Talent Grants

Visual Art Talent Grants

Southern Virginia University is deeply committed to supporting the fine and performing arts in a manner that rewards dedication and perseverance in addition to the natural blessings of gifted performance. The university offers visual art talent grants ranging from $500 to $2000, which are awarded to students exhibiting exceptional ability and promise. While students applying for a talent grant are not required to major or minor in visual arts, they are expected to be reasonably involved in the visual arts program at Southern Virginia.

Students awarded a talent grant in visual arts must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Be enrolled as a full-time student at Southern Virginia and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  2. Participate in the visual arts through courses and/or other approved artistic endeavors and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in all art courses.
  3. Participate with the program coordinator in an academic review at the end of the first full year.
  4. Participate in a portfolio review/academic review at the end of the second and third year.

Application Procedure:

  1. Submit a short letter describing your experience and training, as well as future goals in the visual arts.
  2. Submit one letter of recommendation from a professional who is able to evaluate your artistic abilities, i.e. high school teacher, college professor or private instructor.
  3. Submit a DVD with as much of your work to date as possible. The first 20 images should be your best work. Your best work should demonstrate not only your abilities but also your interests. Please label the DVD clearly with your name, address, phone number and email address.
  4. Application materials will not be returned, but will become the property of Southern Virginia University and will be placed on file in the Visual Art Archives.
  5. Submit materials to:

    Professor Doug Himes
    Southern Virginia University
    One University Hill Drive
    Buena Vista, VA 24416

Meridyth Kidd Memorial Fine Arts Scholarships

Meridyth Kidd possessed a deep love of the arts. She loved to paint, sketch, play the piano and guitar and compose Christian music and lyrics. An accomplished actress, Meridyth also wrote poetry and children's stories. At the time of her death in March of 2004, she was writing a novel. To honor Meridyth and her memory, her parents, Linda and Ron Jones, sponsor three scholarships(maximum $5,000) for rising juniors and seniors in the fine arts. One is awarded to a music student, one to a visual arts student and one to a theatre arts student.

For more information on how to apply, contact Doug Himes at 540-261-8432 or email doug.himes@svu.edu.