Endowments


Becky and Charles Witsell Endowment for
Preservation Education and Training Scholarship

Application Form

Preserve Arkansas is the only statewide nonprofit organization focused on building stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places. By presenting educational programs, advocating for preservation legislation at the federal, state, and local levels and assisting property owners with the means and expertise to preserve and restore their structures, Preserve Arkansas has been a statewide voice for preservation since 1981. The Becky and Charles Witsell Endowment for Preservation Education and Training funds stipends on a competitive basis to provide education and training opportunities for members of Preserve Arkansas who contribute to preservation efforts around the state. Awards are generally $1,000.00 or less, but the final amount is determined by the Preserve Arkansas Education Committee on a case-by-case basis. Applicants may pursue training and education opportunities in preservation architecture, historic decorative painting, high craftsmanship preservation carpentry or masonry, the means and methods of researching and documenting historic sites and buildings, technical aspects of restoration such as the conferences offered by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, the preparation of historic structure reports, or similar endeavors.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and funding is based on availability of funds.

Eligibility: Applicants should be members of the Preserve Arkansas and living or working in Arkansas.

Criteria for awarding the Scholarship: Applications will be ranked as follows:

  1. Application
  2. Cover letter
  3. Detailed budget

The cover letter should include the following: detailed information about the proposed training activity, including location, date, and why the applicant should receive the Scholarship to attend; a statement about how the training opportunity will help the applicant fulfill the mission of Preserve Arkansas and the applicant’s professional goals.

After attending the training, recipients of the Scholarship for Preservation Education and Training should complete a Revenue Stipend form to be reimbursed for the award amount.

Applications are judged on the following criteria:

  • Benefits to historic preservation in Arkansas
  • Financial need
  • Level of impact, i.e., to the applicant themselves, their place of work/educational institution, local community, region or statewide.

Application materials should be submitted to info@preservearkansas.org or mailed to: P.O. Box 305, Little Rock, AR 72203-0305.

You may also complete the online form below: