The 52 Art Scholarships You Need to Know About

The 52 Art Scholarships You Need to Know About SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips People are always saying that art doesn’t pay. Fortunately, they aren’t always right! Prospective art students will be happy to know that there is a multitude of art scholarships out there that will help pay for their educations. We have all the details on the best art scholarships below, so read on to see which scholarships are the best fit for you! Who Should Apply for These Art Scholarships? The following art scholarships are aimed at students who are creative and have spent time in high school developing their artistic talent. Art careers are not the easiest to pursue, so you’ll have to demonstrate a passion for your chosen art form in order to show that you have real potential. Art scholarships can cover many different disciplines, including performing arts, fine arts, design, and more. In this list, I have covered available scholarships for the following disciplines: Performing arts, such as drama, film, television, and broadcasting Dance Photography Fine arts, such as drawing, painting, and sculpture Video game design Music, including voice and instrumental Design, including graphic design, interior design, sound design, and industrial design Scholarships that cover more than one area of art will be listed in each relevant category. Though many art scholarships are specific to a particular college or university, the scholarships listed below can be used at many different schools. To earn the most money for college, you should apply to as many of these scholarships as possible and also inquire at your college about opportunities for scholarships for your particular program. Be aware that this is not an exhaustive list of art scholarships. If you don’t see something that looks like it could be a fit for the kind of art you do, make sure you do more research about scholarships in your field. There are probably a few out there! Also, keep in mind that most art scholarships are offered directly through universities. When you're considering applying to a school, be sure to ask about any art scholarships they might have that you'd be eligible for. Performing Arts Scholarships First, let's take a look at the best performing arts scholarships currently available. Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship This art scholarship is for active Student/Individual members of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). Applicants must be studying performing arts. Deadline: March 2020 (for incoming college freshmen) and April 2020 (for all other students) Award Amount: Varies depending on scholarship Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Creative writing: An original poem that is no longer than two double-spaced pages Dance: A three- to 10-minute original dance routine Music: A three- to 10-minute original composition Theatre: An original one-act play that is eight to 15 minutes long Visual arts: An original 2-D visual piece of art Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. Deadline: Early February 2020 Award Amount: $2,000 Bruce Marson Memorial Scholarship This performing arts scholarship is geared toward Fairfax County high school students (educated via either public school, private school, or home-schooling) who are seeking a degree in Technical Theatre Production. Deadline: Early May 2020 Award Amount: $2,000 Case Western Reserve University Theater Scholarships Case Western offers four full-tuition scholarships, as well as two $10,000 scholarships, for students who wish to major/minor in theater or pursue theater as an extracurricular. All students must complete an audition or present a portfolio of their work. Deadline: January 15, 2020 for application packet; February 1, 2020 for digital portfolio presentations and interviews; February 18, 2020 for in-person portfolio presentations and interviews Award Amount: Full tuition or $10,000 Charles Lucille King Family Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships The King Family Foundation offers several scholarships for students majoring in film and broadcasting. These scholarships come with the following award amounts: Up to $7,000 to college juniors and seniors majoring in film, television, and related fields $10,000 to a senior at NYU majoring in film or video $10,000 to a senior majoring in film or video at USC $10,000 to a graduate student studying film or video at UCLA $10,000 to a graduate student studying in the film or video MFA program at NYU Deadline: April 15, 2020 Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship To qualify, you must be a full-time undergraduate student or current high school senior, have a minimum 2.5 out of 4.0 GPA, and be pursuing a major and a career in the performing arts. This scholarship is intended for African-American students. Deadline: Late April Award Amount: Up to $3,000 Donna Reed Performing Arts Scholarship This scholarship is for performing arts students in Iowa. Applicants must be in 10th to 12th grade, submit a three- to five-minute video audition and a headshot, and provide a letter of recommendation from a drama educator. Deadline: Late May 2020 Award Amount: Up to $1,000 Educational Theatre Association Thespian Scholarships Each year, the Educational Theatre Association awards several scholarships to students in the performing arts. These scholarships are open to students ranging from high school sophomores all the way to college juniors! Note that some scholarships require attendance at the International Thespian Festival. Currently, there are 10 different scholarship opportunities available. Deadline: April or May 2019, depending on scholarship Award Amount: Varies depending on scholarship Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts This fine arts scholarship, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington, is for graduating high school seniors in Washington State who are also a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran. Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in the fine arts, such as painting, drawing, photography, literature, architecture, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, or drama. Deadline: Early March 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 Georgia Thespian Scholarships Scholarships are awarded to 12 high school seniors who participate in Georgia Thespians. All auditioning students must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Award amounts are as follows: Gerald Ray Horne Scholarship: $2,500 Yatesy Harvey Theatre Educator Scholarship: $2,000 Frank Pruet Eric Ebell Vision and Innovation Scholarship for Leadership: $2,000 Pam Ware Leadership Scholarship: $2,000 Linda P. Wise Performance Scholarship: $2,000 Gene Imelda Bell Service Scholarship: $2,000 Dwight Gilstrap Technical Scholarship: $2,000 Achievement Scholarships (5): $2,000 Iowa Scholarship for the Arts This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. Award Amount: $1,500 Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship This scholarship is open to high school seniors up through current graduate students. There are 16 regional awards and two national awards available. Note that the awards are not necessarily limited to education in the theatre arts. Award Amount: Varies from $500 up to $5,000 John L. Dales Scholarship Fund Applicants must be active members of the Screen Actor’s Guild or children of members. Required materials include SAT/ACT scores and transcripts. Deadline: March 15, 2020 Award Amount: Varies Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Scholarships OAB offers several scholarships to students enrolled in Oklahoma colleges or universities who are majoring in broadcasting. Students must be either juniors or seniors in college, have a minimum B average, and plan to work in broadcasting. Selection is based on students' extracurricular activities and awards, broadcast industry experience, financial need, and an essay. Deadline: February 2020 Award Amount: Six awards of $2,000 each Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship This scholarship is for current college students (sophomore and above) who are from Ventura County, CA, graduated from a Ventura County high school, and are currently pursuing an education in the arts (which includes performing, visual, fine, or language arts). Preference is given to female applicants. Deadline: Early February 2020 Award Amount: $1,500 VSA Playwright Discovery Award Applicants must be in grades 6 through 12 (ages 11-18 for non-US students). Students must write a 10-minute script (of any genre) that incorporates the theme of disability. Note that applicants must have a disability (or, if applying as an ensemble, at least one student must have a disability). Deadline: Mid-January 2020 Award Amount: Ranges from $3,000 to $20,000 Dance Scholarships In this section, we introduce the best dance scholarships currently available to students. Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Creative writing: An original poem that is no longer than two double-spaced pages Dance: A three- to 10-minute original dance routine Music: A three- to 10-minute original composition Theatre: An original one-act play that is eight to 15 minutes long Visual arts: An original 2-D visual piece of art Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. Deadline: Early February 2020 Award Amount: $2,000 Caroline H. Newhouse Scholarship Fund This scholarship is for dancers looking to transition into new careers. The scholarship is open to those who have had a performing dance career for at least seven years (does not have to be consecutive or current), 100 weeks or more of paid dance employment in the US, and total gross earnings of $56,000 or more over the course of the seven years. Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year Award Amount: $2,000 Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts This fine arts scholarship, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington, is for graduating high school seniors in Washington State who are also a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran. Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in the fine arts, such as painting, drawing, photography, literature, architecture, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, or drama. Deadline: Early March 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 Iowa Scholarship for the Arts This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. Award Amount: $1,500 Jean Lee/Jeff Marvin Collegiate Scholarships Each year, Indiana SHAPE awards six scholarships to undergraduates who are attending an Indiana college or university and are majoring in health, physical education, recreation, dance, or exercise science. Applicants are evaluated on several factors, such as their GPAs, potential as professionals, financial need, and recommendation letters. Deadline: January 15, 2020 Award Amount: Six annual $1,000 awards Mary Benevento/CTAHPERD Scholarship This scholarship is for high school seniors from Connecticut who plan to major in dance or another physical/health education field at a Connecticut college or university. Students will be judged based on their academic ability, professional competence, and future career potential. Applicants must submit transcripts, a 300-word essay, and a letter of recommendation. Deadline: June 15, 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 NYCDA Foundation College Scholarship Program For these dance scholarships, applicants must have recently completed their junior or senior year of high school and plan pursue a performance-based major. In addition, they must attend an audition and submit a letter of recommendation from a dance instructor. Scholarships last for four years of college. Deadline: July 2020 Award Amount: Ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship Applicants must be members of SHAPE America, be majoring in dance or another physical/health education field, and be college juniors or seniors with GPAs of 3.5 or above. Selection is based on academics, leadership, community service, and character. Deadline: October 15 Award Amount: $1,250 for undergraduate students and $1,750 for graduate students Photography Scholarships Now, we'll take a look at the best photography scholarships. AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships These scholarships are for students studying fine art, graphic design, illustration, or photography. