Since 2010, the Battell Arts Foundation has awarded scholarships twice yearly to local young artists involved in pursuing their creative dreams. These scholarships have been used to pay for private lessons, attendance at specialized workshops, tuition at summer arts camps and even the purchase of art or music supplies. The goal of the scholarships is to foster an engagement with the arts and enable young people to continue their involvement and develop in their chosen field—whether it be visual arts, music, acting or dance.  
Scholarships are available to residents of Norfolk or Colebrook under the age of 18 or enrolled in school grades 4 to12, currently engaged in an artistic endeavor and in need of financial assistance. The standard award is $500, although higher amounts have been given in deserving situations. These scholarships are not intended to support an introduction to an art; rather, they are designed to assist young artists who have already studied and engaged in some form of artistic practice. Young people who are taking private music or art lessons, or who need help paying for tuition to an acting or music program, or who need assistance paying for an instrument or materials are all encouraged to apply.   

The deadline for this fall’s scholarship cycle is Sept. 16. Applicants need to write a letter of intent to the Scholarship Committee outlining the proposed activity or experience, its cost, an explanation of why this activity is important to the applicant and relevant to his or her artistic development and an explanation of how the scholarship funds will be used. Specific details may be obtained upon inquiry. 

In 10 years, the Battell Arts Foundation has helped over 25 young local artists pursue their creative passions. If you know of a young person who is engaged in an artistic endeavor, who wants to develop his or her abilities further and who needs some assistance, they can get more information by emailing Tom Hodgkin at Hodgkin.Tom@gmail.com.