School of Art offers new scholarship to help high school students attend Portfolio Day

Portfolio Day gives prospective students from high schools in region chance to show examples of their artwork

FAYETTEVILLE – The School of Art at the University of Arkansas welcomes high school administrators and teachers to apply for Portfolio Day travel scholarships on the school’s website.

Thanks to the $120 million gift from the Walton Charitable Support Foundation, the school is able to provide travel scholarships such as this to further student art education opportunities.

Portfolio Day, on Saturday, Sept. 22, encourages prospective students to bring samples of their artwork and receive individual critiques from faculty and graduate students. The insight will help shape the students’ work as they prepare for college and decisions about an art career.

To qualify for the travel scholarship high schools must be at least 60 miles away from the U of A. The scholarship will pay mileage and provide meals for high school students and sponsors attending the event. The deadline for submitting the application is Sept. 19.

Individual portfolios play a critical role for future art students and artists. They present a sample of work showcasing skills, creativity, personality and abilities. The School of Art, which is part of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, does not require portfolios for admission to the university, but portfolios are required as students advance into Bachelor of Fine Arts programs.

Portfolio Day will also give students an opportunity to mingle with School of Art undergraduates while touring campus and art facilities. They will learn about scholarships, study abroad options, undergraduate research as well as programming and special classes. The School of Art has more than 400 majors in the areas of art education, art history, ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and graphic design.