For some individuals, there’s never really a choice. From as early as they remember, they know they’re going to pursue art. Whether one chooses art as a career or field of academic study, however, is a different choice. Some individuals pursue creative hobbies, and some take the plunge to hone their techniques in higher education.
For individuals who want to pursue an artistic field as a student, they can take heart that there are many organizations whose aim it is to support the arts. For many of these foundations, part of this mission is played out by supporting the next generation of great artists. Many of these opportunities are listed below in one of the largest compilations of art scholarships online.
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The Kress Foundation Interpretive Fellowships at Art Museums
- 30000
- For those who want to work at museums. Must have a museum you’re working with. Deadline to apply is in April
- Aspiring museum professionals, must have completed a degree in art.
CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Visual Arts
- 20000
- For visual or media arts students. Must submit work samples.
- Visual or media arts students.
Center for Hellenic Studies Fellowship
- 18000
- For research on topics related to Ancient Greece. Application cycles begin in August.
- Students researching Ancient Greece.
Craft Research Fund—Project Grant
- 15000
- To support craft research in America. Deadline is October 1st. Each year $95,000 is awarded to “academic researchers, independent scholars, curators, and graduate students writing, revising, and reclaiming the history of craft.”
- Craft researchers.
Hope College Distinguished Artist Awards – Visual Arts
- 12000
- For Hope College art, dance, music, theater and creative writing students. $3,000 per year will be renewed if the awardee maintains a 2.6 GPA and takes at least one art class each semester. Deadline to apply in January.
- Hope College art students
CSUB William & Janet Lahey Art Education and Visual Arts Scholarship
- 10000
- For CSUB students to pursue a graduate education aimed at teaching visual arts in a high school. Deadline to apply is in May.
- CSUB students pursuing a visual arts education credential.
Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship
- 8000
- Create a PSA that warns about the dangers of distracted driving, specifically texting while driving. Can be a billboard, video, or radio spot. Application deadline is in March.
- U.S. residents aged 14-20.
Sub Pop Loser Scholarship
- 7000
- For eligible high school seniors. Must be residents of Washington or Oregon and interested in music or creative arts. Deadline is in March.
- Washington or Oregon resident high school seniors.
AWMF & Ford Emerging Voices Scholarship
- 5000
- For women who want a career in media. Open to any woman attending American colleges or universities. Next application cycle is in Spring 2021.
- Women pursuing careers in media.
John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Fund
- 5000
- For U.S. Citizen art students between 18-35. Deadline to apply is February 1st.
- U.S. Citizen art students.
Robert W. Thunen Memorial Scholarship
- 5000
- For undergraduate junior, senior or graduate students at accredited colleges and universities in Northern California, Nevada, Oregon or Washington. Must want a career in illumination, and be studying areas like architecture, electrical engineering, interior design, lighting, lighting application, lighting design, or theatre. Application deadline is April 1st.
- Undergraduate and graduate full-time illumination students in Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, or Washington.
Frame My Future
- 5000
- Must create an “original, creative work” that displays how you want to frame your future. Can be a poem, essay, photo, painting, or any visible work. Application deadline in April.
- U.S. resident and full-time student at an American college or university.
NoRA Excellence in Art Activism Scholarship
- 5000
- Must submit a portfolio. Can be in visual arts, writing, film, or music, among other options. Deadline to apply in December.
- High school seniors and undergraduates.
Gold Grant Scholarship Award
- 3500
- Awarded to outstanding and promising art students. Must be a full-time undergraduate art majors, including graduating college seniors at accredited community colleges or universities in Washington, Oregon or Idaho. Application deadline is in February.
- Art students at applicable programs in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho.
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships
- 3000
- For underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students studying photography, illustration, and design at American colleges and universities. The application portal will re-open in February 2021.
- Underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in specific disciplines.
Frederick R. Layton Art Scholarship
- 3000
- For current Mount Mary students. Must be enrolled in an arts or design discipline. Deadline to apply is in March.
