The Links support of the arts can be traced to our cultured co-founder Margaret Roselle Hawkins. Her innate artistic talent, discovered at a young age, earned her a four-year scholarship to the Women’s School of Design, later known as the Moore Institute of Art. Her passion for creative expression later led to her appointment as an art teacher, and helped give root to the establishment of The Arts facet in 1964 at the 14th National Assembly.

The Links, Incorporated is proud to salute Dr. Dorothy I. Height and sponsor the Benjamin Banneker Memorial. This flyer was created by Link K. Joy Peters.
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Throughout the nation today, Links Chapters partner with museums, symphonies, arts councils, educational institutes and corporations in order to support art programs, especially where there is a focus on artists of color. Links are creating and supporting opportunities for educating minority youth in the arts and presenting and supporting performances by youth and accomplished professional artists in a diversity of disciplines.

The GOAL of The Arts facet is to increase and expand art activity, and elevate our programs through arts integration and effectively create an arts renaissance within our organization and programmatic efforts.

Signature Arts Program: Classics Through the Ages

Classics Through the Ages promotes art education among youth of color to pique their interest, increase their knowledge and encourage their continued study in classical arts. This program seeks to afford exemplary student artists the opportunity to hone their talents and skills and earn recognition and support for their educational and career pursuits. The development of education and community partnerships optimize the program’s impact and leverages chapter resources. Classics Through the Ages strives to recognize, reward and develop avenues to support excellence in artistic education.

The program runs annually from May 1 through April 30 of the following year. Chapters sponsor one or more artistically gifted students in a selected classical art discipline (visual arts, performing arts or humanities). Student sponsorship carries over from year to year until the student graduates from high school.

Links Chapters assign a mentor to offer guidance and assist student artists with networking as well as set up opportunities for mentoring and exposure to established, professional artists in the student’s artistic discipline. Students are further supported through the funding of advanced training, instruction, classes and workshops and the purchasing supplies and/or the updating of equipment. Internships or scholarships are awarded to expand the learning experiences of student artists. A master class, lead by a professional artist, is provided as the culminating event each year.

Student artists commit to performing or exhibiting at no less than two events each year, and to mentoring peers unfamiliar with their discipline. Chapters help coordinate these performances and exhibits for the students.

National Poster Art Contest

‘Project Walking Fete: Make Health a Habit! Poster Art Contest was created in 1995 in conjunction with The Links, Incorporated’s National Walk-A-Thon. From 1995-2010, the contest themes celebrated walking. The 2011-2012 National Poster Art Contest theme, “Healthy, Active and Wise”, served to broaden our health message, align it with our Health and Human Services facet and expand our health message to include a wider spectrum of healthy lifestyle choices. This allows for a more meaningful; educational experience for the participants and a wider array of ideas to inspire their poster designs.

The contest is divided into four grade categories:

Category I: Grades 1-3
Category II: Grades 4 -6
Category III: Grades 7 – 9
Category IV: Grades 10 -12

The National Poster Art Contest runs biennially from October through June, commencing in uneven years. Chapters conduct local competitions between October and March. In April and May, chapters submit their first place winners from each grade category for the selection of area winners. A National Poster Art Contest judging event takes place in May or June and national winners are selected from the winning area entries. All area entries become part of the National Poster Art Exhibition.

2010-2012 Poster Art Contest

The 2010-2012 National Poster Art Exhibition took place at the 38th National Assembly in Orlando, FL. The Links Foundation, Incorporated awarded scholarships totaling $12,000 to 16 talented students.

Congratulations to the 2012 National Poster Art Winners:

Category I:Emily Eisengrein Bucks County (PA) Chapter
Category II:Naomi West Renaissance (MI) Chapter
Category III:Belle LaMontagne North Broward County (FL) Chapter
Category IV:Alexandra Davidson Commonwealth (VA) Chapter