Press Releases

February 1, 1999
Congressional Art Contest Winner To Receive $10,000 Scholarship

Forbes Invites High School Art Students to Participate in Contest

Contact:
Jane Finalborgo
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081

Congressman Michael P. Forbes (R - Suffolk) and Southampton College are teaming up again to provide a $10,000 art scholarship to the winner of the 1999 "Artistic Discovery" Congressional high school art contest. The contest is open to all junior and senior high school students in Brookhaven, Smithtown and the five East End towns.

The winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship for each of the first four years of undergraduate study at Southampton College of Long Island University. In addition, their artwork will be on display in the U.S. Capitol, alongside Artistic Discovery winners from across America. Southwest Airlines will provide two round-trip tickets from Long Island to Washington, for the winning student to attend the opening of the National Artistic Discovery exhibit this May.

"The Artistic Discovery Congressional Art Contest is a wonderful opportunity for the students of Eastern Long Island to showcase their artistic talents. Long Island boasts a rich and proud artistic heritage and that legacy remains alive today in the extraordinary gifts of our student artists," Forbes said. "I want to thank Southampton College for their generous four-year $10,000 art scholarship that will help our young artists develop their creative talents while they receive a college education."

"Southampton College is always interested in identifying and encouraging talented young artists, and last year's Artistic Discovery Contest provided an excellent forum for that effort. We are very pleased to join Congressman Forbes again this year in supporting this worthwhile competition," said Timothy Bishop, Provost of Southampton College.

The deadline for entering the contest is Thursday, April 1, 1999. The winner will be announced during a reception on Sunday, April 25th in the Avram Family Galleries at Southampton College.

The judging will be conducted by professional artists from across Long Island, including members of the East End Arts Council, the Brookhaven Arts Council and art faculty at Southampton College. To enter the contest or for more information, students and art teachers may contact Kristin Stewart, of Congressman Forbes' staff, at (516) 345-9000.