2025 OCAF Scholarships
OCAF Scholarships empower Oceanside high school and all of north county seniors to pursue their dreams in performing, visual, and literary arts. Offered by the Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation, these scholarships support creative students seeking to advance their education and contribute to our vibrant local arts community.
Whether your passion is performing, visual, or literary arts, OCAF supports local students pursuing creative excellence. Discover eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and how OCAF can help you reach your artistic goals.
OCAF Scholarships are presented to graduating north county high school seniors seeking to further their education in the:
Performing Arts – theatre, music, or dance.
Visual Arts – include paintings, sculptures, stained glass, ceramics, fine jewelry, digital media, and photography.
Literary Arts – include prose and poetry.
Performing, Visual and Literary applications will be judged based on the students’ experience, contributions in their field, and a teacher’s recommendation and will be juried by professionals in each field. Scholarships to be awarded at the school’s award ceremony.
To be considered for these awards a student must submit a typed 1- or 2-page application which includes the following information:
- Name, current telephone number, mailing address, email address, and name of High School.
- High School coursework in their perspective arts program, completed and current.
- Additional outside or extracurricular arts experience.
- Future educational and career goals.
- How this scholarship will benefit and/or assist the applicant.
- Why this scholarship should be awarded to the applicant.
- Applicants must include a Letter of Recommendation from their high school instructor.
A. Performing Art students should submit a video tape or DVD of the applicant’s performance, no longer than 5 minutes. All Performing Art participants are asked to make sure their music, dance, or dramatic presentation underscores their talents and shows performers at their best. The camera should be focused on the performer rather than a large group. OCAF will not accept audio CDs as the members need to see each performance.
B. The Visual Art students’ projects should have a minimum of three photos of examples of the applicant’s work either on printed photo paper or digital format, such as DVD, SD card or a flash drive. The digital storage media will not be returned. Students are advised not to email photos of their work. All students are advised not to use YouTube as it will not show them to their best advantage
C. The Literary submissions should be 300-500 words. The work may be either prose or poetry. The work MUST be original, no AI help. Each submission must be signed, pledging that the work is original. No more than 2 submissions per applicant.
Online submissions may be sent to meliane2@cox.net, and Cc: ocaf.arts@gmail.com
This can include the teacher’s recommendation, as well as the student application form. Visual arts applicants may attach photos of their work. Performance applicants may send a You Tube link, but, be aware that it is not always reliable.
Of course, everything may be sent through the mail to the OCAF post box, at OCAF, PO Box 3054, Oceanside, CA 92051.
Application deadline has expired for this year. For questions please email to meliane2@cox.net
What types of artistic disciplines are OCAF Scholarships available for?
OCAF Scholarships are available for graduating north county high school seniors who are pursuing education in Performing Arts (theatre, music, dance), Visual Arts (painting, sculpture, stained glass, ceramics, fine jewelry, digital media, photography), or Literary Arts (prose and poetry).
What documents must students submit to apply for the OCAF Scholarship?
Applicants must submit a typed 1- or 2-page application with their personal contact information, details about their high school arts coursework, outside arts experience, future goals, an explanation of how the scholarship will benefit them, why they should be awarded, and a teacher’s letter of recommendation.
What are the submission requirements for each artistic discipline?
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Performing Arts: Submit a video or DVD of a performance (no longer than 5 minutes), focusing on showcasing talent.
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Visual Arts: Provide at least three photos of original work in printed or digital format (not by email or YouTube).
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Literary Arts: Submit original prose or poetry, 300-500 words, signed to affirm originality, no more than two submissions per student, and no AI help.
How are OCAF Scholarship applications evaluated?
Applications are judged based on students’ experience, contributions in their artistic field, a teacher’s recommendation, and are juried by professionals in each category. Scholarships are awarded at the school’s award ceremony.
Where and how can students submit their OCAF Scholarship applications and supporting materials?
Applications and supporting materials can be submitted online via email to meliane2@cox.net (Cc: ocaf.arts@gmail.com), with attachments as appropriate, or by mail to OCAF, PO Box 3054, Oceanside, CA 92051. Visual arts applicants may attach photos; performance applicants may send a YouTube link, but it may not always be reliable.