Walter Withers Tranquil Winter (1895)
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What is the John Withers Scholarship Artist Program?
In 2022 John Withers and the Withers family proposed a perpetual donation to the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia (PSVA) with the vision of providing support to emerging artists. This vision has become a reality and it is with great pride that we offer 4 (four) Emerging Artists an opportunity to indulge in the beautiful Pastel medium with support.
The commitment to participants includes
- 16 hours of tuition in a workshop environment (over two days)
- PSVA Full Membership (one full year)
- Free entry to PSVA monthly meetings (one full year)
- Art materials (pastels and paper/s)
- Published text on Composition (or other)
- Mentor support from experienced pastel artists
- Entry to the PSVA Annual Exhibition in the year the Scholarship is awarded
- Dedicated prize for John Withers Scholarship winning participant
- Financial support for framing
- One half price workshop (of your choice) within 12 months of the Scholarship being awarded • Does not include travel expenses, accomodation, meals
The commitment required from applicants
- Attendance at the two day workshop
- A two year commitment to the PSVA (membership)
- Attendance at a graduation dinner
- Entry into the PSVA Annual Exhibition (minimum one painting)
- Attendance at the Opening of the PSVA Annual Exhibition
- Have a working email address and social media presence
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Walter Herbert Withers
Our 2025 Program is now open for submissions.
This very popular scholarship program will be run again in August 2025. Limited to 4 persons.
A compulsory two-day Workshop The Mystery of Pastel will be held on 2 & 3 August 2025. The winners of this year’s scholarship will be required to attend. They will also be required to enter our 2025 Annual Exhibition in October/November 2025, Pastel Artistry.
Please note all applicants must be over the age of 18 years. To submit your application please send us your Artist Biography (no more than 300 words) and write 300 words telling us how this program will benefit your artistic journey. You will need to include your telephone number when emailing. If you know of anyone that would benefit from this educational program, all enquiries and expressions of interest can be emailed to our JWS Coordinator.
Please send your application to our JWS Coordinator, Kerrie Carter at workshop@vicpastel.com.au
This will be the fifth year of the Scholarship. Please note applicants will be required to attend one 2-day workshop and enter our Annual exhibition in October-November 2025.
All enquiries and expressions of interest can be emailed to Kerrie Carter, our JWS Coordinator at workshop@vicpastel.com.au. Please include your telephone number when emailing.
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Our 2024 Scholarship Awardees were:
Rosslyn Chiarotto, Sonya Bading, Becca Wilkins and Fiona Fullarton
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Walter Withers The Drover (1912)
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Further Information
This Scholarship is open to Emerging Artists
‘Emerging Artist’ is defined as an artist who has minimal experience with the Pastel medium and has not been successful in winning major prizes at exhibitions (excluding those held in an educational institution).
The Scholarship Program will run each year and is supported and facilitated by the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia. Four positions will be available.
This Scholarship offers
- Two full days of tutition
- Hands on learning
- One year Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia (PSVA) membership
- Art materials
- PSVA Exhibition entry
- Assistance to frame paintings
- One Half price PSVA Workshop
- Mentor support
Am I eligible to apply?
This Scholarship is open to Emerging Artists. Two positions will be filled by artists who hold a current membership with the PSVA and two positions will be filled from outside of the PSVA.
This Scholarship is open to Emerging Artists
‘Emerging Artist’ is defined as an artist who has minimal experience with the Pastel medium and has not been successful in winning major prizes at exhibitions (excluding those held in an educational institution).
The Scholarship Program will run each year and is supported and facilitated by the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia. Four positions will be available.
Walter Withers Midsummer (1895)
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Resources
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Unlocking the Mysteries of Pastel Workshop 2025
We invite emerging pastel artists to participate in this workshop along with John Withers Scholarship Program participants.
Painting alongside our tutors, you learn about history of pastels, colour theory, types of pastels, pastel surfaces, underpainting and more from our Signature PSVA Tutors. Four (4) participants of the John Withers Scholarship Program attended this workshop.
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2-Day Pastel Workshop
2 & 3 August 2025
with tutors Lyn Mellady & Linda Finch
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