Pittsburgh Region Art Coordinator Frances Hawbaker painting a mural.

After ten years, the Scholastic Art Awards have returned to Pittsburgh, PA

The Scholastic Awards program has its roots in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was Scholastic Inc.’s headquarters for many years and where the program got its start back in the 1920s. In fact, numerous famous artists like Andy Warhol, Philip Pearlstein and Mel Bochner were enrolled in Pittsburgh high schools when they won their Scholastic Art Awards. Read More

Joseph Fitzpatrick teaching at his Saturday art class at the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh. (Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Online).

Teachers play a critical role in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. One teacher who impacted the lives of his students was art teacher Joseph Fitzpatrick of Pittsburgh, PA.

Joseph Fitzpatrick was a well-known local artist who taught art classes in high school and extracurricular weekend art classes at the Carnegie Institute. Many of his students would go on to become well-known artists: students and past Scholastic Award winners included Philip Pearlstein, Mel Bochner and Andy Warhol. Read More