Top Art Scholarships for 2022

When one thinks of a job in the art field, a high paying career doesn’t usually come to mind. This isn’t true, as there are plenty of jobs in the art field that are high paying, in-demand and offer great job satisfaction. It requires a lot of hard work and discipline, but if you have the drive, you can make it big. You need to have the right skillset, be highly creative, dedicated and be able to demonstrate your passion for art.

So if you are a prospective art student with a dream of making it big in the field of arts, it is important that you apply to the right school that will hone your skills and talent. Art schools and colleges around the world have worked hard and in unison to provide the best quality education. This catalyzes the flow of art graduates into the job market and motivates aspiring artists to consider turning their passion into a profession.

There are numerous Art Scholarships available for art students around the world. For some of these scholarships, the student must submit a portfolio - a collection of best work, along with a personal statement and an art school interview. Do check out our article on how to create a winning art portfolio on Pixpa. You must read the application carefully, as all college and University art portfolio requirements are different.

Let's take a look at the Top Art Scholarships for 2022

We have listed the best art scholarships for 2022, based on different verticals. The listicle is divided into literary arts, visual arts, and performing arts. Read on and research the ones that are the best fit for you!

Literary Arts Scholarships

The wide discipline of literary arts includes prose(fiction and nonfiction), drama, and poetry. Many institutions from around the globe offer great scholarships for students. 

Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program offers 2000 USD for a scholarship in Creative Writing. To apply, you can send a poem that is not more than two pages long. The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship is also offered to students of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.

Deadline: Early February 2020
Amount: 2000 USD
Eligibility: High school students from the state of South Carolina can apply only if they went to a public school in the state for two or more years. To add to it, they can only apply if they plan to attend a college or university in the state itself.

Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship

For students majoring in fine arts, journalism, and mass communications (also performing and visual arts), the Against The Grain Scholarship is offered to Asian American students (at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific descent). The applicants must display academic excellence, leadership in community service and extracurricular activities, and a hunger for success.  

Amount: 6000 USD or less
Eligibility: A GPA score of 3.0 or higher is required. Only Asian American high school and college students can apply for this art scholarship. 

Beall Scholarship

The Beall Scholarship is open only to females between the ages of 16 and 36 who are enrolled in art majors. 

Deadline: 30th June 2020
Amount: 3000 USD or less
Eligibility: Females between the age of 16 and 36 who are members of the Presbyterian Church can apply for the Beall Scholarship. They need to be residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia. Aspirants must also prove that they are in a bad financial situation and require monetary aid. 

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

This award covers more than 29 different disciplines from arts and writing. Some of these disciplines are creative writing, drawing and illustration, photography, and mixed media art. It is one of the most diverse art scholarship contents.

Deadline: Not applicable
Amount: 10000 USD maximum
Eligibility: To participate, you need to be in standards 7 to 12, and above 13 years of age. Only people residing in Canada or the United States of America can apply, or if they are studying in an American school in any part of the globe.

Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship

This scholarship is given to high school seniors who are planning to do graduation in English, Journalism, or Communications. 

Deadline: March 1, 2020
Amount: $5000
Eligibility: A candidate must score a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate financial aid to be admitted into a university in the U.S. with accreditation. The applicant also has to submit three copies of the application having three recommendation letters, a high school transcript, a FAFSA form, acceptance proof, and three work samples.

Performing Arts

The performing arts include dance, music, mime, opera, and theatre. Although most art scholarships include several forms of art, a few are just dedicated to the performing arts.

Dance

Caroline H.Newhouse Scholarship Fund

This performing art scholarship is offered by the non-profit organization, Career Transition for Dancers. The organization aims to enable aspiring dancers. It was founded in 1985 as an initiative by the Actors’ Fund. Since its inception, it has helped several dancers to transition into better careers. It has more than 64 clients.

Deadline: Check the link for the multiple deadlines that are there around the year.
Amount: 2000 USD
Eligibility: The scholarship is for experienced dancers with a minimum of 7 years. The experience need not be for consecutive years. The applicant also needs to have 100 days of paid employment in dance in the United States of America. A total gross income of 56,000 USD over the seven years of experience is also required to apply. 

Mary Benevento/CTAHPERD Scholarship

CTAHPERD stands for Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. It was founded in 1921 and had been helping people in the disciplines mentioned above ever since. It offers the Mary Benevento Art Scholarship to students to display talent in dance, sports, etc.

Deadline: 15th June 2020
Amount: 1000 USD
Eligibility: The scholarship is for seniors in high school from Connecticut. It has a merit-based application process that favors high-performing academic students. Transcripts, a 300-word essay, and a letter of recommendation are required to apply.    

Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship 

In existence since 1995, the SHAPE America foundation has been working towards offering financial aid to students of dance and physical education. Recipients of this art scholarship also receive a three-year membership in SHAPE America.

Deadline: 15th October 2019
Amount: 1,250 USD for undergraduates and 1,750 USD for graduates.
Eligibility: The art scholarship is for members of SHAPE America and must be majoring in dance or physical education. GPA scores of 3.5 or above are mandatory to apply. Merit, academic excellence, leadership qualities, etc. count a lot. Candidates can mail the applications or apply online. 

National Young Arts Foundation

The YoungArts Competition is for 15 to 18-year-old students who are working as a visual, literary, or performing artist. 

Deadline: October 8, 2020
Amount: up to $10,000 cash awards
Eligibility: The candidates should be a resident of the U.S. and should be in grades 10-12 having 15-18 of age. The student should not have attended YoungArts Week earlier and should not have been named a YoungArts finalist before. The applicant needs to pay the $35 fee and complete the required documentation. 

George Mason School of Dance

The Mason’s School of Dance provides training in Liberal Arts with a strong curriculum of studio and theory. There are three different scholarships provided by this institution i.e., The Dance Talent Scholarship, The Harriet Mattusch Special Recognition Award, and the Kevin Campbell Summer Scholarship. 

Deadline: January 18, 2020
Amount: $2,500 to $5,000
Eligibility: The Dance Talent Scholarship is given to first-year students who have exceptional abilities. The Harriet Mattusch Special Recognition Award is given to shows results in hard work and dedication to dance. For covering the cost of attending dance festivals and workshops, students are provided with the Kevin Campbell Summer Scholarship. 

Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowships

This scholarship is provided by the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois. Students who are seeking advanced study in architecture, art, dance, music, theatre, etc., can apply for this scholarship. 

Deadline: December 1, 2019
Amount: $9,000 - $20,000
Eligibility: Students below the age of 25 will be given preference. The candidates are selected on the basis of academic marks, moral character, and seriousness of purpose. 

Music

AMCA Music Scholarships

The Associated Male Choruses of America is an organization that offers music and art scholarships to students who are graduating in instrumental music and vocal music studies. 

Deadline: 1st March 2020
Amount: 1000-1200 USD
Eligibility: A member of AMCA is required to sponsor the applicant. The applicant also needs to send an application letter, three letters of recommendation, a recent transcript of grades and results. The applicant must also be enrolled in music studies at a college or university. 

The John Lennon Scholarship

The John Lennon Scholarships are an annual competition where students of contemporary music genres like pop, rock, indie, R&B, etc., can participate. It was started by Yoko Ono in the year 1997 in collaboration with BMI or Broadcast Music Inc. All in all, three scholarships are offered, which sum up to around 20,000 USD. It is one of the most famous performing art scholarship contests when it comes to music.

Deadline: Spring of 2020
Amount: 20,000 USD
Eligibility: The applicant must be a student or an alumnus of a university or college in the United States of America. The applicant must be between 17 to 24 years of age and must not be a signed artist by a major label. The person must also not be a winner of the John Lennon Scholarship. 

Doris and Clarence Glick Classical Music Scholarship

The Hawaii Community Foundation offers this scholarship to students a non-profit college in the United States. 

Deadline: 15th February 2020
Amount: Approximately 1500 USD
Eligibility: The applicant must be a resident of Hawaii and should be majoring in music, with an emphasis on classical music. The applicant must submit an essay and a transcript. Also, the applicant is required to send a character certificate, demonstrate financial support, and supply academic achievements. 

Theatre

Educational Theatre Association Thespian Scholarships

The Educational Theatre Association currently has ten scholarships to offer. It was founded in 1928 to enable high school theatre students in getting better career opportunities. This performing art scholarship is amongst the best.

Deadline: April or May 2020 (depends on scholarship)
Amount: Depends on scholarship
Eligibility: Students ranging from high school seniors to college juniors can apply. 

Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship

The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship includes 16 regional awards and two national awards. The scholarship is funded by the Kennedy Center, which has aimed to help bright students since its inception in 1971. 

Deadline: April or May 2020 (depends on scholarship)
Amount: 500 to 5000 USD
Eligibility: Students ranging from high school seniors to college graduates can apply for different scholarships that the center offers. 

Film

Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships

The Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation was established in 1998. It provides various scholarships and grants to support individuals and organizations which are dedicated to improving education and professional development. The scholarships are available in various categories, like film and broadcasting. It is available for college juniors and senior students at NYU and USC and grad students at UCLA and NYU. 

