Scholarships for visual and performing arts majors are ideal for receiving the free financial backing to follow your creative dreams into higher education.
Visual and performing arts is a general term used when referring to drawing, painting, sculpture, film, photography, architecture, theatre, design, and other media. Whether at the BFA or MFA level, visual and performing arts majors develop the technical skills and techniques to wow audiences through their voice, movement, or imagery.
Although the term “starving artist” is often used, graduates in these artistic disciplines don’t necessary lack economic security. According to Americans for the Arts, over 5.7 million jobs are created in art disciplines nationally each year.
Let your imagination grow by financing your education with these visual and performing arts scholarships.
1. Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
In honor of a noted pianist, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) offers the Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship for $2,000 to undergraduate or graduate students majoring in the performing arts. Eligible applicants must be active JACL members, attend an accredited U.S. college full-time, display academic merit, be involved in the Asian/Pacific Islander community, and submit at least three work samples in DVD form. Any paid, professional performing artists cannot apply.
Contact
Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship
6917 Town View Lane
San Diego, CA 92120
(415) 345-1075
ncwnp@jacl.org
2. Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program
Deadline: February 5th
Established by the South Carolina Department of Education, the Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program is designed to provide five $2,000 awards annually for graduating high school seniors who are enrolling full-time at an in-state college for creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts. Qualified candidates must be U.S. citizens, have attended a public South Carolina for the past two years, demonstrate supreme artistic talent, and supply at least one original composition or artwork.
Contact
Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program
1429 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 734-0323
cpower@ed.sc.go
Scholarship Link
3. CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship
Deadline: April 29th
Valued at $3,000, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship is presented annually to African American or black students who are majoring in architecture, ceramics, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, video production, or other visual arts. Eligible recipients must be U.S. citizens, be full-time undergraduates, attend an accredited two or four-year college, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, exhibit leadership potential, participate in community service, and pursue an artistic career.
Contact
CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship
1720 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 263-2800
scholarships@cbcfinc.org
4. Donna Reed Performing Arts Scholarships
Deadline: May 31st
Since 1987, the Donna Reed Foundation (DRF) for the Performing Arts has gifted $1,000 merit scholarships to Iowa high school seniors who plan to study theatre, drama, cinematics, dance, and related fields at accredited U.S. universities. For these undergraduate performing arts scholarships, candidates must attend an Iowa high school, carry a minimum GPA of 3.0, and have acted in official school productions. Applications must include a headshot portrait, one signed letter of recommendation, and a five-minute audition tape.
Contact
Donna Reed Performing Arts Scholarships
1305 Broadway
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-3334
drf@donnareed.org
5. Edna Furber Graduate Fellowship
Deadline: June 1st
Sponsored by the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC), the Edna Furber Graduate Fellowship is awarded for up to $5,000 to female students who are pursuing a master’s degree in visual arts, music, performing arts, dance, literary arts, or creative writing. To qualify, applicants must be full-time, degree-seeking students, be American Indian or Alaska Native, exhibit financial need, maintain good academic standing, submit a 250-word typed essay, and prove having at least one-fourth degree of Indian blood.
Contact
Edna Furber Graduate Fellowship
4520 Montgomery Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 881-4584
scholarships@aigcs.org
6. Eugenia Vellner Fischer Scholarship
Deadline: June 30th
The Miss America system grants the Eugenia Vellner Fischer Scholarship annually for $2,500 to $10,000 for women pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the performing arts, including dance, instrumental, vocal, and theatre, at an accredited college in the United States. Eligible applicants must have competed at the local, state, or national pageant level since 1998, but winning a title isn’t necessary. Applications are reviewed based on academic merit, extra-curricular activities, financial aid, and artistic talent.
Contact
Eugenia Vellner Fischer Scholarship
P.O. Box 1919
Atlantic City, NJ 08404
(609)-653-8700 ext. 127
info@missamerica.org
7. F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship
Deadline: December 15th
As one of the most prestigious visual and performing arts scholarships, the F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship provides up to $12,000 to college-level students who are studying painting, sculpture, photography, music, dance, drama, literature, and architecture. Qualified recipients must be U.S. citizens, have resided in northeastern Pennsylvania, attend an accredited college or university in America, and intend to develop into professional artists. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, a projected budget, and several work samples.
