Herron School of Art and Design Scholarships
People are always saying that art doesn't pay. Fortunately, they aren't always right! Prospective art students will be happy to know that there are a multitude of art scholarships out there that will help pay for their educations. We have all the details on the best art scholarships below, so read on to see which scholarships are the best fit for you! The following art scholarships are aimed at students who are creative and have spent time in high school developing their artistic talent. Art careers are not the easiest to pursue, so you'll have to demonstrate a passion for your chosen art form in order to show that you have real potential. Art scholarships can cover many different disciplines, including performing arts, fine arts, design, and more. In this list, I have covered available scholarships for the following disciplines: Scholarships that cover more than one area of art will be listed in each relevant category. Though many art scholarships are specific to a particular college or university, the scholarships listed below can be used at many different schools. To earn the most money for college, you should apply to as many of these scholarships as possible and also inquire at your college about opportunities for scholarships for your particular program. Be aware that this is not an exhaustive list of art scholarships. If you don't see something that looks like it could be a fit for the kind of art you do, make sure you do more research about scholarships in your field. There are probably a few out there! Also, keep in mind that most art scholarships are offered directly through universities. When you're considering applying to a school, be sure to ask about any art scholarships they might have that you'd be eligible for. First, let's take a look at the best performing arts scholarships currently available. This art scholarship is for active Student/Individual members of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). Applicants must be studying performing arts. South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. This performing arts scholarship is geared toward Fairfax County (Virginia) high school students (educated via either public school, private school, or home-schooling) who are seeking a degree in Technical Theatre Production. Case Western offers four full-tuition scholarships, as well as two $10,000 scholarships, for students who wish to major/minor in theater or pursue theater as an extracurricular. All students must complete an audition or present a portfolio of their work. To qualify, you must be a full-time undergraduate student or current high school senior, have a minimum 2.5 out of 4.0 GPA, and be pursuing a major and a career in the performing or visual arts. These scholarships are intended for African-American students. Each year, the Educational Theatre Association awards several scholarships to students in the performing arts. These scholarships are open to students ranging from high school sophomores all the way to college juniors! Note that some scholarships require attendance at the International Thespian Festival. Currently, there are 10 different scholarship opportunities available, and four grants to attend the International Thespian Festival. This fine arts scholarship, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington, is for graduating high school seniors in Washington State who are also a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran. Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in the fine arts, such as painting, drawing, photography, literature, architecture, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, or drama. Scholarships are awarded to 12 high school seniors who participate in Georgia Thespians. All auditioning students must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Award amounts are as follows: This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. This scholarship is open to high school seniors up through current graduate students. There are 16 regional awards and two national awards available. Note that the awards are not necessarily limited to education in the theatre arts. Applicants must be active members of the Screen Actor's Guild or children of members. Required materials include SAT/ACT scores and transcripts. OAB offers several scholarships to students enrolled in Oklahoma colleges or universities who are majoring in broadcasting. Students must be either juniors or seniors in college, have a minimum B average, and plan to work in broadcasting. Selection is based on students' extracurricular activities and awards, broadcast industry experience, financial need, and an essay. This scholarship is for current college students (sophomore and above) who are from Ventura County, CA, graduated from a Ventura County high school, and are currently pursuing an education in the arts (which includes performing, visual, fine, or language arts). Preference is given to female applicants. Applicants must be in grades 6 through 12 (ages 11-18 for non-US students). Students must write a 10-minute script (of any genre) that incorporates the theme of disability. Note that applicants must have a disability (or, if applying as an ensemble, at least one student must have a disability). Higher education costs in the United States have been skyrocketing for the last 20 years, but it's still possible to get a great education without breaking the bank. Learn how you can maximize the quality of your college education while minimizing costs with our six-hour online course. In this section, we introduce the best dance scholarships currently available to students. South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. This scholarship is for dancers looking to transition into new careers. The scholarship is open to those who have had a performing dance career for at least seven years (does not have to be consecutive or current), 100 weeks or more of paid dance employment in the US, and total gross earnings of $56,000 or more over the course of the seven years. This fine arts scholarship, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington, is for graduating high school seniors in Washington State who are also a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran. Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in the fine arts, such as painting, drawing, photography, literature, architecture, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, or drama. This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. Each year, Indiana SHAPE awards six scholarships to undergraduates who are attending an Indiana college or university and are majoring in health, physical education, recreation, dance, or exercise science. Applicants are evaluated on several factors, such as their GPAs, potential as professionals, financial need, and recommendation letters. This scholarship is for high school seniors from Connecticut who plan to major in dance or another physical/health education field at a Connecticut college or university. Students will be judged based on their academic ability, professional competence, and future career potential. Applicants must submit transcripts, a 300-word essay, and a letter of recommendation. For these dance scholarships, applicants must have recently completed their junior or senior year of high school and plan to pursue a performance-based major. In addition, they must attend an audition and submit a letter of recommendation from a dance instructor. Scholarships last for four years of college. Applicants must be members of SHAPE America, be majoring in dance or another physical/health education field, and be college juniors or seniors with GPAs of 3.5 or above. Selection is based on academics, leadership, community service, and character. Now, we'll take a look at the best photography scholarships. These scholarships are for students studying fine art, graphic design, illustration, or photography. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, display financial need, and submit a portfolio of their work. Minority status is a significant factor in award decisions. This scholarship is available to students who are working (or plan to work in) in outdoor communications, which includes print, photography, film, art, and/or broadcasting. Eligible students must submit examples of work and letters of recommendation. Academic achievement is considered but isn't a major deciding factor. This award is available to high school seniors and current college students who are majoring in photography. Here are some of the best scholarships for those majoring in writing or the fine arts. This scholarship is open to Asian American high school seniors and college students who are majoring in performing, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications. Eligible students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. These scholarships are for students studying fine art, graphic design, illustration, or photography. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, display financial need, and submit a portfolio of their work. Minority status is a significant factor in award decisions. South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. Applicants for this scholarship must meet the following eligibility requirements: Applicants must be art majors. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited college or university, be taking at least six credit hours, and be enrolled in a BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or BA/MA in Music program. Students must be studying painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, or printmaking. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. Applicants must be Hawaii residents and current high school seniors who plan to major in the fine arts at an accredited college or university. They must have a GPA of 2.7 or higher and demonstrate financial need and good character. This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. This scholarship is for women from Connecticut who are studying the fine arts. Preference is given to those studying the visual arts of painting or design. This scholarship is for Minnesota-based high school seniors who are planning to attend a college or university in Minnesota. Applicants need to show excellence in an academic subject, which can be fine arts or creative writing. Negative Population Growth gives a prompt every year and asks students to submit a poster that's been designed by hand or digitally (there are separate awards for each category). The prompt for 2020 asked about the negative effects of population growth on our future. Applicants must be current Hawaii residents who are majoring in art and have a GPA of at least 2.7 at a two- or four-year university or college. Applicants are evaluated on academic achievement, character, and financial need. Applicants must be residents of Virginia; they also must complete an online application and turn in a resume, a sample of their artwork, and an artistic statement (visual arts only). This scholarship is for college students (sophomore and above) who are from Ventura County, CA, graduated from a Ventura County high school, and are currently pursuing an education in the arts, including performing, visual, fine, or language arts. Preference is given to female applicants. Here are great scholarships for budding video game designers. This scholarship is for students of any major who intend to pursue a career in the development of interactive entertainment, such as animation, programming, and game design. Applicants must be at least sophomores in college and have a minimum 3.3 GPA. This award is aimed toward women who want to enter the interactive entertainment industry. This scholarship is open to women pursuing careers in game development or the business of interactive entertainment. Here are some of the best music scholarships you can apply for. The Associated Male Choruses of America sponsors scholarships for students who will be majoring in vocal music studies or instrumental music (though preference is given to the former). Applicants must be sponsored by a member chorus of the AMCA and are required to submit an application, a transcript, and three letters of recommendation. South Carolina high school seniors may apply if they have attended a public high school in South Carolina for at least two years and plan to attend a college or university in South Carolina as well. There are five categories of scholarships: Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited college or university, be taking at least six credit hours, and be enrolled in a BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or BA/MA in Music program. Students must be studying painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, or printmaking. