Scholarships
Best Art Scholarships for 2024 [With Application Tips]
Written by Medha Pandey
Updated on: 05 Aug 2024
Art scholarships mostly provide financial support to students for an exceptional show of their art skills. The financial reward helps the students meet their educational needs and enhance their talents. However, different art scholarships may have different application formats. It’s important to find the ones that align with your goals and interests.
Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, photographer, or any other type of artist, this article will guide you through the best art scholarships available. We will discuss two types of art scholarships here:
- Best Art Scholarships for High School Students
- Best Art Scholarships for College students
We will also provide you with valuable tips and insights on art scholarships to enhance your selection chances.
What is Art scholarship?
Art scholarships are financial aid programs for students in artistic fields like visual arts and performing arts. These scholarships are given to students who show talent, passion, dedication, and potential in their chosen art disciplines.
Educational institutions, private organizations, foundations, or individuals who support the arts offer art scholarships. They aim to reduce the financial burden of pursuing arts education by covering tuition fees, art supplies, program expenses, and living costs.
Can art get you a scholarship?
Yes, art scholarships are available to students performing various art forms, covering various disciplines like visual and performing arts. In fact with the rising cost of education, scholarships are important availability for every field of education.
Art scholarships are awarded based on criteria such as artistic talent, dedication, potential, academic achievements, financial need, and community involvement. They can cover tuition fees, art supplies, program expenses, or living costs, and can be merit-based, need-based, or a combination of both.
To quote the Americans for the Arts research article-
“The nation’s arts and culture sector—nonprofit, commercial, education—is a $919.7 billion industry that supports 5.2 million jobs. That is 4.3% of the nation’s economy—a larger share of GDP than powerhouse sectors such as agriculture, transportation, and construction. The arts have a $33 billion international trade surplus. The arts also accelerate economic recovery: a growth in arts employment has a positive and causal effect on overall employment.”
The next generation of talented art students has to be encouraged since art majors provide an essential platform for entertainment, humanity, and expression. Scholarships may develop into a vital source of financial help for students who want to follow their creative pursuits.
Benefits of art scholarships
Art scholarships are among the most significant in the United States for students pursuing arts degrees.
The benefits of art scholarships are as follows:
- Art scholarships allow students to polish and present their skills before recognized judges. They give them a reality check on their skills.
- Art scholarships allow students to access top-tier facilities. It also allows them to showcase their work to a wider audience.
- Art scholarships often include financial rewards. It helps students cover their educational expenses and art supplies.
Best art scholarships for High School students
There are several art scholarships available for high school students, regardless of whether they are freshmen or seniors about to graduate. You can start applying for scholarships for high school as soon as you become fourteen years old! The best ones are listed below:
1. Dwain and Polly Wright Educational Scholarship
Award Amount
$500
Eligibility
- Graduating seniors from Macon High School.
- Students who have completed at least two English, Language Arts, or Vocational classes.
- Students who are accepted to a two or four-year college, university, or technical school for further education.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
May 1, 2024.
2. Be Bold Scholarship
Award Amount
$25000
Eligibility
- Based on these attributes, the student whose profile is the boldest will receive the scholarship.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
Feb 1, 2024
3. American Classic Homes Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- You must be a junior, sophomore, or graduating senior from high school.
- Your age should be between 16 to 22 while in college or graduating high school.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
Jan 12, 2024
4. Hunter Dean Temple Art Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,800 each is given to 4 winners
Eligibility
- You must be an undergraduate student from North Carolina.
- The field of study should be the Arts.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
June 11, 2024
5. Reginald Kelley Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,500, 3 winners each get a sum of $500
Eligibility
- Subjects must include Music, arts, or science.
- You must be a high school senior or an undergraduate student.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
June 20, 2024
6. Valley Humanities Review High School Scholarship
Award Amount
$500
Eligibility
- Students who study at Lebanon Valley College are enrolled in undergraduate humanities.
- High school students who are doing research in the humanities.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
Dec 15, 2024
7. Zinggia Art Scholarship
Award Amount
$2,000
Eligibility
- A high school senior with a minimum of 3.0 GPA.
- A student of the U.S. or a resident of Ohio state.
- Aims to build a career in visual arts.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
May 3, 2024
8. FormSwift Scholarship Program
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- You must be a U.S. citizen or Canadian citizen.
- International students can also apply.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
Aug 15, 2024
9. The Kress Foundation Interpretive Fellowships at Art Museums
Award Amount
$30,000
Eligibility
- Must be pursuing art-related professional courses.
- Must have a degree in art education, art studio, or art history.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
April 1, 2024
10. Visual Arts Scholarship
Award Amount
$5,000
Eligibility
- The student must be a U.S. citizen who has attended a private or public school in the past two years.
