Two talented Fife College students have been recognised for their outstanding creative achievements after being awarded this year's The Arts Society Fife Scholarships.
Photography student Olha Karpova from Cupar and Jewellery student Emily Clark from Dunfermline were presented with scholarship awards during a special ceremony at the College's Kirkcaldy Campus.
The Arts Society Fife Scholarship was established to support students studying creative disciplines at Fife College and is now in its second year. Thanks to the generosity of The Arts Society Fife, a total of £1,000 was made available to students studying Art and Design, Jewellery, Visual Communication, Photography, Acting and Performance, and Acting and Theatre Performance this year.
Following a competitive application process, Olha was awarded £600 and Emily received £400 to help support their future creative and professional development.
Olha, who recently completed the HNC Photography course, said:
“Winning The Arts Society Fife Scholarship is an incredible honour, and I feel deeply grateful and proud to have been selected for such a highly competitive award. Knowing that my application stood out confirms that my commitment, hard work, and potential as a photographer are recognised and valued, and that my decision to change profession was the right one.
“This scholarship gives me confidence to move forward and to invest further in my future as a photographer. I plan to use the scholarship funds to purchase a camera lens, which is essential for my work.”
Emily, who recently completed the HND Jewellery course, said:
“I was very shocked when I got the phone call saying that I was one of the winners of the scholarship but overall, I was extremely happy that the scholarship committee chose me.
“Winning this scholarship benefits me in so many ways. One of the main ones is that it will help me purchase different materials and tools that I haven’t been able to get. Some of the things that I’m going to buy with the money I got are new tools such as a saw, files, hammer, burrs and drill heads. I will also purchase books and materials such as silver and gemstones.”
The awards were presented by The Arts Society Fife representatives Pat Clark, former Arts & Heritage Co-ordinator, and Diane Russell, former Chair of The Arts Society Fife, who visited the College to meet the scholarship recipients and celebrate their success.
Pat Clark said:
“It was a lovely occasion coming into the College to meet the two scholarship recipients. We felt so welcomed by everyone at the College and were delighted to learn more about their creative ambitions and future plans.”
Lyn Gold, Scholarship and Alumni Engagement Lead at Fife College, said:
“We are delighted to see The Arts Society Fife Scholarship continuing for a second year and are incredibly grateful for the support it provides to our students. These awards help talented students invest in the equipment, materials and resources to develop their practice and pursue their career ambitions. Congratulations to Olha and Emily on their success, and our sincere thanks to Pat and Diane for their dedication and commitment to supporting our creative students.”
The Arts Society Fife Scholarship is open to students studying HNC and HND programmes in Art and Design, Jewellery, Visual Communication, Photography, and Acting and Performance, as well as the Advanced Certificate in Acting and Theatre Performance. The scholarship recognises talent, commitment and potential, while providing practical support to help students take the next step in their creative journeys.
The scholarship forms part of the Adam Smith Scholarships programme, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. One of the largest college scholarship programmes in Scotland, it awards thousands of pounds each year to support students, create opportunities and help transform lives.
For further information about scholarships at Fife College, visit the Adam Smith Scholarships page or email scholarships@fife.ac.uk.
Photograph: Arts Society Fife Scholarship recipients Emily Clark (HND Jewellery) and Olha Karpova (HNC Photography) with Diane Russell (left), Chair of The Arts Society Fife, and Pat Clark (right), Arts & Heritage Co-ordinator, following the scholarship presentation at Fife College's Academy campus in Kirkcaldy.