1. Who are eligible for financial aid from The Laurel Fund for the performing arts?
Young persons between the third and twelfth grades who have had at least three years of study and some performing experience and who have career aspirations in music, theater or dance may apply for a grant for further study in their chosen art form.

2. When does the program start, and for how long are the grants?
The scholarship program starts in September for a full school year. The community service program (when the young artists perform at community venues) will start in November and run until the end of the school year in June.

3. How will the Laurel Fund grantees be chosen?
Applications should be accompanied by letters of recommendations from teachers, coaches or community leaders. A committee comprised of arts and community leaders will decide who will be receiving grants. An audition and interview will be required of applicants.

4. How many grantees will there be?
The number of young people to receive scholarship grants will vary from year to year, and will mostly depend on the funds available, as well as the funds needed for each individual grantee.

5. When will the chosen applicants be notified of their scholarship grant?
Decisions as to who and how many grants are awarded will be announced at the end of June.

6. Exactly what will be required of the grantees during the year of their grant?
Each grantee will pursue his/her training in the chosen arts discipline either in an established arts institution in the area or with a private teacher in September. Grantees will be required to come to an orientation/performance meeting in early October so that they will meet each other, and meet the members of the Board and of the Advisory Committee of The Laurel Fund for the performing arts. The Community Service performance schedule for the year will be given out at this meeting. Starting in November and continuing through May, there will be at least two community service performances per month at senior citizen's homes, shelters, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and other like venues.

At the community service performances, each grantee will be expected to talk about himself/herself, about the choice of arts discipline and the piece performed, and to answer questions from the audience after the performance.

Transportation to and from the community service venues will be provided from a central meeting point to be announced prior to the performance. As much as possible, performances will be scheduled for Sunday afternoons to avoid conflicts with schoolwork and other weeknight activities.

At the conclusion of the grant, each grantee will be required to submit an essay talking about the year and what each has experienced in his/her study and performances.

7. Will the grants be for one year only, or can a grantee apply again the following year?
While each grant is for one school year, each grantee can certainly apply for the same program the following year.

8. Will there be a possibility of a grant for intensive summer study?
Yes, there will be at least one, possibly two, summer study grants for summer programs.

For additional questions, you can e-mail info@thelaurelfund.org, or write to The Laurel Fund for the performing arts, P.O. Box 5622, Washington DC 20016; or call 202.363.4304.