- Plans to study two to four years of visual arts major.
- The students who have already won the scholarship earlier are ineligible.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
April 1, 2024
11. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- Must be enrolled in performing and visual arts.
- A high school certificate is required.
- Approval from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
There are no applications for this scholarship. The scholarship is widely publicized via state and national music publications, and posters are mailed to all music teachers.
12. Nick Lindblad Memorial Scholarship
Award Amount
$3,550
Eligibility
- Any high school senior who has a passion for music can apply.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
Feb 16, 2024
13. Phil Murphy Technical Theater Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- A student who wishes to make a successful career in theater.
- Trade school student, high school senior, or an undergraduate.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
Aug 10, 2024
14. Moriah Janae Dance Grant
Award Amount
$25000
Eligibility
- Have dance as your extracurricular activity.
- Submit the essay on the art form.
- Be a high school student.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
✍️Love expressing yourself through words? Explore Best Essay Writing Scholarships.
Deadline
Second-last week of July.
15. 1st Generation People Of Color Patrick Copney Memorial Music/Arts Scholarship
Award Amount
2 winners are selected, and each winner gets $1,000
Eligibility
- You must be an undergraduate or a high school student.
- An African American by nationality.
- You are a first-generation student with a low income.
- Your major field of interest should be in arts and music.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
April 24, 2024
Click to Apply
⭐Graduating soon? Discover opportunities with the Best Scholarships for High School Seniors.
🏆Achieving academic excellence? Navigate the Best Merit-based scholarships.
Best art scholarships for college students
The cost of attending college continues to rise, making scholarships a crucial resource for many students. If you have a passion for art and are actively pursuing an art degree, you can find financial assistance through art scholarships. These scholarships recognize and reward your artistic skills.
1. Artistic Excellence in Print Design & Marketing Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
- The graduate or undergraduate student majoring in graphic art and design.
- Must be enrolled in an American college or university in the U.S.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
Nov 30, 2024
2. CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship
Award Amount
$5000 for performing and visual arts each.
Eligibility
- You should be African-American.
- A minimum of 2.0 GPA is required on a 4.0 scale.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
April 24, 2024
3. The Anchell International Documentary Photography Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- Fields of interest must be in visual and performing arts, photography, and photojournalism.
- Must be a college or graduate student
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
1st Jan 2024
4. Scholarships from American Graphics Institute
Award Amount
$3,000
Eligibility
- Applicants who have enrolled in a degree program of 2 to 4 years in a college or university in the U.S.
- Must be a citizen of the U.S. or should have a valid student visa.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
31 July 2024
5. Influence Print Award for Design Excellence
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- A permanent legal resident of the U.S.
- Must have a great academic result with creative skills in graphic design, applied arts, and majoring in design.
- You shouldn’t be employed in Influence Print at the time of application.
- For detailed eligibility criteria please click here.
Deadline
6. Locklizard Scholarship Award
Award Amount
$750
Eligibility
- You should have citizenship in the U.S.
- Right management, cryptography, and information security must be the fields of interest.
- Military academic applicants are ineligible.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Write an essay between 1200 and 1500 words and mail it to the official email site promotions@locklizard.com. While submitting mention your full name, postal address, academic institution, and course.
🖊️Are you a STEM student with a knack for expressing yourself through words? Check out the Wiingy Future STEM Leaders Scholarship and win up to $1200. Besides, get a chance to get your essay published on Wiingy’s official website!
7. Robert Sherman Fine Art Scholarship
Award Amount
$1,000
Eligibility
- A graduating senior in high school planning to major in visual art in college must submit a completed application by March 30.
- Two letters of recommendation, a digital portfolio with 10 images, and proof of college acceptance by April 15.
- Reside in Glenview attending any high school or District 225.
- Interviews may be conducted with the Scholarship Committee.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
April 15, 2024
8. Irene Runnels-Paula McStay Scholarships
Award Amount
$5,000
Eligibility
- A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required.
- The field of interest should be in Film/Video Production or Visual & Performing Arts.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
March 11, 2024
9. Gucci Changemakers North America Scholarship
Award Amoun
$20,000
Eligibility
- Should be a citizen of the U.S. or Canadian citizen.
- Fields of interest must be visual arts, music, and graphic design.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Feb 9, 2024
10. Mount Mary University Layton Art Scholarship for Current Students
Award Amount
$3,000
Eligibility
- Applicants must be full-time students with a major in art and have completed at least one college art course.
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA at Mount Mary, and expect to have 12-24 credits remaining until graduation.