Contact
F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship
P.O. Box 142
Waverly, PA 18471
(570) 586-8191 ext. 2
info@waverlycomm.com
8. Gold Grant Scholarship Award
Deadline: March 31st
Administered by the Northwest Watercolor Society (NWWS), the Gold Grant Scholarship Award is gifted for $2,000 each year to emerging young visual arts enrolled in an accredited art program at a college or university in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. Eligible candidates must submit an application with five examples of two-dimensional artwork, one signed faculty letter of recommendation, and an artist’s biography. Winners of the undergraduate visual arts scholarships are honored at the NWWS General Meeting in May.
Contact
Gold Grant Scholarship Award
1900 SW Campus Drive
Federal War, WA 98023
(425) 644-4245
annbreckon@gmail.com
Scholarship Link
9. HSF McNamara Family Creative Arts Grant
Deadline: February 28th
Through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the McNamara Family Creative Arts Grant is distributed for $5,000 to outstanding Latino/a undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in creative arts, including painting, film, drama, writing, design, and music. Applicants must have Hispanic heritage, be U.S. citizens or legal residents, maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, attend an accredited university, apply for financial aid, and be beginning or completing an art project.
Contact
HSF McNamara Family Creative Arts Grant
1411 West 190th Street, Suite 700
Gardena, CA 90248
(310) 975-3700
info@hsf.net
10. Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
Deadline: February 1st
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs offers a $1,500 scholarship each spring to several exemplary high school seniors who are planning to major in dance, literature, theatre, music, folk arts, or visual arts at an accredited Iowa educational institution. Qualified applicants must be legal Iowa residents, plan to enroll full-time in undergraduate study, have good academic standing, supply one letter of recommendation, write a personal goals essay, and provide work samples of high artistic quality.
Contact
Iowa Scholarship for the Arts
600 East Locust Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-3293
Veronica.OHern@iowa.gov
11. Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships
Deadline: Varies
As part of the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival, the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships are awarded for $500, $1,000, $2,500, and $5,000 to extraordinary actors who are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited undergraduate or graduate performing arts program. Nominees must pass through three rounds of auditions to deliver a two-person scene, solo monologue, and solo musical number. Judges look for performers with bold acting choices, creative vocal talent, expressive body language, and clear objectives.
Contact
Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships
2700 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20566
(202) 416-8857
skshaffer@kennedy-center.org
12. Janie Moore Greene Scholarship Grant
Deadline: October 30th
Annually, the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) gifts the Janie Moore Greene Scholarship Grant for $1,000 to talented students currently enrolled in or accepted to an accredited higher education institution to specialize their visual arts degree in photography. Along with the application, U.S. or Canadian candidates must submit one reference letter, five high-resolution images under 3MB in size, and a 400-word essay stating their career aspirations in nature photography.
Contact
Janie Moore Greene Scholarship Grant
6382 Charleston Road
Alma, IL 62807
(618) 547-7616
info@nanpafoundation.org
13. John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship
Deadline: February 1st
Available for $5,000, the John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship is awarded by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for U.S. citizens between age 18 and 35 who are enrolled full-time in visual arts degree programs nationwide. Interested applicants must submit a painting, drawing, landscape, or composition expressing a theme relevant to the classical traditions of Western culture. Recipients may use funding to further their art education and make art their profession.
Contact
John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship
1700 NE 63rd Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
(405) 478-2250
mleslie@nationalcowboymuseum.org
14. Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarships
Deadline: Varies
Known for offering one of the largest performing arts scholarship in America, the Las Casas Foundation gives away nearly $100,000 annually to talented high school seniors who excel in the performing arts, especially acting, dance, vocal, and musical theatre. College-bound performers step into the spotlight to compete before a judging panel at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre every spring. Scholarships can be applied at any accredited U.S. colleges for full-time or part-time undergraduate studies.
Contact
Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarships
222 East Houston Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 223-4343
scholarship@lascasasfoundation.org
Scholarship Link
15. M. Josephine O’Neil Arts Award
Deadline: March 1st
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International offers the M. Josephine O’Neil Arts Award for $6,000 to outstanding female members who are majoring in visual arts, dance, music, theatre, and other artistic fields. Qualified applicants must legally reside in Illinois, be entering her junior year, attend an accredited U.S. college or university, show evidence of accomplishment in the arts, and actively participate in the Lambda State Convention. Applications must include official college transcripts and up to 10 visual works or performances.
