The Festival of Arts opened 2023-2024 student scholarship opportunities to Laguna Beach students. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors who reside in Laguna Beach or attend Laguna Beach High School.
“This program is a tremendous opportunity for students who are considering a career in the arts,” Festival of Arts Board Secretary and Scholarship Chair Pat Kollenda said. “The arts are such a critical part of a student’s overall education as well as continued personal development. It is with great pride that the Festival rewards and encourages the development of careers in the arts.”
Since 1957, the Festival of Arts scholarship program has supported rising young artists by making it possible for students to pursue college studies in the arts. The Festival of Arts has awarded over $3.5 million in scholarships.
Last year, five students were each recognized with $20,000 scholarships by the Festival of Arts. Each recipient was granted $5,000 per year over four years as long as they continued to meet the specified requirements.
“I learned about the Festival of Arts scholarship through my art teacher, Ms. Porter, and the high school scholarship advisor, Ms. Shipp,” said Colette Reed, a 2022 Festival of Arts student scholarship recipient. “I’m so grateful for this scholarship- it’s helped me take more classes in college and pursue my degree in Art and potentially an MFA, which is so fantastic.”
The four-year, highly competitive scholarships are awarded to students who excel in film, performing arts (dance, music and theater arts- including performance and production), visual arts and writing. A student may apply for any or all of the four categories but will only be awarded one scholarship. The Festival of Arts Scholarship Committee includes chair Pat Kollenda, and committee members Wayne Baglin, John Connolly, Marge Earl, Jacquie Moffett, and Jeff Rovner.
“I was so, so excited to learn I was a scholarship recipient, scholarship recipient Reed added. I worked really hard on this scholarship, and I was honored to be recognized for it and to be among such an awesome group of artists. I feel so grateful to the Festival and the board because this scholarship will and already has helped me so much in college.”
General scholarship information can be found by contacting Michelle Reindl at (949) 464-4201 or by visiting foapom.com/scholarships. Applications will be accepted through the festival’s website until the March 10 deadline.
The Festival of Arts is a nonprofit organization that produces the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters. Its mission is to support arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach.
