Founded by wife Shirley Richardson and daughter Katie for Frederick County residents attending Frederick Community College, preferably those pursuing a visual arts career.
Inspirational and well-known artist, Barry David Richardson, was born on January 6, 1948 in Washington D.C. He grew up at the foot of the Catoctin Mountains in Frederick, graduating from Frederick High School, Frederick Community College and Frostburg State College. He earned his Masters of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore. In the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Barry taught art at Greenbelt Junior High School, Governor Thomas Johnson Middle and High Schools and Frederick Community College. In 1987, Barry resigned from teaching to pursue his full time painting career to enormous success. His paintings have been displayed in numerous museums and galleries in over forty states and in several countries. He was a charitable man and donated many of his pieces for various fundraisers. Barry’s passions included family, friends, landscaping, gardening, hiking, fishing, traveling, and, of course, painting local Frederick scenes. His wife, Shirley, and his daughter, Katie, established The Barry D. Richardson Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Visual Arts to further his legacy when Barry died of a brain tumor in 2001. The Fund provides annual scholarships for Frederick County residents attending Frederick Community College, with preference given to those students seeking a career related to the visual arts, including art education, art therapy, graphic design, and photography. To honor the legacy of a man dedicated to art, the scholarship fund in his name assists other students eager to study and pursue a career in this field.