- Mount Mary Art and Design students.
Dorian De Long Arts & Music Scholarship
- 2500
- For a graduating high school student who will study art at the college or university level. Deadline is March 1st. Can be awarded up to four times.
- Graduating high school students who want to study the arts.
The LAGRANT Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships
- 2500
- For undergraduate students majoring in areas related to advertising, marketing or public relations. Winners get prize money and a trip to NYC for career building workshops. Deadline to apply is February 26th.
- Undergraduate students in applicable majors.
Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program
- 2000
- For twelfth-grade students at South Carolina public schools. Scholarships are offered in creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts. Deadline to apply is February 24th
- South Carolina public school students with applicable artistic pursuits.
Zinggia Art Scholarship
- 2000
- For Ohio high school students that want a career in illustration, graphic design, photography, or any art related program. Deadline is in March.
- Ohio high school students pursuing careers in art.
Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund
- 2000
- For graduating seniors in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington state to attend Washington universities and colleges. Students are nominated by their schools by March 1st.
- High School seniors in applicable counties of Washington state.
The Foundation Scholarship Fund
- 2000
- For art students with an emphasis on watercolor and museum studies. One award goes to each discipline. The deadline to apply is November 16th.
- Watercolor and museum studies students.
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
- 1500
- For Iowa high school seniors pursuing a post-secondary arts education at an Iowa college or university. Deadline to apply is in March.
- Iowa high school seniors intent on studying arts at an Iowa college or university.
Oklahoma Future Teachers Scholarship Program
- 1500
- Must be a resident of Oklahoma. Must agree to teach in a shortage area in Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma residents that intend to teach in areas of need in the state.
Victor Agnoni Visual Arts Scholarship
- 1500
- Must apply with a portfolio of ten works. For LGBT graduating high school seniors. Deadline to apply in April.
- LGBT visual arts students.
Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship
- 1000
- For Asian American students pursuing performing, visual art, journalism and/or mass communication degrees.
- Asian-American students in specific programs.
Lyly Koenig Mendez Memorial Scholarship
- 1000
- For Asian American college students pursuing a major in fashion and/or graphic design. Must be a high school senior or full-time college/university student. Need a 3.0 GPA
- For Asian Americans pursuing majors in fashion and/or graphic design.
CBC Spouses Visual Art and Performing Art Scholarships
- Varies
- For current or upcoming college students. Various scholarships are offered for students in art programs. Deadline is April 30th
- Upcoming or current college students in or entering applicable programs.
Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts Scholarship Fund
- Varies
- For rising sophomores, juniors, seniors in college, and graduate students at applicable colleges and universities. Awarded to students in various art disciplines. Must maintain a 3.0 GPA
- Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate students in applicable programs.
Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship
- Varies
- For high school seniors pursuing Visual Arts, Visual Art Education, or Visual Art History degrees. Must reside in Boone, Ogle, or Winnebago County. Deadline to apply is February 1st.
- High School seniors in applicable counties.
CSUB Armand Hammer Fine Arts Scholarship
- Varies
- For CSUB students majoring in Fine Arts. Must have a 3.0 GPA and be in the top 20% of their discipline. Deadline to apply is December 1st.
- CSUB Fine Arts students.
CSUB Channing & Kullijian Arts Scholarship (SS&E)
- Varies
- For CSUB students for visual arts students and arts education students. Must be an undergraduate, graduate, or credentialed student enrolled full-time. Must have a 3.0 GPA. Deadline to apply is December 1st.
- CSUB Visual Arts and Arts Education students.
CSUB Dorothy Florence Zaninovich Scholarship Fund
- Varies
- For CSUB students pursuing an Arts or Humantiies degree. Must be Current Kern County Resident with preference for a Delano resident. Deadline to apply is 12/1.
- Current Kern County Resident with preference for a Delano resident, CSUB Arts and Humanities student.
