Art Scholarships

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How to Get Art Scholarships for College?

Art scholarships are for creative high school and college students who may qualify. Many accredited colleges and art schools offer art scholarships to students who’ve spent time cultivating their artistic talent. Some look at unmet financial need. Others require letters of recommendation, GPA, test scores and extracurricular activities. If you plan to enroll as a full time student and are a United States citizen or permanent resident, you may qualify.

You should first find scholarships for art at your current school. Your guidance counselor, and faculty in the art department may have scholarship information. Also, local publications may advertise creative art scholarships. Some awards may require your art portfolio or samples. Make sure you showcase a quality piece of art work and shows your passion for art.

10 Art Scholarships for Creative College Students in 2021

There are a wide range of college scholarship opportunities in art and design. To get you started, we curated a list of 10 scholarships for artists for you to check out. If you meet the eligibility rules, apply soon!

  1. Design Circle Scholarship
  2. Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition Scholarship
  3. Stanfield and D’Orlando Art Scholarship 
  4. John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Fund for Art Education
  5. Lake Design Foundation Scholarship 
  6. Houzz Residential Design Scholarship 
  7. Black Design Leaders Grant
  8. Phil Layton Award of Excellence in the Arts
  9. Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship 
  10. Stop Painting.com Essay Scholarship 

What Scholarships for Art Students Should You Apply for?

Art scholarships for college students often accept applications from a range of artistic majors. There are also awards for those majoring in visual arts, fine arts, graphic design, interior design, printmaking or performing arts. Apply to the ones you may qualify for to improve your odds.

For instance, if you draw/sketch or paint, apply for any drawing scholarship you may find. You may have to stick to a genre but you could show off your drawing skills. 

There are also scholarships for artists tied to ethnicity, gender and race. Are you an artistic African American art student? The CBCF Spouses USA Performing Arts Scholarship may be one for you. Ten qualifying college students each get $3,000. Eligible applicants must have a 2.5 GPA and be a performing arts major. 

Both undergraduate students and graduate students may qualify for the Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara Creative Arts Award. It is from the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). To apply, you need samples of artistic works. These should show the Japanese American culture. 

As a prospective art major, you should also submit a FAFSA to apply for standard financial aid packages. By submitting the FAFSA, you are able to apply for several scholarships for art from two year and four year colleges all at once. 

Check on your college or art school’s website to see what they offer and if there is a separate form to fill out. Many colleges target high school seniors who enter as first time freshman and are renewable if you keep up the terms. Another option are easy scholarships and video or essay contests. You may find ones for creative writing, photography, mass communication, studio art and design.

Is Going to Art School Worth it?

Art school could be worth it at an accredited art program. You may gain more in depth knowledge and discipline from your art major. You may also develop networking opportunities with other artists and professors. There could also be valuable internships and potential career paths. More importantly, art students may learn to build a strong work ethic and dedication to your passion for art.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many careers in arts and design require a bachelor’s degree (or BFA) for entry level roles. Graphic designers, multimedia artists, art directors, educators and some related fields require four year degree.

Also, the cost of a public four year college is on the rise. According to the NCES, the average total cost of attendance was at $24,900 in 2018 to 2019. Private for profit colleges average total cost of attendance was $33,200.

Because an art scholarship is not a loan, it works to make your studies more affordable. Once you graduate, you may have the knowledge and refined skills to go after your dream job. Also, the median annual wage for arts and design occupations was $48,130 in 2019. Salaries in creative fields usually vary.

List of Art Scholarships for College

Check out our list of 13,267 art scholarships worth $51M.