- The summer session does not count as part of the 12-24 credits.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Jan 23, 2024
11. The Beinecke Scholarship Program
Award Amount
$35,000
Eligibility
- Subjects of interest must include political science, social science, Religion, Philosophy, Art, and history.
- Must be a citizen of the U.S.
- Interest in creative writing and theater.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Feb 14, 2024
12. Frame My Future Scholarship
Award Amount
Up to $10,000
Eligibility
- Performing and visual arts must be the field of interest.
- Should have U.S citizenship
- Follow and check FMF’s social media accounts.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
March 15, 2024
13. Creativity Takes Courage Scholarship for Art Students
Award Amount
$500
Eligibility
- Must have U.S. citizenship.
- Academic interests should include visual and performing art, fashion Design, Music, and Dance.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Jan 31, 2024
14. Sallie Mae Scholarship
Award Amount
$2,000
Eligibility
- A student who is accredited in a college or university in the U.S.
- A parent who has a child enrolled in a college or university in the U.S.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Jan 31, 2024
15. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Academic Scholarship Program
Award Amount
$4,000
Eligibility
- Must be a Jew by religion.
- Must be born and raised in the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Must have citizenship of the U.S.
- Must intend to return to the Chicago metropolitan area after completing school.
- Must enter an accredited graduate program in a helping profession.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Feb 1, 2024
16. John Lennon Scholarships
Award Amount
$20,000
Eligibility
- The BMI Foundation awards program requires applicants aged 17-24 to be in the United States or its territories.
- Submit one application per program, and do not submit the same musical work to multiple programs.
- Works must not be assigned to any major music publisher or record label.
- Applicants must not have previously won the John Lennon Award.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Feb 15, 2024
17. peermusic Latin Scholarship
Award Amount
$5,000
Eligibility
- The BMI Foundation awards program requires applicants aged 17-24 to be in the United States or its territories.
- Submit one application per program, and do not submit the same musical work to multiple programs.
- Works must not be assigned to any major music publisher or record label.
- Applicants must not have previously won the John Lennon Award.
- For detailed eligibility criteria click here.
Deadline
Feb 15, 2024
Click to Apply
🌞Planning a productive summer? Uncover the Best Scholarships for Summer Programs.
🎗️Pursuing higher education? Read Best Scholarship for College Students.
However, what you may further want to know is:
How to get an art scholarship
To increase your chances of securing an art scholarship, consider the following steps:
1. Research opportunities that align with your interests, artistic discipline, career aspirations, and eligibility criteria. Check with educational institutions, art schools, foundations, private organizations, and online scholarship databases. Use scholarship search engines, such as scholarship databases, university financial aid offices, and art institutions, to find comprehensive lists of available scholarships.
2. Prepare a portfolio showcasing your artistic work, tailoring it to the specific requirements of each art scholarship application.
3. Maintain strong academic performance, demonstrating a commitment to excellence in the art form. A good GPA is crucial for securing top-notch scholarships. Read How to improve your GPA to find helpful tips on getting a good GPA.
4. Participate in extracurricular activities related to your artistic field, such as art clubs, community projects, exhibitions, performances, or workshops.
5. Craft a compelling application, paying close attention to scholarship requirements and deadlines of the art scholarships.
6. Seek feedback from mentors, teachers, or experienced artists to enhance your application.
7. Submit your application early to avoid technical issues or last-minute stress.
Remember, each art scholarship is unique, so tailor your applications accordingly. Highlight your strengths, showcase your passion for art, and demonstrate how the art scholarship will help you achieve your artistic and educational goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the easiest type of scholarship to get?
The scholarship that aligns with your interests and best potential is the easiest to get for you. For example, if you’re good at writing essays, the Wiingy Future STEM Leaders Scholarship is very easy to apply for!
Also, Merit-based scholarships, awarded during the acceptance process, are often the easiest to obtain for colleges, especially private schools, as they don’t require a separate application.
Which scholarship gives the most money?
Elks National Foundation and Davidson Fellows Scholarship program offer up to $50000 in scholarships in the USA.
How do I find the perfect scholarship?
Your ideal scholarship program must align with the needs and interests of the application. Here is what you can do to find the perfect scholarship:
1. Starting early in your scholarship search can increase opportunities, prepare you for specific deadlines, and reduce stress. This allows you to focus on your best work and ensure your application stands out.
2. Know various scholarship resources, such as online databases, school resources, and local libraries and foundations.
3. Verify the legitimacy of scholarships and be cautious of applications asking for sensitive personal information.
4. Research the eligibility and application process, including academic qualifications, age limit, nationality, and application items like transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays.
5. Follow application instructions strictly and tailor your materials to showcase your strengths.
Written by
Medha PandeyReviewed by
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