CSUB Dr. Ray Geigle Merit Scholarship
- Varies
- For CSUB students. Deadline to Apply is 12/1
- CSUB students.
Foundation for the Carolinas Scholarships
- Varies
- FFTC offers a range of scholarships that art students can apply for. Some of the awards require residency in the Carolinas.
- Carolina residents.
Friends of MCC Foundation Scholarships
- Varies
- There are a range of awards for art students at McHenry County College. Each has its own requirements. The next cycle to apply is in September.
- McHenry County College students.
GRCF General Application
- Varies
- You can apply to over 70 scholarships for Michigan residents. Applications open on 12/1.
- Michigan residents.
GRCF Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Minority Scholarship
- Varies
- For students of color (African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander) at West Michigan colleges or universities majoring in Fine Arts. Need a minimum 2.5 GPA. Next application cycle begins 12/1.
- Students of color in West Michigan with Fine Arts majors.
GRCF Mathilda & Carolyn Gallmeyer Scholarship
- Varies
- For Kent County residents of 5 years. Must be an undergraduate pursuing a painting/fine arts. Minimum 2.75 GPA required. Next application cycle begins 12/1.
- Kent County residents pursuing painting/fine arts degrees.
GRCF Paul Collins Scholarship
- Varies
- Must be am undergraduate studying Fine or Applied Arts at Aquinas, Calvin, GVSU, GRCC or Kendall. Must be a resident of Kent County, and have a 2.5 GPA. Next application cycle begins on 12/1.
- Kent County residents pursuing fine or applied arts at applicable universities.
JVS Chicago Scholarship Program
- Varies
- For Jewish students and residents of the Chicago metro area. Must intend to stay in the area after graduating, and meet other requirements.
- Chicago metro area resident Jewish students in specific areas.
Marion Barr Stanfield Art Scholarship
- Varies
- For Unitarian Universalists studying Art or Law. There are two distinct Art awards. Must enter in painting, drawing, photography, and/or sculpture. Deadline to apply is in February.
- Unitarian Universalists studying applicable Art disciplines.
PEGTV Courcelle Scholarship
- Varies
- For Rutland County (Vermont) high school seniors. Must intend to pursue a program at an accredited college, university or trade school. Deadline to apply is in May.
- Rutland County, VT high school seniors
SCAD Scholarships
- Varies
- SCAD offers a number of scholarships and other forms of aid. It is one of the most presitigious art schools in the country.
- SCAD students.
Savannah College of Art & Design Graduate Fellowships
- Varies
- For SCAD Graduate students. Must have a 3.3 undergraduate GPA. Applicants with strong portfolio and statement of purpose submissions will be interviewed.
- Graduate SCAD students.
The Fulbright Program
- Varies
- For American students. Fullbright scholars generally propose a project in a foreign country and are funded to complete it. Creative and Performing Arts applicants need four years of professional training and/or experience. Application deadline is October 13th.
- American citizens meeting requirements.
The Kress Foundation History of Art Grants Program
- Varies
- For projects that “enhance the understanding and appreciation of European art and architecture.” Must submit a letter of inquiry that details your proposed project. Application deadlines are January 15, April 1, and October 1.
- Art history students focused on European art and architecture.
Must submit a 2D doodle that Google can feature on its homepage. Kindergateners through 12th graders are invited to enter. Deadline to apply is in March.
- Varies
- Six predoctoral awards are granted each year. Must work with a designated art history center. For European art historians. Deadline to apply in November.
- Predoctoral European Art History students.
Walt Disney Imaginations Design Competition Project Challenge
- Varies
- Must complete a project on a campus or in a city to enter competition. Can be architectural, ornamental, static, or active. Should tell a story, honor the past, and have a vision for the future. Application deadlines in November.
- Undergraduate and graduate students in applicable programs.
Doodle for Google
- Varies
- Must submit a 2D doodle that Google can feature on its homepage. Kindergateners through 12th graders are invited to enter. Deadline to apply is in March
- K-12 U.S. Citizens
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