Creativity Takes Courage Scholarship for Art Students

This award is open to students studying any form of visual and/or performing arts who write an essay expressing their views on creativity and courage. The French artist Henri Matisse once said, “another word for creativity is courage.” Artists can be loved and appreciated for their work, but they also have the potential to be criticized and rejected. Releasing art into the world involves overcoming fear and self-doubt. Even the most successful artists grapple with questions like “am I good enough?” or “will people like this?” If you’re a creative student who has ever struggled with these questions, we encourage you to apply for this scholarship! See the “Application Information” section below for details regarding the essay prompt. We look forward to reading your application!
Award Amount

Total: $500

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: January 31, 2024

DePaul Art Scholarship

To be considered, you must be admitted to DePaul as a first year student and as a declared Art, Media and Design major by February 1. To apply, go to depaul.academicworks.com and login using your Campus Connect user ID and password. You will first need to fill out the “General Application” and then should upload a portfolio containing 10 digital files as follows: nine digital images (one for each of your artworks) and one digital file with your name and resume. All submissions are due by February 1. Each digital image should be saved as a JPEG file (100 dpi and no larger than 7 x 5 inches) and include your name, the title of the work, medium, size (HxWxD) and year completed. For your resume, please include your name and contact information, schools attended, art exhibitions you’ve participated in, awards you’ve received and any other art-related activities. If you submit a video file, use QuickTime and title the file using the same guidelines outlined above. Submissions uploaded as a PowerPoint will not be accepted.
Award Amount

Total: $10000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: February 01, 2024

James Wesley White, Jr. Scholarship

The Directors of the James Wesley White, Jr. Scholarship Fund are pleased to announce they are accepting applications for its annual scholarship in honor of James “Jay” Wesley White, Jr. Current sophomores and juniors majoring in theatre are eligible to apply for the $2000 scholarship. James Wesley White, Jr. Scholarship applications are due by July 1, 2023. You may contact the scholarship committee for more information at [email protected].
Award Amount

Total: $2000

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: March 01, 2024

Martin J. Svaglic Humanities Scholarship

Two $2,500 per year scholarships will be awarded to qualified new freshman or transfer students who have been admitted into one the following areas in the humanities: Art History, Fine and Performing Arts majors, Classical Studies, Dance, English and Creative Writing, Fine and Performing Arts majors, French, History, Italian, Latin, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Spanish, Theatre, Theology and Visual Commnications. Prospective candidates must have a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and be admitted prior to February 1, 2022. Scholarship application are available on the student’s application portal. The Martin J. Svaglic Humanities Scholarship application is due March 1st. If you have questions about this award please contact the Undergraduate Admission Office at 800-262-2373 or [email protected].
Award Amount

Total: $5000

Awards: 2

Deadline

Deadline: March 01, 2024

Berrien Fragos Thorn Arts Scholarship for Migrant Farmworkers

Students who are 16 years of age or older who are interested in pursuing the development of their talents in an art discipline may apply for this award. Students must have a history of movement to obtain work in agriculture.
Award Amount

Total: $2500

Awards: 10

Deadline

Deadline: November 01

SBO Magazine Music Student Scholarship

This contest is open to band students in grades four through twelve who submit an essay of up to 250 words on the current year’s band-related topic.
Award Amount

Total: $1000

Awards: 10

Deadline

Deadline: December 31

L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship

The L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship is for a licensed radio amateur with a general class or higher license who is a resident of and attends college in the ARRL Roanoke Division (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia). The student must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher in electronics, communications, or related fields.
Award Amount

Total: $500

Awards: 1

Deadline

Deadline: December 31

Derek Jeter/Hillsborough Education Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship is available for current high school seniors residing in Hillsborough County, Florida. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate participation in community service and extracurricular activities.
Award Amount

Total: $12000

Awards: 2

Deadline

Deadline: January 15

Concordia College Theatre Performance and Production Scholarship

Graduating high school seniors who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and have exhibited proficiency in theatre performance or production are eligible for this award. Students must plan to attend Concordia College.
Award Amount

Total: $4000

Awards: 10

Deadline

Deadline: February 16

Michael Vergauwen Fund Scholarship

U.S. students who are the spouse, child, stepchild or grandchild of an employee of an InfoComm member organization or an employee of an InfoComm member organization are eligible for this award. Students must be current second, third or fourth year students with a grade point average of 2.75 or higher in an audiovisual related program of study.
Award Amount

Total: $5000

Awards: 5

Deadline

Deadline: February 16