PHL High School for the Arts starts nationwide search for young artists

The Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) has started its Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars (ANSYAS) for school year 2016-2017.

Grade Six students in public and private schools may apply. If accepted, a student will get a Full Special Secondary (K12) Scholarship. This includes free tuition and board and lodging, a monthly stipend, and free tickets to shows, events, and performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Scholars will also get the opportunity to meet and interact with world-class artists as well as represent the school and the country in local and international festivals, competitions, and exchange programs.

Located in Mt. Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna, PHSA is a government-run secondary school that aims to identify and develop "artistically gifted and talented children to become artists of excellence in the field of dance, music, theater, creative writing, and visual arts."

PHSA only accepts around 40 to 50 new students every year to ensure a more individualized and differentiated academic and arts training programs possible.

To be eligible for scholarship, an applicant must:

• be a Filipino citizen with no pending application as immigrant to any foreign country;
• have an outstanding ability in an art discipline;
• be a Grade Six pupil at the time of application;
• not be older than 14 years upon enrolment;
• be proficient in oral and written Filipino and English;
• be willing to study in a residential school;
• have no debilitating illnesses or systemic and/or communicable diseases such as serum sickness, congenital heart disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis A and/or B, untreated primary complex, chronic otitis media, malaria, bronchial asthma, and/or seizures/involuntary tremors; and
• be determined to pursue a college degree or career in Dance, Creative Writing, Architecture, Fine Arts, Music, or Theater.

The following documents must be received by the Search Committee for the preliminary evaluation of scholarship applications:

• a fully accomplished PHSA Scholarship Application Form
• a photocopy of Birth Certificate issued by the NSO
• a photocopy of Grade V or Grade VI Report Card
• a one-page resume citing accomplishments in the art field of interest
• Creative Writing: ten (10) samples of works (e.g. short story, poem, essay) in Filipino and/or English, typewritten, doublespaced on A4 white bond paper authenticated by the teacher-in-charge
• Visual Arts: ten (10) images of artworks (jpeg format) in CD or DVD

There will also be a screening in designated testing centers in National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

All applications must be received by the Scholarship committee on or before September 15, 2015. — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News

For more information about ANYAS, contact PHSA at (049)536-5973 or 0917-8663097, email phsa.ansyas@gmail.com, or visit www.phsa.edu.ph.