Ukrainian youth among young artists awarded Premier’s Arts Scholarships

July 3, 2007 -- Several young artists got a head start on their arts education as the first recipients of the Premier’s Centennial Arts Scholarships awarded by the Saskatchewan Arts Board. A total of $34,000 was awarded to 22 students to help them to attend dance, music, writing and art programs across the country, in the United States and as far away as New Zealand.

Among them are Tristan Dobrowney whose family resides in Saskatoon, and Hillary & Jaqueline Sametz of Regina.

The scholarships, which range from $500 to $2,000 each, provide financial assistance to Saskatchewan students training for careers as professional artists. Studies may be full- or part-time, in any fine arts discipline, and undertaken at an accredited post-secondary institution or in a recognized fine arts training program.

The Arts Board established the Premier’s Centennial Arts Scholarships to acknowledge and support the potential of young Saskatchewan artists. The scholarships were awarded for the first time in spring 2007. Recipients were chosen by a jury of professional artists composed of visual artist Wilf Perreault; language arts professor Val Mulholland; theatre and music artist Julia Jamison; and dance instructor and choreographer Connie Moker Wernikowski.

The Arts Board’s mission is to cultivate an environment in which the arts thrive for the benefit of everyone in Saskatchewan. It serves the people of the province through programs and activities designed to build a strong and vibrant arts sector. For more information, visit www.artsboard.sk.ca.