MCPS Art Opportunities
Launched during the 2022-23 school year, the Matt Papirmeister Award is presented annually to two student artists. Applicants must be high school seniors from Montgomery County, Maryland. The award winners are selected by YAFH's Board of Directors after their review of the student applicants' essays, paintings, and art teacher evaluations.
Each graduating student receives a scholarship toward their education, payable to the post-secondary program they plan to attend. Our award, originally $2,500, is now $3,000 for each recipient.
The award winners' paintings are installed in a healthcare partner's hospital or clinic setting to provide comfort, inspiration, and healing for patients and their loved ones, healthcare staff, and all who view their works of art.
Established in 1974, the Visual Art Center (VAC) is a nationally recognized portfolio preparation program at Albert Einstein High School. The VAC offers students a broad perspective of the visual arts and deepens their understanding of the opportunities for art-related careers through exposure to art history, contemporary artists and artwork. This rigorous and comprehensive program enables students to realize and achieve their full potential in visual art. Daily instruction consists of lectures, demonstrations, slide presentations, studio activities, assigned research, and group critiques. Most graduating students advance to study fine arts or commercial art at a higher level.
The first step in applying to the VAC is to complete the Countywide Special Programs application which opens on October 4th.
To review the entire process and timeline please visit the MCPS VAC site.