Prescott’s Mountain Artists Guild (The Guild) supports local high school graduating seniors by providing financial assistance through a visual arts scholarship program. Over the years, The Guild has awarded multiple scholarships to help full-time students pursue art-related careers. In 2025, the Guild will award two scholarships to high school seniors: $1000 and $500 to a high school senior entering as a full-time student in any art program.

Stefanie Culver, Mountain Artists Guild Administrator, was the recipient of a Guild Scholarship in the past and used the award to purchase her needed art supplies. Photo courtesy Mountain Artists Guild

“We strongly encourage students interested in pursuing an art-related field and planning to attend college as a full-time art student this summer or fall to apply by the deadline of April 30, 2025. The application form and submission information can be found at https://mountainartistsguild.org/2025-scholarships/. Multiple art fields are accepted, including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design, jewelry, and other related visual arts fields,” commented Dawn Zintel, Guild Treasurer.

Contact Stefanie Culver, Mountain Artists Guild Administrator, at 928.445.2510 or email at [email protected] with any questions.

Scholarship Award Timeline

All applicants must have their portfolios in by the end of the day on April 30, 2025. Judging takes place on Monday, May 5th, by a panel of art professionals, selected by The Guild Scholarship Committee. Judging is closed to the public. Applicants will be notified by email on Wednesday, May 7, of their standing.

Award recipients must deliver one piece of original artwork on May 16 to the Mountain Artists Guild at 228 North Alarcon Street, Prescott, AZ 86301, for use in the Scholarship Award Ceremony. Award recipients and their guests will attend the Scholarship Award Ceremony at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 23rd, to receive their awards.

History of The Guild’s Support for Prescott Arts

As a membership-driven organization, for decades, The Guild has supported and educated artists of all ages and awarded scholarships to talented high school and college students pursuing art in college. Understanding the crucial role of creativity in child development, The Guild has offered after-school and summer art programs since the early 2000s.

The Guild commenced its Youth Art support in 2020 during the COVID shutdown by creating clay art and painting art kits with lessons and art materials for the Yavapai County CASA for Kids program. More recently, in collaboration with the Prescott Veterans Administration, The Guild began offering Veterans Art classes in 2021, recognizing the therapeutic power of art for those who have served.

About the Mountain Artists Guild

Since its founding in 1949, the Mountain Artists Guild (The Guild) has been instrumental in supporting Prescott artists and helping them improve their skills. The Guild is Prescott’s only arts-focused 501(c)3 that is member-based and run. Beginning with 25 members, including founder George Phippen, and now numbering over 200, the Guild is dedicated to fostering the education and appreciation of the visual arts in Yavapai County, through its galleries, classrooms, and independent artist studios at its home at 228 N. Alarcon Street in Prescott, AZ.

With its first arts festival at the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza in 1953, The Guild has continued to organize two art festivals every spring and summer, helping to provide the creative community in the Southwest with the opportunity to make a living through the arts, and helping to bring millions of tourist dollars to Prescott. These festivals contribute to The Guild’s student scholarships, Youth, Veterans, and Seniors’ arts classes, and provide gallery space for members. More information can be found at mountainartistsguild.org and on Facebook.

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