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. This scholarship, sponsored by the Hawaii Community Foundation, is for students from Hawaii who are currently attending a non-profit college in the US. Students must be majoring in music with an emphasis on classical music, demonstrate financial need, and have a 2.7 GPA or above. This fine arts scholarship, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Washington, is for graduating high school seniors in Washington State who are also a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran. Applicants must plan to pursue a degree in the fine arts, such as painting, drawing, photography, literature, architecture, sculpture, poetry, music, dance, or drama. Scholarships are awarded annually to both vocalists and instrumentalists and may be used for any education-related expenses. Only high school seniors and college freshmen are eligible. Applicants must submit an audition CV with two tracks of contest-level material in contrasting styles as well as an essay. Finalists will have to perform in person. Note: due to COVID-19, the 2021 performance was cancelled. The next performance date is currently June 9, 2022. This award is for high school seniors who are Iowa residents and excel in the arts. Students must be accepted to an Iowa college or university and plan to major in the fine arts. Scholarships are awarded to student songwriters and composers who work in contemporary musical genres like alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental. In order to qualify, students must be between the ages of 17 and 24, a current college student or alumnus of a U.S. university, and have not worked previously with a major record label. Applicants must submit an original song win in order to apply. This scholarship is available to high school students, as well as college freshmen and sophomores, from Kansas who are planning to attend (or are currently attending) a Kansas college or university and will major or minor in music. This scholarship is for students pursuing an education in piano or voice. Preference is given to students of the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Applicants must upload their audio material as an MP3. Women Band Directors International offers five different scholarships for women who plan on becoming a band director. A student in any college grade level may apply, though applicants must be majoring in music (any instrumental focus is okay). The application includes two letters of recommendation and a statement about why you want to be a band director. What do you mean "this doesn't adhere to the seven principles of design?" How could it not? Finally, here is a list of the best design scholarships. These scholarships are for students studying fine art, graphic design, illustration, or photography. Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, display financial need, and submit a portfolio of their work. Minority status is a significant factor in award decisions. Applicants must be residents of Hawaii, be attending college in the U.S., and majoring graphic design, visual communication, or commercial arts. They must also show financial need and have a 2.7 GPA or above. This scholarship is for students of any major who intend to pursue a career in the development of interactive entertainment, such as animation, programming, game design, and music composition. Applicants must be at least sophomores in college and have a minimum 3.3 GPA. This scholarship is open to interior design students in their junior or senior year of college. To apply, students must submit a portfolio with 8-12 work examples, a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, a portfolio statement, a transcript, and a headshot. Scholarships are awarded based on the combination of applicants' academic accomplishment, creative achievement, and personal statement. For this International Furnishings and Design Association scholarship, applicants must be majoring in interior design or a related design/furnishing program. Extra consideration is given to students who have volunteered and demonstrated leadership potential. The application requires a letter of recommendation, an essay, and two different examples of your design work. For this International Furnishings and Design Association scholarship, applicants must be majoring in interior design or a related design/furnishing program. Extra consideration is given to students who have volunteered and demonstrated leadership potential. The application requires a letter of recommendation from a current IFDA Professional Member, an essay, and two to three different examples of your design work. This scholarship was created to recognize a student who is a member of the International Interior Design Association and who has significantly impacted his or her school's interior design program through leadership, insight, and involvement. Applicants must be IIDA student members in good standing and have a minimum 3.5 GPA. This scholarship recognizes a student member of the International Interior Design Association who has taken part in a student-mentoring week and who plans to have a career in interior design. This competition encourages leadership and mentoring between students and professionals. Students must submit an essay of 500-750 words about their mentoring experience. The Industrial