Arizona Arts Proficiency Seal
Students qualify for the Arts Seal through a combination of academic excellence in their fine arts classes, an exceptional personal interest in the arts demonstrated by time spent in extracurricular artistic activities, and finally, a senior year fine arts capstone project.
Under the mentorship of their fine arts teacher, students create a project that is over and above the typical work of a high school fine arts senior and demonstrates a culmination of their knowledge. A panel of adjudicators, who are experts in the artistic discipline, determine if the student’s project and artistic process is worthy of the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency.
Arts Seal recipients receive an embossed seal on their diploma, a fine arts honor cord to be proudly worn at their graduation ceremony, and the achievement is noted on their student transcript.
Recipients of the seal who major in music at the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music receive a $1000 scholarship, renewable on an annual basis for students who remain in good standing.
Your first consideration should be deciding if you are a viable candidate for the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency.
- It was designed for the student for whom the arts have been an important and consistent part of their high school experience, who have shown exceptional talent, and is an “arts scholar” - someone who can explain and discuss their artistic process and intentionality during an adjudication interview.
- They must have the time and energy to produce an artistic capstone project in their busy senior year.
- With few exceptions, it is not for the student who leaves things to the last minute. When we asked past Arts Seal applicants what the biggest challenge was in the creation of their capstone project, the majority said time management, and noted the experience improved those skills.
- Finally, they need to be able to read instructions and emails, respond to emails, and possess basic computer skills. All computer skills required for this process can be learned through online tutorials.
To Earn the Arts Seal there are 4 Requirements and 2 Deadlines:
The 4 Requirements
- Academic requirement
- Arts extracurricular activities requirement
- Creation of a capstone project
- Pass an adjudication interview.
The 2 deadlines
- Submission of the online Intent to Apply Form
- Submission of Capstone Project Materials
The goal of the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency, commonly known as the Arts Seal, is to recognize students who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in the Arizona Arts Education Standards through personal expression and creative experiences in arts education programs.
As the result of the initial efforts of our Director of Fine and Performing Arts, Dr. Joan Ashcraft; Sabino High School theatre arts teacher, Kris Kissel; and OMA Arts Integration Specialist, Stanton Usher, the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency was signed into law in May of 2019.
For more information on the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency, contact:
Thom Lewis
OMA Design Team Artist
520-225-4909
Summary: Info about the Arizona Arts Proficiency seal a part of arts education at Tucson Unified School District.
Posted: 12/12/2025
Keywords: article, 2025-2026, arts, education
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