2025 Scholarship Event at the Ojai Valley Museum
Photos credit: Cindy Pitou Burton
Scholarship 2025
The Ojai Studio Artists have announced $10,750 in scholarships to students at Nordhoff High School as part of the nonprofit community group’s ongoing efforts to support arts and young artists in the Ojai Valley.
Seven students were selected to receive the grants:
Giselle Welch
Lilly Wilson
Oeser Jamyang
Wesley Hopkins
Chaya Valenzuela
Laila Bowen
Robert Holdsworth.
The winning students received their grants and give brief remarks at a special public presentation at the Ojai Valley Museum on Sunday June 1 from 2-4 pm.
In addition, artworks made by the students will be displayed at the museum in a special exhibit May 29-June 8.
“Besides the dollar amount received by the winners to help pay for tuition and art supplies, the Scholarship Committee sees the process as vital preparation for their fledgling careers and serves as a truly meaningful show of encouragement and support to these young artists,” says Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend, co-chair of the committee.
Applicants were asked to write an artist statement, organize photographs of their work and apply online through the OSA website. Those selected from the online process were then asked to present their work person-to-person to a jury of seven OSA artists who comprise the Scholarship Committee.
“Meeting the students creates a truly meaningful experience for all of us,” says Carol Shaw Sutton, co-chair of scholarships.“We want to thank the Nordhoff art department, particularly Kate Thomas and Jess Westergard, for facilitating our interaction with the students.” The awards are named in honor of past notable Ojai Studio Artists or founders, such as Beatrice Wood, Vivika and Otto Heino and Horace Bristol.
Funds for the grants were raised through ticket sales for the Ojai Studio Artists’ October open studio tour, the three-day event that draws collectors and visitors from around Southern California. This year’s tour is scheduled for Oct 11-13.
To support arts scholarships in the future donate here:
2025 Nordhoff art student awardees (at their exhibition at OVM), l to r: Giselle Welch, Robert Holdsworth, Oeser Jamyang, Chaya Valenzuela, Wesley Hopkins, Lilly Wilson, and Laila Bowen. on Sunday, June 1, 2025
2024 Scholarship Event
Nordhoff Showcase: Ojai Studio Artists Scholarship Exhibition at Spore Space, 2024
On June 2 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Spore Space and the Ojai Studio Artists celebrated and showcased the work by this year's Ojai Studio Artists youth scholarship program grantees.
Organized by the OSA Scholarship Committee, the focus of this year’s program is art students at the Nordhoff High School in the Ojai Valley. The OSA worked closely with Nordhoff teachers and students, and was able to distribute $7,000 in awards this year. This funding is dedicated to student's tuition and art supplies in addition to being a meaningful show of encouragement and support for fledgling Ojai artists beginning their creative careers.
In 1993, OSA initiated its youth scholarship program funded by proceeds from the tour tickets, raffle/auction sales, sponsorships, donations and grants.
To date, OSA has given $281,000 in scholarship awards to promising art students at the high school and college levels as part of the its art education outreach program in the Ojai Valley. Funds are also used to purchase art books for local libraries, to partner with schools by teaching classes and mentoring students, and to support public art projects and other community art needs.
As a fledgling space itself, Spore Space is thrilled to display the works of the awarded Nordhoff scholars and support our fellow Ojai artists. The awarded scholars on display include:
Amma Sullivan
Acacia Lopez
Gage De La O
McKenna Turner
Natalie Sojka
Rebecca Rosales
Zinnia Busch Duboucheron
For more reception information and gallery programming, please visit sporespace.net.
Please join us to honor our 2024 Scholarship Awardees:
Sunday June 2, 2024
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Spore Space
221 E. Matilija Street (next to Serendipity Toys)
2024 Scholarship Awardees
Scholarships and Mentoring
From the beginning, the Ojai Studio Artist’s mission has been to create an environment where artists thrive ― professional and student alike — and fulfill the potential of the arts to enrich lives and build community. In 1993, OSA initiated its youth scholarship program funded by proceeds from the tour tickets, raffle/auction sales, sponsorships, donations and grants.
To date, OSA has given $274,00 in scholarship awards to promising art students at the high school and college levels as part of our art education outreach program in the Ojai Valley. Monies are also used to purchase art books for local libraries, to partner with schools by teaching classes and mentoring students, and to support public art projects and other community art needs.
Organized by the OSA Scholarship Committee, the focus of this year’s program is open to art students at the Nordhoff High School in the Ojai Valley. We
are able to offer close to $7,000 in awards this year. Working closely with Nordhoff art teachers, the group will ultimately jury students’ work in-person for the first time.
Also, throughout the 2024 spring semester, OSA artists are offering a number of professional development opportunities with mentorships, classes, field trips and studio visits. The dollar amount received by the scholarship winners will not only help pay for tuition and art supplies, but is a truly meaningful show of encouragement and support. The application process itself is fundamental preparation for fledgling student artists.
Students will also be able to assist artists in their studios during the Second Saturday tours (March-July) and the Annual OSA Tour October 12-14. The tours are free for students but we always appreciate donations from tour patrons to our scholarship program.