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, display financial need, and submit a portfolio of their work. Minority status is a significant factor in award decisions. Deadline: April 30, 2020 Award Amount: Up to $6,000 Bodie McDowell Scholarship This scholarship is available to students who are working (or plan to work in) in outdoor communications, which includes print, photography, film, art, and/or broadcasting. Eligible students must submit examples of work and letters of recommendation. Academic achievement is considered but isn't a major deciding factor. Deadline: March 1, 2020 Award Amount: Varies, but usually is between $1,000 and $5,000 Janie Moore Greene Scholarship Grant This award is available to high school seniors and current college students who are majoring in photography. Deadline: October 31, 2019 Award Amount: $1,000 Fine Arts and Writing Scholarships Here are some of the best scholarships for those majoring in writing or the fine arts. Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship This scholarship is open to Asian American high school seniors and college students who are majoring in performing, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications. Eligible students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Deadline: Early May 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships These scholarships are for students studying fine art, graphic design, illustration, or photography. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, display financial need, and submit a portfolio of their work. Minority status is a significant factor in award decisions. Deadline: April 30, 2020 Award Amount: Up to $6,000 Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Creative writing: An original poem that is no longer than two double-spaced pages Dance: A three- to 10-minute original dance routine Music: A three- to 10-minute original composition Theatre: An original one-act play that is eight to 15 minutes long Visual arts: An original 2-D visual piece of art Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. Deadline: Early February 2019 Award Amount: $2,000 Beall Scholarship Applicants for this scholarship must meet the following eligibility requirements: Female between the ages of 16 and 36 Member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Resident of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia Demonstrate financial need Applicants must be art majors. Deadline: June 30, 2020 Award Amount: Up to $3,000 Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Music Scholarship Fund Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited college or university, be taking at least six credit hours, and be enrolled in a BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or BA/MA in Music program. Students must be studying painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, or printmaking. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. Deadline: February/March 2020 Award Amount: Varies Esther Kanagawa Memorial Art Scholarship Applicants must be Hawaii residents and current high school seniors who plan to major in the fine arts at an accredited college or university. They must have a GPA of 2.7 or higher and demonstrate financial need and good character. Deadline: February 15, 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 Iowa Scholarship for the Arts This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. Award Amount: $1,500 Lois Livingston McMillen Fund This scholarship is for women from Connecticut who are studying the fine arts. Preference is given to those studying the visual arts of painting or design. Deadline: March 15, 2020 Award Amount: Varies Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship This scholarship is for Minnesota-based high school seniors who are planning to attend a college or university in Minnesota. Applicants need to show excellence in an academic subject, which can be fine arts or creative writing. Award Amount: Varies NPG’s Poster Scholarship Contest Negative Population Growth gives a prompt every year and asks students to submit poster that's been designed by hand (no computer-generated work allowed). The prompt for 2019 asked about the negative effects of population growth on the US environment. Deadlines: July 15 and October 15 Award Amount: $1,000 to $3,000 Ritchie M. Gregory Fund Applicants must be current Hawaii residents who are majoring in art and have a GPA of at least 2.7 at a two- or four-year university or college. Applicants are evaluated on academic achievement, character, and financial need. Deadline: February 15, 2020 Award Amount: Varies Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Visual Arts Fellowships Applicants must be residents of Virginia; they also must complete an online application and turn in a resume, a sample of their artwork, and an artistic statement (visual arts only). Deadline: November 1, 2019 Award Amount: Undergraduates (including high school seniors) win $4,000, and graduate students win $6,000 Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship This scholarship is for college students (sophomore and above) who are from Ventura County, CA, graduated from a Ventura County high school, and are currently pursuing an education in the arts, including performing, visual, fine, or language arts. Preference is given to female applicants. Deadline: Early February 2020 Award Amount: $1,500 Video Game Design Scholarships Here are great scholarships for budding video game designers. