Focus on the Masters and the Ventura County Arts Council are joining together to provide scholarship funds and exhibition opportunities to high school seniors who plan to pursue art in college. The Tamima Al-Awar Memorial Scholarship program provides $1,850 in scholarships and the opportunity for all students applying for the scholarships to exhibit their work at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura. All applicants must be a Ventura County resident and a high school senior who plans on further study in the visual arts. Awards will be based on artistic merit and commitment as demonstrated by the application, a portfolio, and an essay and will be chosen by a distinguished panel of jurors from the art community. The panel includes:

Anne Graumlich, Curator, Ventura County Museum of History & Art
Tom McMillin, Artist, Professor of Art California State University Channel Islands
Joseph Piasentin, Artist, Professor of Art Pepperdine University
Elisse Pogofsky-Harris, Artist, Visual Arts Committee Ventura County Arts Council
Paula Spellman, Author/Artist

Two applications from each Ventura County High school will be accepted. Applications must be signed by a member of the high school faculty and submitted through the student’s school.

Applications are available at; the FOTM office, 1147 East Main Street, Ventura; the Ventura County Arts Council, 646 County Square Drive, Ventura; and online; here and www.VenturaCountyArts.net. Applications must be received at the FOTM office before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16, 2007. Incomplete or late submittals will not be reviewed.

All students applying for the scholarship will be invited to exhibit their work in a group exhibition at the Ventura County Government Center May 3 through June 12, 2007. The scholarships will be presented at the Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony May 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Ventura County Government Center exhibition provides the students the unique opportunity to exhibit their work in a prestigious venue and work with art professionals in a real life environment.

The scholarship fund was established by an anonymous donor to honor Tamima Michele Al-Alwar, daughter of Khaled and Sheryl Al-Awar of Ojai. Additional funding is provided by the Ventura County Arts Council to help additional students pursue a career in art. Before her death in 2002, Tamima planned to pursue a degree in fine arts. She pursued her art passionately at her home studio and at Santa Barbara City College. Her passion for painting and the arts is memorialized by this scholarship. Focus on the Masters and the Ventura County Arts Council are non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations. Contributions to the scholarship fund are always welcome.