If you have a passion for art, attending one of the nation’s many art colleges can enhance your passion and further your career. Music scholarships, dance scholarships and visual arts scholarships can offset the price of rising tuition costs for promising students. Students attending art colleges or universities can focus on their passion for their medium when they don’t have to worry as much about the costs of higher education.
These are some of the premier art scholarships that every art student should apply for.
Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarship
Provided By: Krylon Products Group
Eligibility: Students must submit a portfolio of 3 to 6 images, an artist statement, a letter of recommendation and high school and/or college transcripts.
Deadline: May 31, 2018
Available To:
- High school seniors graduating before June 30, 2018 and accepted and seeking a degree at a U.S. or Canadian university, college or art school as a declared major in a visual arts program.
- College freshmen and sophomore students enrolled in a university, college or art school in the U.S. and Canada with a declared major in a visual arts program.
- Excludes fashion design, graphic design, interior design, film, music or the performing arts.
Award Amount: $1,000, plus a package of Krylon Artist Sprays
Description/Overview: This scholarship awards $1,000 to five winners to cover costs of tuition, supplies, materials or equipment. The scholarship will be distributed directly to the institution that the student will be attending. The student’s high school will receive an award of $500 to be used toward its art program. The next top 10 winners and their high schools will receive product-only awards.
MPV Scholarships
Provided By: MPV Visuals
Eligibility: Students must create a digital visual design promoting anything for the university they attend or will be attending.
Deadline: June 1, 2018
Available To:
- High school students attending a U.S. university in the spring and fall semesters of 2018 and pursuing a major in graphic arts and design or applied arts.
- Current U.S. university students pursuing a major in graphic arts and design or applied arts.
Award Amount: $500
Description/Overview: MVP provides one scholarship each semester based on the quality and creativity of the design. Winners are featured in a blog post on the company’s website and promoted via social media channels. The logo will be included on a custom branded display that is shipped to the student.
Young Sculptors Competition
Provided By: Miami University
Eligibility: The 2018 entry must focus on representational realism sculpture. Applicants must submit electronic images of up to three sculptural works that have been created within the past three years.
Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by June 8, 2018
Available To:
- U.S. residents ages 25-35 who have attained a substantial level of achievement as a developing artist with noteworthy talent.
Award Amount: $10,000 – first place; $2,500 – second place; $2,000 – third place
Description/Overview: The Young Sculptors Competition is held biennially. The 2018 award is juried by Dan Cameron, a curator, writer and educator based out of New York.
Vectorworks Design Scholarship and the Richard Diehl Award
Provided By: Vectorworks
Eligibility: Vectorworks desires to accept applicants in any field of design, including, but not limited to: architecture, engineering, interior design, graphic design, theater design, event planning and woodworking. Applicants must submit project files, the application and answers to essay questions.
Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by June 8, 2018
Available To:
- Students who graduated in 2015 or later with a design-oriented degree, or
- Students who are enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college or university for at least six credits of graduate or undergraduate work and are pursuing a design-oriented degree.
Award Amount: $3,000 Vectorworks Design Scholarship toward tuition, fees, housing, textbooks, study abroad, conference fees and other educational purposes.
Description/Overview: Students who receive the Vectorworks Design Scholarship will be eligible to win Round 2, which includes the Richard Diehl Design Award. Winners of the Design Award will receive $7,000 to be used toward educational purposes, as well as exposure and publicity. The winners of either award will also receive benefits for their schools, including free Vectorworks design software.
Edge & The Dance Fund Scholarship
Provided By: EDGE Performing Arts Center
Eligibility: Dancers must submit the application, dance resume, headshot and essay. They also must be available to attend the auditions in person.
Deadline: Applications must be received by July 27, 2018. Auditions are held on July 30, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.
Available To:
- Serious dancers who are at least 18 years old and can commit up to 36 hours per week to study at the EDGE Performing Arts Center for one year.
- Applicants must be dancing at the intermediate level in Jazz and Ballet.
- Applicants must be able to understand intermediate conversational English.
Award Amount: One-year scholarship to EDGE Performing Arts Center. Winners may select up to 18 classes from the open schedule, three 2-hour workshops and five hours of apprenticeship.
Description/Overview: Although EDGE Performing Arts Center is not an accredited college or university, its instructors are industry leaders. EDGE teachers have worked with entertainers such as Christina Aguilera, Madonna and Shakira. Their choreography has been used on stage, in music videos and on television.