Designers Society of America gives this annual scholarship to a student in industrial design. Applicants must have completed their freshman year of college with a GPA average of 3.0 or above and must also be student members of IDSA. Applicants must submit visual examples of work showing various projects. Students can only win this award once. This scholarship is sponsored by the American Society of Interior Designers and is for students who have made academic contributions to interior design and wellness through print or digital communication. Applicants are required to submit a book, blog, or video, and the project must address the needs of the public, designers, and students in regard to design theory, education, business practices, and other related topics. This scholarship is for students majoring in interior design, architecture, or a field related to facility management. They must be enrolled in a Kansas or Missouri college or university. Applicants must include a letter of professional intent, two letters of recommendation, evidence of extracurriculars, and proof of GPA. Selected students must complete an interview. For this International Furnishings and Design Association scholarship, applicants must be majoring in interior design or a related design/furnishing program. Extra consideration is given to students who have volunteered and demonstrated leadership potential. The application requires a letter of recommendation, an essay, and five different examples of original furniture designs. This scholarship is for college juniors and seniors who are majoring in graphic arts, graphic design, or a different major, and who are interested in a career in the tag and label industry. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA, have three personal references, and submit an essay. If any of these scholarships look interesting to you, your first step will be to assemble a top-notch portfolio of your work. Check out our article on how to make an amazing art portfolio for college for tips on how to do just this! Looking for some tips on how to draw contour line art? Learn more with our contour line art guide. We also have a post designed to give you some drawing inspiration! Remember to start applying for scholarships early in order to maximize your college fund! Check out these 19 scholarships you can apply to during your senior year of high school. Need more money than what these scholarships are offering? Then take a look at our lists of amazing full-ride scholarships and colleges that offer full-ride scholarships. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: 
Who Should Apply for These Art Scholarships?
Performing Arts Scholarships
Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship
Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program
Bruce Marson Memorial Scholarship
Case Western Reserve University Theater Scholarships
Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship
Educational Theatre Association Thespian Scholarships
Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts
Georgia Thespian Scholarships
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
John L. Dales Scholarship Fund
Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Scholarships
Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship
VSA Playwright Discovery Award
Dance Scholarships
Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program
Caroline H. Newhouse Scholarship Fund
Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
Jean Lee/Jeff Marvin Collegiate Scholarships
Mary Benevento/CTAHPERD Scholarship
NYCDA Foundation College Scholarship Program
Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship
Photography Scholarships
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships
Bodie McDowell Scholarship
Janie Moore Greene Scholarship Grant
Fine Arts and Writing Scholarships
Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships
Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program
Beall Scholarship
Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Music Scholarship Fund
Esther Kanagawa Memorial Art Scholarship
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
Lois Livingston McMillen Fund
Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship
NPG's Poster Scholarship Contest
Ritchie M. Gregory Fund
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Visual Arts Fellowships
Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship
Video Game Design Scholarships
AIAS Foundation Scholarship Fund
WomenIn Scholarship Fund
Music Scholarships
AMCA Music Scholarships
Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program
Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Music Scholarship Fund
Doris & Clarence Glick Classical Music Scholarship
Florence Lemcke Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts
Glenn Miller Scholarship Competition
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
The John Lennon Scholarship
Music Committee Scholarship
Nellie Love Butcher Music Scholarship
Women Band Directors International Scholarships
Design Scholarships
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships
American Institute of Graphic Arts Honolulu Chapter Scholarship Fund
AIAS Foundation Scholarship Fund
ASID Foundation Legacy Scholarships
IFDA Leaders Commemorative Scholarship
IFDA Student Membership Scholarship
IIDA Student of the Year Award
IIDA Wilsonart Essay Competition
IDSA Design Foundation Industrial Design Undergraduate Scholarship
Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award
Kansas City IFMA Scholarship
Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship
TLMI Four Year College Degree Scholarship
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About the Author
Mary Ann holds a BA in Classics and Russian from the University of Notre Dame, and an MA from University College London. She has years of tutoring experience and is also passionate about travel and learning languages.
Herron School of Art and Design Scholarships
Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/art-scholarships