ESTEVAN - The Estevan Arts Council promotes arts in many ways, including the annual presentation of scholarships to children who plan to attend art summer camps.
Awards help with expenses and cover artistic summer activities of the kids' choice, be it theatre, visual arts, music, dance or anything in between.
This year, the organization handed out nine awards. The presentation took place June 14 in the Arts Council room in the leisure centre. Allison Holzer, who is a part of the scholarship committee with the arts council, introduced the recipients that were present and handed them the certificates.
Bly Rucks received support to go to the Souris Valley Theatre's camp, and she said her goals are to learn more about what happens backstage, acting and eventually directing plays. Sophia Murphy's award will help her partake in the University of Saskatchewan's Community Arts and Artisanship, which is an online eight-week program that will teach painting and drawing. Claire Podovinnikoff will attend the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum's Colour Craze and Build It art camps.
Taylor Ellis will do the Drewitz School of Dance camp, practising ballet, stretch and musical theatre, and she said she wants to teach in a dance studio one day. Thessa Espina received an award to partake in the SV Theatre's youth summer camp. The arts council awarded Cadence Siebert to also join the SV Theatre's camp, as she wants to grow as an actress.
Other bursary recipients were Payton Sernick, Quinn O'Hanlon and Sienna Kuntz. They were unable to attend.
All award winners will have up to $100 each to go against their summer camp payments.
Arts council president Wilma Mantei thanked the recipients for their interest in arts.
"Thank you for applying for a scholarship, because it starts with you becoming involved with the arts and going farther by taking camps and increasing your knowledge," Mantei said. "We want to raise citizens in this community with lots of music and arts ability to show it to our community. That is what Estevan Art Council promotes, we promote the arts.
“We also have Koncerts for Kids, which is starting up again this fall, and we have the concert series for everybody. We also have the [Energy City] Film Circuit showing at the [Orpheum] Theatre, and we have pottery through Pottery Club, and visual arts. So there's lots happening in our community, and I want you to be aware of that. And we're so glad that you're starting out young with your arts."
For more information about Estevan Arts Council's awards and programs visit their Facebook page or website at estevanartscouncil.org.
