CoA+A Receives National Scholastics Award for Excellence

The College of Arts + Architecture has received the 2022 Dick Robinson Award for Excellence in the Field as the Mid-Carolina Regional Art Affiliate of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The prestigious award is presented annually by the Alliance of Young Artists & Writers who manage the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards nationwide. The award recognizes an affiliate partner that demonstrates “extraordinary dedication to our shared mission and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; perseverance through challenges; and expanding access to the Scholastic Awards,” a statement from the Alliance states.

Tesh Ramey, Arts Education Specialist for the College of Arts + Architecture and Scholastic Affiliate team leader, accepted the award on June 10 at the Scholastic Affiliate Leadership Conference in New York City. She acknowledged the support of Director of Collaborative Works Wendy Fishman, CoA+A Business Services Coordinator Haley Wallace, and College leadership in achieving the honor.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, and John Updike.

The CoA+A became the Mid-Carolina Regional Art Affiliate in Fall 2019. The Mid-Carolina Region for Scholastic Art encompasses 26 counties in North Carolina and recently expanded to include York county, South Carolina. This past year, Mid-Carolina evaluated more than 2000 art submissions to recognize 286 Gold and Silver Key regional winners. Twelve of these artists went on to win Gold and Silver Medals nationally.

Next year, 2023, is the centennial anniversary of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The Mid-Carolina Region will begin accepting submissions in September 2022. Regional winners will be announced in January 2023 and displayed in the Gold and Silver Key Exhibition hosted by the Mint Museum Uptown mid-March. More information about the Scholastic Awards is available at artandwriting.org.

Pictured above, Tesh Ramey with Chris Wisniewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, at the awards event.

Carried out in partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the Mid-Carolina Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are supported by the Mint Museum, Clayworks, Adams Outdoor, Charlotte is Creative, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, The Light Factory, the NC Art Education Association, and The International Art Materials Association (NAMTA).