Deadline: April 15, 2020
Amount: $3,500 -$10,000
Eligibility: The awards are given to juniors and seniors who show excellent academic performance. The students need to present their academic honors, which they are received, volunteer efforts, and media industry experience. They also need to submit, letter of recommendation, personal statement, GPA, and other information. 

Francis D. Lyon Scholarship

The Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship is awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who have completed two years of college by June 30 in the year this scholarship is awarded. 

Deadline: March 17, 2020
Amount: $2500
Eligibility: The awards are given based on the talent of the student, and they are encouraged to submit work samples. The applicant’s academic achievements and financial need are checked before giving the scholarship. 

Visual Arts

The category of art which can be seen and appreciated via sight, is called the visual arts. It includes drawing, painting, photography, sculpting, and architecture. 

Photography

Bodie McDowell Scholarship

The Bodie McDowell Scholarship is an annual affair that is granted to three or more students. It is funded by the Outdoor Writers’ Association of America. The organization aims to enhance the professional skills of its members, harness a positive work environment, and encourage outdoor recreation. 

Deadline: 1st March 2020
Amount: 1000 to 5000 USD (depends on scholarship)
Eligibility: It is granted to students of outdoors’ Communication fields like print media, photography, film, broadcasting, and videography. Both graduates and undergraduates can apply for the Bodie McDowell Scholarship. Applicants should have letters of recommendation, certificate of good work in the aforementioned fields, and clear goals regarding outdoor communications. Academic excellence is also a plus point but is not considered as strong as the above three points.

Janie Moore Greene Scholarship Grant

High school seniors and college students can apply for this grant, which is dedicated solely to photography. It was started by The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) and aimed to create revenue and invest in ventures that promote photography. It is a non-profit organization based in Alma, Illinois.  

Deadline: 31st October 2019
Amount: 1000 USD 
Eligibility: The applicant should be currently studying in or accepted to, in a college or school specializing in photography. High school seniors and undergraduates can apply for this grant. Relatives of the selection committee are barred from applying. Visit the link to find out about all the documents you need to apply for this grant.   

AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships

Since 1995, the organization has been working towards providing art students with better opportunities. It works to benefit minorities and physically challenged individuals who are interested or involved in the field of photography, illustrations, and graphic design (communication and visual design, UI/UX design, and ). The AIGA gives preference to minorities and aims to uplift them. They have a mission of creating a diverse and healthy environment in the field of photography and art. 

Deadline: 30th April 2020
Amount: Up to 6000 USD
Eligibility: Applicants must have at least a 2.0 GPA. They are required to submit a work portfolio and also prove that they need financial assistance. 

Design

IIDA Student of the Year Award

This attractive award is given by the Commercial Interior Design Association. The organization has a network of 15,000 people in 58 different countries. They aim to support, uplift, and enhance peoples’ lives via better use of interior design. Winners of this prestigious award get free round-trip flight tickets and three nights in Chicago for NeoCon, along with the monetary benefit. 

Deadline: 12th February 2020
Amount: Up to 5,000 USD and IIDA membership
Eligibility: Applicants must be a respected IIDA student member for at least one year. They need to submit a portfolio, a resume, and three letters of recommendation (two of them must be from educators, and one of them must be from a close contact but not family members). The candidate also needs to submit a video of around 2-3 minutes, describing their passion and involvement in interior design at school.

IIDA Wilsonart Essay Competition

This award is also given by the Commercial Interior Design Association. The competition aims to recognize students in the field of interior design and who plan to make a career in it. Winners of this competition get free round-trip flight tickets and two nights in Chicago for NeoCon. Funded by the Wilsonart Education Fund, it is one of the most famous art scholarship contests in the United States.  

Deadline: Not applicable
Amount: 1,000 USD
Eligibility: Applicants are required to submit a 500-750 word essay explaining their experience in mentorship. 

ISDA Design Foundation Industrial Design Undergraduate Scholarship

The ISDA or the Industrial Designers’ Society of America grants scholarships to undergraduates who are involved in the field of industrial design. They offer two scholarships annually. It dreams of uplifting students in the field of industrial design in their early careers.  

Deadline: Middle of May 2020
Amount: 1,500 USD
Eligibility: Applicants must be student members of the ISDA. They should be full-time undergraduates enrolled in industrial design. They must be in their second year of college or higher than that. Candidates must also have a minimum average grade of ‘B.’ To apply, they need to submit a visual example of their work in industrial design. 

Cheryl Lynn Rutledge Northern Indigenous Student Award

The scholarship is open for native students with preference given from students of Yukon, Nunavut, or NWT. The scholarship is established to encourage the design student who is pursuing an education in graphic or communication design. 

