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SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

By inspiring young professionals to be creative, and partnering with those who have walked this path before, we are forming a new legacy of connections through art. 

OLIVIA KARLS MEMORIAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Photo Credit to Oliva Scarlett Karls for all artwork on this page

The Karls Family was touched with personal tragedy with the loss of their youngest daughter, Olivia Karls, in early 2024. A self-taught painter, her artistic vision was limitless, and she had the type of creative eye that so many of us dream of having. Her art was an expression of emotions that oftentimes had no other way out, and many of her pieces were not seen until after she passed. To Olivia, her art was never quite finished. There was always more shading, blending, and touch-ups that were needed before it was considered done. And some days she would wake up and start all over, perhaps because she felt different emotionally than she felt the day before. Her work offered a glimpse into the mind of a profoundly talented young artist who lived with mental illness most of her life. Her family saw how the act of creating art could dramatically change the way a person feels. It has the power to calm an anxious mind and to balance out extreme high and low emotions. Each piece of Olivia’s art is different from the last and is a colorful chronology of her short time on earth.

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To honor Olivia and young artists like her, the Karls Family, in partnership with Create Waunakee, Inc., has established the Olivia Karls Memorial Mentorship Program. The program will offer financial support to kickstart the professional careers of young artists in the community who are participating in the Waunakee Artisan Market and seeking to turn their talents into more than just hobbies. The program will also provide a platform for student artists to receive hands-on mentorship from experienced artists in the area.

 

Furthermore, participants in the program then qualify to apply for one of 2 academic continuing education scholarships offered annually by Create Waunakee, Inc.

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Please use the link below to apply for the 2025 Waunakee Artisan Market as a student vendor to be eligible for these programs

2025 STUDENT APPLICATION COMING SOON
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