Grant For Art Students In Queens

New York Community Trust awarded Queens Council on the Arts with a $60,000 multi- grant towards the High School to Art School Portfolio Development Program (HS2AS). The grant will be used towards visual arts pre-college fellowships to 30 students in Queens.

Each year ten high school seniors will be selected upon the completion of one summer semester in the HS2AS program and each will be named an Edward and Sally Van Lier Fellow. These Fellows will participate in HS2AS’ fall intensive semester and receive assistance with portfolio development and college admission. HS2AS’ priority is to help 65 aspiring students become accepted into nation-wide art colleges. This is accomplished by providing students the opportunity to build superior art portfolios that earn them the competitive edge for college entry and scholarship opportunities.

Overall, HS2AS provides participating students with an understanding of arts, both inside and outside of the studio setting. Classes foster the ability to learn the fundamental techniques and concepts to create their own work; as well as provide students with skills and techniques to critique peer work. Additional exposure to the arts includes field trips to artists’ studios, museums, galleries and talk-back sessions with working artists.

HS2AS enjoys a high success rate of undergraduate admissions and scholarship assistance for its participating students. 100% of the 2012 graduating class gained admission to the top 20 national universities including 2 students who earned full scholarships to The Cooper Union School of Art and St. John’s University in New York City. Overall, the Class of 2012 accumulated over $440,000 in scholarship awards.

Annually, students are accepted to renowned colleges and universities like Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Maryland Institute College of Art, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, California Institute College of Art, and more – all thanks to their participation in the HS2AS Program.