In 2018 the Bob Chavez Scholarship for the Arts was initially established at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in conjunction with the opening of a rotating exhibit – A Promise Fulfilled: The Life and Legacy of Bob Chavez. This scholarship is named in honor of Manuel “Bob” Chavez of Cochiti Pueblo, who dedicated 50 years as a volunteer teaching art at St. Catherine’s Indian School.

Bob’s love for art began with his father, Cipriano Chavez, who painted with watercolors. Bob never took art classes, instead he learned by watching his father and through constant practice. In 1933, when he was just 17 years old, his mother submitted his artwork to the Indian Art Market where he won the first-place blue ribbon and a $12 cash prize.  Bob’s son, Franco Chavez, recalls trying to set up the art market booth with his dad later in life: “We never had to set up the booth because we would sell the paintings as we were pulling them off the truck.”

Bob’s paintings show traditional life including dances from Cochiti Pueblo, the horses his family raised, and his community members. A giant mural by Bob Chavez adorns the IPCC courtyard which reverently depicts horses in an open setting.

Criteria and Guidelines:

• Applicant must be a high school graduating senior from New Mexico OR a current college student OR returning college student from New Mexico
• Applicant must demonstrate interest in the study of the visual arts or related field (graphic design, photography, architecture, design, cinematic arts, art history, etc.)
• Applicant must be a member of, or affiliated with, a federally recognized Pueblo from the 19 Pueblo communities of New Mexico
  • Pueblo enrollment is not required, but Pueblo affiliation must be verified by a letter of support from a current tribal government official of the Pueblo community.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
• Applicant must plan to attend, or is currently attending, a 2-year or 4-year public or private nonprofit college, university, or technical vocational school, part-time or full-time, in state or out of state.

The Scholarship is managed by the Albuquerque Community Foundation.  Applicants will need to complete the application process with the Albuquerque Community Foundation.