Fort Community Credit Union and AC Business Media sponsors this art exhibit as a means of recognizing outstanding student creativity in artwork from our local schools.

All grades K-12 will be represented. During the evening of the show we will recognize all participating artists and awards will be given. Certificates and a monetary award will be presented to the winners as juried by four local artists. There will be five award categories: the Ernie Pope Award, Gold Awards, Silver Awards, Bronze Awards, and Purchase awards. All participating students will receive a participation ribbon and certificate.

The Cygnus Ernie Pope Scholastic Art Awards began 26 years ago. Ernie Pope, who worked for Johnson Hill Press, was a strong supporter of the arts. Ernie believed that Fort Atkinson students had significant artistic talent and he wanted to encourage it. He approached the art teachers at the time and proposed the scholastic art awards. Sadly, Ernie Pope succumbed to cancer, but the show has continued. The awards have recently been granted by a fund set aside in Ernie?s name through the Fort Community Foundation.