Deadline: May 1, 2020
Amount: $500
Eligibility: The deserving candidate should study at an accredited Canadian post-secondary college or university. The applicant should also be a member of GDC in good standing. To apply for the scholarships, a student must submit a high school or college transcript, a personal letter giving reasons for applying, a letter of recommendation, and three portfolio samples. 

David Barrett Memorial Scholarship

The David Barrett Memorial Scholarship is given to an exceptional undergraduate or graduate student who shows interest and ability to use classical design elements in their interior design work. 

Deadline: December 4, 2019
Amount: $12,000
Eligibility: The candidate applying for the scholarship must submit their portfolio, a portfolio statement, career goals, and a letter of recommendation. 

Vectorworks Design Scholarship

This design scholarship is open for students who are pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in design-related subjects like interior design, graphic design, lighting design, industrial design, etc. 

Deadline: August 31, 2020
Amount: $3,000 - $10,000
Eligibility: Both full-time and part-time students are eligible to apply for the scholarship. And the student must be attending a university, a four-year college, two-year college, or a vocational tech school. 

Drawing and Painting

Lois Livingston McMillen Fund

The Connecticut Community Foundation offers this scholarship to women. It includes all kinds of fine arts but gives preference to painting and design. Lois McMillen was a great artist and a women’s rights activist. The scholarship attempts to reward and celebrate women like her.  

Deadline: 15th March 2020
Amount: Differs for different scholarships.
Eligibility: Only women from Connecticut can apply. They need to be enrolled in some art majors.

Art Renewal Center Scholarship Competition

The Art Renewal Center aims to support new artists, especially in the field of painting and sculpting. The organization rewards students who display excellence in classical as well as contemporary realism. This art scholarship has been around for many years. 

Deadline: Competition runs throughout May. Create an account on their official website to find out about deadlines and exact eligibility criteria.
Amount: 30,000 USD between 10 recipients
Eligibility: Applicants need to submit their work. These may include their best work of still life, portraits, and paintings of nature. Financial need is not given preference. Merit is an important factor in this competition. This is is one of the best scholarships for art students.  

Stacey Scholarship Fund

The fund was created in compliance with the late Anna Lee Stacey. The purpose of this fund is “to foster high standard in the study of form, color, drawing, painting, design, and technique, as these are expressed in modes showing patent affinity with the classical tradition of Western culture.” Suggested categories of artwork which are accepted are real-life paintings, nude drawings of the human body, landscapes, and composition. 

Deadline: 1st February 2020.
Amount: 500 to 5,000 USD
Eligibility: Applicants of this art scholarship must be citizens of the USA. They must be skilled and display excellence in the field of visual arts. Ages between 18 to 35 years are eligible. 

Architecture

Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts

The Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship is a diverse art scholarship that rewards students pursuing degrees in the field of architecture, photography, drawing, sculpture, poetry, and drama.  

Deadline: Early March 2020.
Amount: 1,000 USD
Eligibility: Applicants of this art scholarship must be residents of Washington. They must be a son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter of a veteran. The applicant must also be a senior in high school.  

Architects Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship

The scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled, or transferring into an undergraduate architecture course, which is NAAB-accredited. The scholarship is targeted at those minority students whose imagination and design thinking will help in improving the future of the architecture field. 

Deadline: January 17, 2020
Amount: up to $20,000
Eligibility: The applicant must be a U.S. citizen and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. They must submit a comprehensive essay, a professional resume, two letters of recommendation, and a portfolio. 

General Art Scholarships

Iowa Scholarship for the Arts

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs offers this art scholarship. The Iowa Arts’ Council aims to create a conducive environment for the arts. Scholarships include several fields like painting, drawing, literature, music, and theatre. 

Deadline: Not available
Amount: 1,500 USD
Eligibility: Applicants of this art scholarship must be registered in a college or school in Iowa. This art scholarship is for high school seniors who want to major in the following: animation, architecture, dance, fashion, fine arts education, folk & traditional arts, graphic design, literature, media arts, music, theatre, or visual arts. Family members of the Iowa Arts Council cannot apply.

Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Music Scholarship

One scholarship is granted to students enrolled in a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA), a BA in Studio Art, or a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA). Another scholarship is given to a student of music. 

Deadline: February/March 2020
Amount: Depends on the scholarship
Eligibility: Applicants of this art scholarship can be sophomores, juniors, or seniors in college. A GPA of 3.0 is the minimum requirement. 

Now that you have had a look at the multitude of Art Scholarships available around the world, you must prepare an outstanding portfolio of your work. It is important that you choose the right platform that showcases your creative work and communicates your skill, creative ideas, and experiences. Seek inspiration from recent art portfolios on Pixpa, to get an understanding of what is expected in your application process. Your presentation will help increase your chances of being accepted by the College / University of your choice.  

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