title Following in Sir Toss's footsteps publication The Evening Post description Woollaston scholarship article date 10:08:2000 "Toss Woollaston contributed so much to New Zealand art, receiving this scholarship is very encouraging," If you are looking for a career, or a career change that involves the arts, The Nelson Marlborough Institute ot Technology should be able to provide you with plenty of options. The region has a reputation as a centre for the arts and now the polytechnic has introduced a bachelor of visual arts degree. In another first for this year, the inaugural Sir Toss Woollaston arts scholarship has been awarded. The scholarship provides assistance with tuition fees and was endowed by the family of the Nelson artist after his death in 1998. For the first recipient of the scholarship, Anna Leary, there is more involved with the award than just the financial help it offers. Ms Leary says she feels honoured to receive the scholarship. "Toss Woollaston contributed so much to New Zealand art, receiving this scholarship is very encouraging," she says. She hopes to make her own contribution to art in New Zealand, and sees the visual arts degree as a catalyst for her development as an artist. "Art school allows you to extend yourself. It is a formative time and one that you want to make the most of." Ms Leary has always had a passion for art and after some overseas travel she returned to her home town to pursue it full time. She believes the degree course will give her a good foundation for the development of her art. An important part of this is the environment at the school of visual arts and the Nelson community. She says the focus on her painting, with input from tutors who are also exhibting artists, is all helping her to "make it happen".