How did the Sand Arts Festival get started?

According to Maureen Garvin, Dean of the school of foundations studies and fine arts, the event started in the 1990s as a class field trip led by foundations studies professors as an opportunity for the students to construct three-dimensional sand sculptures.

In 1998, Dr. Karl Schuler, a professor in architectural history, promoted the “Great Welsh” to his class in Gothic Art and Architecture. Students competed in two categories: historical category and freestyle category. The students were off to create magnificent castles and competed for gift certificates to the North Beach Grill.

Taking a page from Dr. Schuler’s class, the following year, a couple of foundations studies professors started the Sand Sculpture Contest alongside the second Great Welsh Sand Castle Contest.

                               Poster for the Second Annual Great Welsh Sand Castle Contest and Super Sand Sculpture Contest.

After a few years of collaboration, in 2001, they decided to combine the event and categories and formed the official SCAD Sand Arts Festival. In 2001, they had 100+ entries.

Today, this number has grown to include hundreds of entries in all the categories with participation from hundreds of students.

Previous Sand Arts Festivals

2017

2016

Sources:
M. Garvin, personal communication, May 4, 2019.
The District. (May 4, 2019). Sand Arts Festival 2017 video. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/jN78Apu3IlM
YouTube. (May 4, 2019). Sand Arts Festival 2016 video. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/IZ3Cin9U-Jw