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund This scholarship is for students of any major who intend to pursue a career in the development of interactive entertainment, such as animation, programming, and game design. Applicants must be at least sophomores in college and have a minimum 3.3 GPA. Deadline: Late May 2020 Award Amount: $2,500 WomenIn Scholarship Fund This award is aimed toward women who want to enter the interactive entertainment industry. This scholarship is open to women pursuing careers in game development or the business of interactive entertainment. Deadline: Late May 2020 Award Amount: $2,500 Music Scholarships Here are some of the best music scholarships you can apply for. AMCA Music Scholarships The Associated Male Choruses of America sponsors scholarships for students who will be majoring in vocal music studies or instrumental music (though preference is given to the former). Applicants must be sponsored by a member chorus of the AMCA and are required to submit an application, a transcript, and three letters of recommendation. Deadline: March 1 Award Amount: $1,000-$1,200 Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Creative writing: An original poem that is no longer than two double-spaced pages Dance: A three- to 10-minute original dance routine Music: A three- to 10-minute original composition Theatre: An original one-act play that is eight to 15 minutes long Visual arts: An original 2-D visual piece of art Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. Deadline: Early February 2020 Award Amount: $2,000 Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Music Scholarship Fund Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited college or university, be taking at least six credit hours, and be enrolled in a BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or BA/MA in Music program. Students must be studying painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, or printmaking. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. Deadline: February/March 2020 Award Amount: Varies Doris Clarence Glick Classical Music Scholarship This scholarship, sponsored by the Hawaii Community Foundation, is for students from Hawaii who are currently attending a non-profit college in the US. Students must be majoring in music with an emphasis on classical music, demonstrate financial need, and have a 2.7 GPA or above. Deadline: February 15, 2020 Award Amount: Varies but is approximately $1,500 Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts This fine arts scholarship, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington, is for graduating high school seniors in Washington State who are also a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran. Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in the fine arts, such as painting, drawing, photography, literature, architecture, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, or drama. Deadline: Early March 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition Scholarships are awarded annually to both vocalists and instrumentalists and may be used for any education-related expenses. Only high school seniors and college freshmen are eligible. Applicants must submit an audition CV with two tracks of contest-level material in contrasting styles as well as an essay. Finalists will have to perform in person. Deadline: Early March 2020 Award Amount: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place Iowa Scholarship for the Arts This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. Award Amount: $1,500 The John Lennon Scholarship Scholarships are awarded to student songwriters and composers who work in contemporary musical genres like alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, RB, and experimental. In order to qualify, students must be between the ages of 17 and 24, a current college student or alumnus of a U.S. university, and have not worked previously with a major record label. Applicants must submit an original song win order to apply. Deadline: Spring 2020 Award Amount: $20,000 Music Committee Scholarship This scholarship is available to high school students, as well as college freshmen and sophomores, from Kansas who are planning to attend (or are currently attending) a Kansas college or university and will major or minor in music. Deadline: February 15, 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 Women Band Directors International Scholarships Women Band Directors International offers five different scholarships for women who plan on becoming a band director. A student in any college grade level may apply, though applicants must be majoring in music (any instrumental focus is okay). The application includes two letters of recommendation and a statement about why you want to be a band director. Deadline: December 1 Award Amount: Varies Nellie Love Butcher Music Scholarship This scholarship is for students pursuing an education in piano or voice. Preference is given to students of the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Applicants must upload their audio material as an MP3. Deadline: February 15 Award Amount: One-time award of $5,000 What do you mean "this doesn't adhere to the seven principles of design?" How could it not? Design Scholarships Finally, here is a list of the best design scholarships. AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships These scholarships are for students studying fine art, graphic design, illustration, or photography. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, display financial need, and submit a portfolio of their work. Minority status is a significant factor in award decisions. Deadline: April 30, 2020 Award Amount: Up to $6,000 American Institute of Graphic Arts Honolulu Chapter Scholarship Fund Applicants must be residents of Hawaii, be attending college in the U.S., and majoring graphic design, visual communication, or commercial arts. They must also show financial need and have a 2.7 GPA or above. Deadline: February 15, 2020 Award Amount: Varies ASID Foundation Legacy Scholarships This scholarship is open to interior design students in their junior or senior year of college. To apply, students must submit a portfolio with 8-12 work examples, a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, a portfolio statement, a transcript, and a headshot. Scholarships are awarded based on the combination of applicants' academic accomplishment, creative achievement, and personal statement. Award Amount: $4,000 IFDA Leaders Commemorative Scholarship For this International Furnishings and Design Association scholarship, applicants must be majoring in interior design or a related design/furnishing program. Extra consideration is given to students who have volunteered and demonstrated leadership potential. The application requires a letter of recommendation, an essay, and two different examples of your design work. Deadline: March 31, 2019 Award Amount: $1,500 IFDA Student Membership Scholarship For this International Furnishings and Design Association scholarship, applicants must be majoring in interior design or a related design/furnishing program. Extra consideration is given to students who have volunteered and demonstrated leadership potential. The application requires a letter of recommendation from a current IFDA Professional Member, an essay, and two to three different examples of your design work. Deadline: March 31 Award Amount: $2,000 IIDA Student of the Year Award This scholarship was created to recognize a student who is a member of the International Interior Design Association and who has significantly impacted his or her school’s interior design program through leadership, insight, and involvement. Applicants must be IIDA student members in good standing and have a minimum 3.5 GPA. Deadline: February 2020 Award Amount: $5,000 IIDA Wilsonart Essay Competition This scholarship recognizes a student member of the International Interior Design Association who has taken part in a student-mentoring week and who plans to have a career in interior design. This competition encourages leadership and mentoring between students and professionals. Students must submit an essay of 500-750 words about their mentoring experience. Deadline: Spring 2020 Award Amount: $1,000 ISDA Design Foundation Industrial Design Undergraduate Scholarship The Industrial Designers Society of America gives this annual scholarship to a student in industrial design. Applicants must have completed their freshman year of college with a GPA average of 3.0 or above and must also be student members of IDSA. Applicants must submit visual examples of work showing various projects. Students can only win this award once. Deadline: Mid-May 2020 Award Amount: $1,500 Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award This scholarship is sponsored by the American Society of Interior Designers and is for students who have made academic contributions to interior design and wellness through print or digital communication. Applicants are required to submit a book, blog, or video, and the project must address the needs of the public, designers, and students in regard to design theory, education, business practices, and other related topics. Deadline: April 2020 Award Amount: Up to $5,000 Kansas City IFMA Scholarship This scholarship is for students majoring in interior design, architecture, or a field related to facility management. They must be enrolled in a Kansas or Missouri college or university. Applicants must include a letter of professional intent, two letters of recommendation, evidence of extracurriculars, and proof of GPA. Selected students must complete an interview. Deadline: April 30, 2020 Award Amount: $500 or more Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund This scholarship is for students of any major who intend to pursue a career in the development of interactive entertainment, such as animation, programming, game design, and music composition. Applicants must be at least sophomores in college and have a minimum 3.3 GPA. Deadline: Late May 2020 Award Amount: $2,500 Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship For this International Furnishings and Design Association scholarship, applicants must be majoring in interior design or a related design/furnishing program. Extra consideration is given to students who have volunteered and demonstrated leadership potential. The application requires a letter of recommendation, an essay, and five different examples of original furniture designs. Deadline: March 31 Award Amount: $3,000 TLMI Four Year College Degree Scholarship This scholarship is for college juniors and seniors who are majoring in graphic arts, graphic design, or a different major, and who are interested in a career in the tag and label industry. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA, have three personal references, and submit an essay. Deadline: March 31, 2020 Award Amount: Up to six awards of $5,000 are given annually What's Next? If any of these scholarships look interesting to you, your first step will be to assemble a top-notch portfolio of your work. Check out our article on how to make an amazing art portfolio for college for tips on how to do just this! Looking for some tips on how to draw contour line art? Learn more with our contour line art guide. We also have a post designed to give you some drawing inspiration! Remember to start applying for scholarships early in order to maximize your college fund! 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