The deadline for the Arts Council of Moore County's Barnes-Travis Arts Scholarship is coming up Friday, March 13, and applications should be delivered to the Campbell House (482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines) by 5 p.m.

Scholarship funds are available to any Moore County middle and high school students with a demonstrated talent and career interest in the arts.

Last year, over $2,000 was awarded to seven students that attended such programs as the New England Music Camp, Dance America's Southeastern Conference, George Mason Institute of Forensics, and for private music lessons.

As a component fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation, ACMC started the scholarship endowment in 2000 with the seed money donated by the family and friends of the late Harry Barnes, a former ACMC president and strong arts supporter.

Later that year, the family of Vaud Ancil Travis III gave a major donation to the endowment because they admired the creativity behind the scholarship -- encouraging young artists to follow their artistic dreams and develop their talents.

Because of the Barnes and Travis families' generosity, over $13,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 46 students since the inception of the scholarship.

Scholarship applications are available at the Arts Council offices in the Campbell House, all Moore County middle and high schools, and on ACMC's Web site (www.mooreart.org).

The eligibility requirements for this scholarship are as follows:

- Applicant must have a demonstrated interest and talent in at least one arts discipline.

- Applicant must be registered, or in the process of registering, to attend an arts program or to take private lessons. These funds are not for college attendance.

- Applicant must be in grades 612 and attending a middle or high school in Moore County (N.C.).

- Applicant must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

"If you know a talented middle or high school student who wishes to attend a summer music camp or take private art or music lessons, please have them apply for the ACMC Arts Scholarship," says a spokesman. "If you would like to make a donation to the scholarship endowment so that more students can pursue the arts in the future, the scholarship fund is a convenient way to support the Arts Council of Moore County."

For additional information on the ACMC Barnes-Travis Arts Scholarship Program and the Arts Scholarship Fund, call Chris Dunn at (910) 692-4356, e-mail acmc@mooreart.org, or visit the arts council's Web site at www.mooreart.org.