The Tryon Fine Arts Center is once again uniting two programs to promote art education in the schools. The Showcase of Excellence is a month long juried youth art exhibit running from March 12 through April 8 that will culminate in the Evening of Excellence on April 8, a reception and live auction of selected student artwork. Selected award-winning work has been framed and will be offered in the live auction. Tickets are currently on sale at TFAC.

 

In addition, a large selection of work is being sold by silent auction during the run of the exhibit. The public is encouraged to come view the show and give their support and encouragement to these young artists by bidding on their work. Partial proceeds from the Evening of Excellence live auction and month-long silent auction go to the student artists and the remaining part goes to TFAC and is earmarked to support the Be Inspired Grant (BIG) program that awards mini-grants of up to $500 each for art related projects in area schools. Other proceeds from the Evening of Excellence event go towards the BIG program.

 

“Through these two strong programs, high school age students are encouraged to pursue their passion for art and are able to give back to the community through art grants—a winning combination,” said Jeff Byrd, TFAC president.

 

Participating local area high schools are Polk County, Landrum, Greer, Chapman and Lake Lure Academy with work in six media: paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, printmaking, and mixed media. Works were professionally juried by Linda Hudgins, a Tryon professional fine art painter, with a Masters from Rhode Island School of Design and over 30 years’ experience teaching at the Spartanburg Day School and at institutions in Botswana and China.

 

Be Inspired Grants are designed to promote art education in local schools.  Teachers are encouraged to apply on a simple on-line form to TFAC for mini-grants to assist them with artist supplies, materials and other expenses not otherwise available through normal school funding.  In addition to funds from the Evening of Excellence event and the silent auction, generous businesses, individuals and foundations have enabled TFAC to award more the $15,000 to area teachers over the past three years.

 

The combination of the Showcase of Excellence and BIG program is one more way in which the Fine Arts Center promotes art education for students, schools and teachers in the Foothills. For more information, contact Susan Brady at 828-859-8322 or at susan@tryonarts.org.

 

-Submitted Julia Calhoun/Susan Brady