, for a black and white, tinted photograph entitled Reflection. Kristy Snell is O’Melia Macpherson’s teacher.

The Teacher Award will go to Felicia Olds of St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile. The School System Award will go to Huntsville City Schools; Christine Finley, Superintendent.

All visual arts achievement winners have their work photographed and their images will be showcased on the website: http://www.arts.alabama.gov/vaap/2020.html

The Visual Arts Achievement Program, which is in its thirty-fourth year, is designed to provide local and state recognition for quality visual arts programs in both public and private school systems. The program is limited to students in grades 6-12. 

In addition to the district and state exhibitions, the program involves a portfolio competition for senior students who wish to pursue their arts training in higher education. The portfolios are adjudicated by professional artists and professors from the art departments of partnering institutions. Five students from the portfolio competition are selected to receive a $500 scholarship from the State Arts Council. Partner institutions may match that award, providing a total of $1,000 if a student chooses to attend the partnering institution. Institutions likely to honor these students by partnering with us are Alabama State University, Auburn University, Auburn University Montgomery, University of Montevallo, Troy University in Troy, Savannah College of Art and Design (Georgia), University of Alabama Birmingham, University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, University of North Alabama, and University of South Alabama.

The 2020 Portfolio Scholarship Winners are: Adriana Primera, St Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, teacher is Felicia Olds; Rachelle Hardin, Priceville High School in Decatur; teacher is Beth Waldorf; Rodell Alexander Jr., Natalie Robinson, and Nicholas Wetzel of Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville; teacher is Adam Sterrett.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts, located in the RSA Tower in downtown Montgomery at 201 Monroe Street, Suite 110, Montgomery, is the official state arts agency of Alabama.

The staff of the Council, directed by Dr. Elliot Knight, administers the grants programs, produces arts events, and provides technical assistance in arts planning and implementation. The Council receives funding through an annual appropriation from the Alabama Legislature and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

For further information about the Visual Arts Achievement Program, contact Diana F. Green at 334-242-5148.