The Santa Maria Arts Council offers the chance for studying artists to compete in its annual grants competition. Emerging artists in the fields of dance, drama, music, and visual arts may compete for the first-place grant of $1,500 and the second-place grant of $1,000 in each category. There are also three additional grants that will award $1,000 each: the newly established Nat Fast Memorial Grant, the Ian M. Hassett Fund, and the Los Padres Artists Guild Grant.
Artists must be at least 12 years old and must have studied art in Northern Santa Barbara County for a minimum of two years. Applicants also must attend a workshop to receive an application. Workshops are Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at Allan Hancock College, Room E-11, 800 S. College, Santa Maria; Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Allan Hancock College Lompoc Center’s Jacoby Library, Room 1-110, Lompoc; Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. at Allan Hancock College’s Dance Studio, Santa Maria; Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. at the Shepard Hall, Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland, Santa Maria; and March 3 at 10 a.m. at the Allan Hancock College Fine Arts Department, Room F-11, Santa Maria.Â
Once a meeting is attended and an application procured, the deadline to apply is March 21. Applicants will be notified of their time to audition, and all winners must perform at the Grants Competition Showcase event on May 19.
The Santa Maria Arts Council has awarded more than $234,600 in grants to 336 locally trained artists through its Individual Grants Competition since 1972. Those interested in the competition can reach the Arts Council at 459-1503, kate@robertburridge.com, or smartscouncil.org.
This article appears in Jan 30 – Feb 6, 2014.
