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Edited By: Art Scholarships
Key takeaways:
- Art scholarships can be offered by colleges, art schools, foundations, or local art organizations.
- Many art scholarships are based on art merit alone, while others also consider academic performance, financial need, or other unique factors.
- Some art scholarships include additional assistance such as portfolio reviews, mentorship, or exhibition opportunities.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 90,000 students receive a bachelor’s degree in visual and performing arts each year. However, many of these students are forced to take out student loans in order to cover the cost of tuition, art supplies, and living expenses.
Art scholarships can help reduce this financial burden and allow students to focus on developing their skills, building portfolios, and pursuing careers in the creative industries— without taking on excessive debt.
The 25 Best Art Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines in 2025
What are art scholarships?
Art scholarships are financial awards that help students cover the costs of studying visual and performing arts or other creative fields. These scholarships can help pay for tuition or expenses such as art supplies, studio fees, and other materials needed to complete a degree.
The majority of art scholarships are aimed at students majoring in areas such as studio art, graphic design, theater, photography, film, art education, animation, dance, music, and interior design. However, some art scholarships are open to any student with artistic interests or abilities, regardless of their major.
Many art scholarships are competition-based and require students to create a submission, while others might ask for a portfolio. Some awards also consider factors like academic merit, financial need, location, or the school you plan to attend.
Because each art scholarship has its own specific requirements and qualifications, it’s important to read through each award’s eligibility criteria and application instructions carefully. If you’re unsure whether or not you qualify, contact the scholarship provider directly.
How to apply for art scholarships
When you create a profile on Scholarships.com, you’ll automatically match with awards you’re eligible for, including art scholarships. You can also use our scholarship directory to search by your academic major or find awards categorized by specific artistic abilities.
Some art scholarships might request a portfolio that highlights the work you’ve created so far. Be sure to follow the guidelines carefully; different scholarships may have different requirements regarding the number of pieces, acceptable formats, or themes included in your submission.
Many scholarships, especially those that consider financial need, also require you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you don’t fill out the FAFSA before applying, you might not qualify for these types of awards.
What are the best art scholarships?
The best art scholarships will vary from person to person based on the type of art you are interested in, your personal experiences, qualities, location, and more. In general, scholarships geared towards a smaller group of students will have fewer applicants, which can make them easier to win.
For instance, the Mary Doctor Performing Arts Scholarship is a $40,000 award for high school seniors who demonstrate financial need, plan to pursue a degree in the arts, and live in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area.
Since it can be difficult to meet all of the requirements of these local or niche scholarships, it’s also a good idea to look into awards with broader eligibility criteria. For example, the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is an annual competition designed for aspiring songwriters. It’s open to students aged 17-24 and offers two awards of $20,000 each.
Other art scholarships are specific to certain institutions. The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), for example, offers scholarships to both future and current students. High school juniors and seniors interested in attending SCAD for their undergraduate degree can enter the SCAD Challenge Scholarship Competitions in areas such as animation, film, photography, 2D design, fashion design, and more.
Other awards are available through particular university programs. For example, the University of Akron offers multiple scholarships for students who will pursue study at its Mary Schiller Myers School of Art. These Myers School of Art Scholarships offer awards to students in areas such as fine art, photography, graphic design, and art education, as well as travel grants.
Frequently asked questions about art scholarships
There are multiple scholarships available for students who are not majoring in art. For example, the Doodle for Google Scholarship is open to any students in grades K-12. This $55,000 scholarship has multiple categories based on age and gives students the opportunity to create a “doodle" that displays their goals and creativity.
The Gucci Changemakers Scholarship is given to students pursuing creative and business-oriented majors at community colleges or four-year universities. Applicants submit a creative portfolio along with a written statement explaining how they plan to make an impact in their community and the creative industry.
However, other scholarships, especially those awarded from specific institutions, do require you to major in the visual and performing arts. If you don’t choose an eligible major or decide to switch to a different one, you may no longer qualify for the scholarship.
While the majority of art scholarships are for current or incoming undergraduate students, there are some awards for students pursuing higher education in the arts. For example, the Beinecke Scholarship is open to college juniors who plan to enter a research- or creative-focused master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities, or select social sciences.
Other graduate art scholarships are awarded based on the undergraduate school from which you graduated. For instance, graduates of the College of Fine and Applied Arts of the University of Illinois can apply for the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship. This award can be used by students seeking advanced studies in architecture, art, dance, landscape architecture, music, theatre, or urban and regional planning in the U.S. or abroad.
Most art scholarships are designed to help awardees pay for tuition while studying visual or performing arts. However, some awards can be used for a variety of personal, creative, or professional expenses.
For example, the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award gives musicians up to $10,000 that can be used for new instruments, music lessons, competition fees, travel costs, computers, recording devices, and more.
Always check each scholarship’s terms to see how you’re allowed to spend your winnings. Some funds are sent to the school you attend, while others are awarded directly to you.
Whether or not you need to submit a portfolio depends on the specific scholarship. Many art scholarships, especially those focused on visual arts, require applicants to submit portfolios of work that demonstrates their range, skills, and artistic development.
For example, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Visual Arts Fellowship asks applicants to provide multiple pieces that align with their artistic discipline. However, other scholarships, such as the Rau for Art Scholarship are competition-based and only require students to submit one piece of artwork specifically created for that year’s theme.
In most cases, art scholarships in the U.S. are limited to U.S. citizens. However, some also accept international students studying in the U.S. For example, the BOBS from Skechers Paws for a Cause Design Scholarship is a shoe-designing competition open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students with F-1 or J-1 visas.
Some colleges and universities will consider international students for scholarships as long as they have been accepted into that school. For instance, the Case Western Theater Scholarship is available to both U.S. and international students who have been accepted into Case Western Reserve University.