The deadline for the Arts Council of Moore County’s Barnes-Travis Arts Scholarship is coming up on Friday, March 12, 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 student with a demonstrated talent and career interest in the arts.

Last year, $1,500 was awarded to five students to attend such programs as the Chamber Music Institute at the UNC School of the Arts, Design Camp at N.C. State University, George Mason Institute of Forensics and for private music lessons. As a component fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation, the Arts Council has awarded more than $14,500 in scholarships to 51 talented young people since 2000.

The scholarship endowment fund started with seed money donated by the families and friends of the late Harry Barnes, a former ACMC president and strong arts supporter, and Vaud Ancil Travis III. In 2009, another generous gift was received from the family and friends of local artist Carol Lawson Rouhier. To honor Rouhier’s life, all scholarship recipients who apply in the visual arts will receive their awards in Carol’s memory.

“The Arts Council is proud to honor each of these wonderful people every year by helping our talented young people follow their dreams and develop their talents,” says Chris Dunn, executive director. “If you know any talented middle or high school students who would benefit from attending a summer music camp or taking private art or music lessons, please encourage them to apply for the Barnes-Travis Arts Scholarship. If you would like to make a donation to the scholarship fund so that more young people can pursue the arts in the future, the scholarship fund is a convenient way to support the Arts Council.”

Scholarship applications are available at the Arts Council offices in the Campbell House, all Moore County middle and high schools, and on the Arts Council’s Web site (www.mooreart.org). The eligibility requirements for this scholarship are as follows:

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

n 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.

n Applicant must be in grades 6–12 and attending a middle or high school in Moore County (N.C.).

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

For additional information on the Barnes-Travis Arts Scholarship, call the Arts Council at (910) 692-2787 or visit www.mooreart.org.