2025 Scholarship Winner
Each year, in partnership with the San Diego Visual Arts Network, we award one emerging artist a scholarship called “The Business of Art Scholarship.” Congratulations to our 2025 recipient, Robert Friedman.
Robert Friedman
Robert has seen the world from a variety of angles, camera in hand, through both personal travel and a humanitarian career working with refugees and victims of disasters and conflicts. His images tell stories of the people he has encountered, the places he has visited, and highlight the wider world in which we live together.
He has titled his body of work “LifeScapes,” and while there is an edge of National Geographic to his images, the images he captures (or what captures him) are relatable, and capable of connection with people who view them.
ArtWalk will be Robert’s first step as a professional photographer into the world of shows and exhibitions. ArtWalk is a special start to his journey as he is a Little Italy resident and San Diego native, who only recently returned home from a life of wandering, still with his camera in hand.
Business of Art Scholarship
The Business of Art Scholarship is a unique opportunity for an artist who has a body of work to showcase and is interested in selling their artwork during Mission Fed ArtWalk. Along with our partner, San Diego Visual Arts Network, we select one emerging artist to receive mentoring, a booth at the festival and more.
The Business of Art Scholarship recipient receives assistance with:
- Curation and presentation of artwork for Mission Fed ArtWalk booth
- Development of marketing tools for Mission Fed ArtWalk
- Guidance on effective interaction with Mission Fed ArtWalk audience
- Development of strategies for building on the Mission Fed ArtWalk experience
Mission Fed ArtWalk Benefits:
- Publicity opportunities for the selected visual artist
- A 10’ by 10’ exhibit tent at Mission Fed ArtWalk
- Dedicated page on event website
- Display walls for tent
- Morning news segments to showcase artwork (if opportunity is available for this)
San Diego Visual Arts Network (SDVAN) Benefits:
- Banner on the home page of SDVAN
- Ad on the homepage of the website in the Featured Events sidebar
- Listing in the events calendar with live links to the artist’s website
- Notice of event appearing in monthly messages which reaches an audience of thousands
- Feature in RAW Gossip Column
- Feature in SD View Art Now app
- Possible report of work on display in the Picked RAW Peeled blog
- Free listing on the SDVAN directory of artists (approximately 1,500 local artists listed)
- Download Application
The scholarship will be awarded to one emerging visual artist who has a body of fine artwork to be shown and sold at the event. To apply, kindly fill out the two-page application and submit it along with five photographs of your hand created fine artworks to sean@artwalksandiego.org by 5PM on January 24th, 2025.
Applications will be reviewed by The Business of Art Scholarship partners and one scholarship recipient will be announced in early 2025.
Business of Art Scholarship Sponsors
ARTWALK SAN DIEGO
ArtWalk San Diego produces San Diego’s Original Fine Art Festivals that celebrate both visual and performing arts.
SAN DIEGO VISUAL ARTS NETWORK
San Diego Visual Arts Network (SDVAN) is a database of information produced to improve the clarity, accuracy and sophistication of discourse about San Diego’s artistic and cultural life and is dedicated to the idea that the Visual arts are a vital part of the health of our city. SDVAN provides a resource-rich website and facilitates countless opportunities for inspiration and collaboration on visual arts projects.