The 2018 BLR Scholarship: Film Edition II
Provided By: BestLifeRates.org
Eligibility: Photography and filmography students must create a work that demonstrates the emotional features of life insurance through photography, music and video.
Deadline: August 31, 2018
Available To:
- Students of film, photography, videography or similar.
- Students who turn 18 no later than December 31, 2018.
- High school seniors or current undergraduates at a U.S. school.
Award Amount: $1,000
Description/Overview: The best entry will be chosen by a group of independent insurance advisers and will be shown via media outlets nationwide. Videos are expected to be about 90 seconds long and represent one continuous thought that represents the emotional aspect of having or not having life insurance.
CARiD Scholarship Program
Provided By: CARiD
Eligibility: Applicants must email a photo inspired by any facet of the automotive industry. This may include photos of the applicant’s first car, personalized modifications the applicant has made to an automobile or the most inspirational car the applicant has ever seen.
Deadline: October 31, 2018
Available To:
- Students between the ages of 16 and 20 who are enrolled in post-secondary education in the upcoming semester.
Award Amount: $1,000
Description/Overview: CARiD is looking for creative, thought-provoking photos that are relevant to the automotive industry. Photos can be edited or cropped to emphasize the artistic expression of the applicant.
The Rand Marketing Web Design Scholarship
Provided By: Rand Marketing
Eligibility: Applicants must submit a 250-word essay and an original sketch that may be computer generated, scanned or mailed in.
Deadline: December 11, 2018
Available To:
- High school seniors or students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program by December 11, 2018 at any accredited college, university, art institute or fashion institute in the U.S.
Award Amount: $1,000
Description/Overview: Rand Marketing awards one scholarship per year to an aspiring web designer or artist. The hope is that the student will be able to use the money to worry less about the cost of tuition and materials and focus on his or her passion.
The Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship
Provided By: Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation
Eligibility: Applicants must submit an application that asks about financial need, awards, activities and media experience, personal statement, letters of recommendation and college transcripts.
Deadline: April 1
Available To:
- Students must be film or television majors at an accredited 4-year U.S. college or university.
- Students must be entering their junior or senior year.
Award Amount: $3,500
Description/Overview: Students who are awarded the scholarship in their junior year are automatically eligible to receive an equal sum in their senior year as long as they maintain a “B” average or better.
Worldstudio AIGA Scholarship
Provided By: AIGA: The Professional Association For Design
Eligibility: Applicants must submit an application along with a portfolio with work that demonstrates social change. The applicant must also have a clear career path within the industry.
Deadline: May 1, 2018
Available To:
- U.S. citizens or students possessing a Green Card who can prove financial need.
- Students enrolled in or accepted at an accredited U.S. college or university and pursuing a degree and career in fine art, graphic design, illustration, interactive design or photography.
- Students with a GPA of at least 2.0.
Award Amount: Basic scholarships – $2,000 – $3,000; Top awards – $5,000 at jury’s discretion; Honorable mentions – $500
Description/Overview: The objective of this scholarship is to foster diversity and social and environmental responsibility in emerging artists. Although it is not required, minority status is an important criterion considered in jury decisions.
Catherine W. Pierce Scholarship
Provided By: UNCF
Eligibility: Applicants must complete the application and provide a personal essay.
Deadline: June 25, 2015
Available To:
- U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents with a GPA of 2.5 or higher who are pursuing a degree in art or history full time at an accredited U.S. 4-year institution.
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Description/Overview: This scholarship is open to students of any ethnicity who are attending an undergraduate or graduate program with a concentration in the arts or history.
Male Chorus Association Music Scholarship
Provided By: Associated Male Choruses Of America
Eligibility: Applicants must complete the application and submit a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, a copy of their most recent transcript and a CD of a solo performance.
Deadline: March 1
Available To:
- All qualifying and deserving music students enrolled in a music program at an undergraduate college or university.
- Students specializing in vocal music studies are given preference, although instrumental studies majors will be considered.
- Applicants must be sponsored by a member chorus of the AMCA.
Award Amount: $1,000 to $1,200
Description/Overview: The aim of the AMCA is to encourage interest in the performance and appreciation of male chorus music. Applicants for this scholarship must perform with or for an AMCA chorus.