Contact
M. Josephine O’Neil Arts Award
3045 Fairway Road
Stockton, IL 61805
(309) 694-1157
jmstayner@gmail.com
16. Marion Barr Stanfield Art Scholarship
Deadline: February 15th
Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), the Marion Barr Stanfield Art Scholarship is presented to provide $1,500 for undergraduate or graduate Unitarian Universalist students preparing for a career in visual arts. Eligible applicants must be majoring in painting, drawing, photography, or sculpture at an accredited North American institution. Applications won’t be complete without an essay, resume, financial statement, and art portfolio of six to 10 quality work samples in DVD or CD format.
Contact
Marion Barr Stanfield Art Scholarship
24 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 971-9600
uufp@uua.org
17. Naomi Winston Scholarship in Visual Arts
Deadline: February 1st
The National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) has created the Naomi Winston Scholarship in Visual Arts to provide $5,000 to young artists between the ages of 16 and 22 who are pursuing private study, workshops, museum programs, or summer internships for two-dimensional visual art. Eligible recipients must be U.S. citizens, demonstrate exceptional talent, and have genuine commitment to career plans in art. The five required visual works may be on paper, canvas, masonite, metal, or wood panels.
Contact
Naomi Winston Scholarship in Visual Arts
2164 Sunset Circle
Largo, FL 33774
(727) 581-7347
cosdonchris@hotmail.com
18. National YoungArts Scholarship Program
Deadline: October 16th
For high school students in grades 10-12, the National YoungArts Scholarship is an elite national program that provides recipients with $10,000 cash awards, nominations as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, and professional mentoring. Applications are accepted for 10 disciplines: cinematic arts, dance, design arts, jazz, music, photography, theatre, visual arts, voice, and writing. Regional adjudication panels will review students’ portfolios or auditions for imaginative risks, creative talent, aesthetic quality, and technical mastery.
Contact
National YoungArts Scholarship Program
2100 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 377-1149
apply@youngarts.org
19. Princess Grace Foundation Awards
Deadline: March 31st or April 30th
Ranging in value from $7,500 to $30,000 each, the Princess Grace Foundation offers both undergraduate and graduate visual and performing arts scholarships each year to exemplary students enrolled full-time at non-profit U.S. universities. Nominations are welcomed in five distinct categories: playwriting, theater, dance performance, choreography, and film. Online applications must include a current resume, one-page personal statement, high-resolution photo, and at least two solo work samples.
Contact
Princess Grace Foundation Awards
150 East 58th Street
New York, NY 10155
(212) 317-1470
grants@pgfusa.org
20. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Deadline: January 2nd
Since 1923, Scholastic has celebrated the talent and ingenuity of youth in grades 7-12 in America’s public, private, or home schools by granting the Art & Writing Awards. Among the visual art categories are architecture, ceramics, comic animation, drawing, film, jewelry, painting, photography, sculpture, and video game design. Eligible U.S. citizens apply by submitting a portfolio to their regional branch, which is blind judged for originality, technical skills, and personal vision.
Contact
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
557 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(800) 724-6527
info@artandwriting.org
Scholarship Link
21. Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: January 29th
In the amount of $1,000, the Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship is presented by the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) for college sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled full-time in an accredited four-year university or art institution. Eligible candidates from Ventura County, California, must be majoring in the visual, fine, or performing arts to foster their creative gifts. Preference will be given to female applicants. Other VCCF visual arts scholarships include the Jan Heyne Memorial Scholarship and Young Artists Scholarship.
Contact
Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship
4001 Mission Oaks Blvd.
Camarillo, CA 93012
(805) 330-6676
vweber@vccf.org
22. Wendy Jackson Hall Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
In honor of the beloved animator, teacher, and leader of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA), the Wendy Jackson Hall Memorial Scholarship is granted for $15,000 for graduating high school seniors in Washington State. Qualified candidates must demonstrate talent in the visual arts, carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, be accepted at an accredited four-year U.S. university, provide evidence of financial aid, and show dedication to encouraging artistic endeavors in their community.
Contact
Wendy Jackson Hall Memorial Scholarship
221 Winslow Way West #305
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 842-0433
scholarship@jacksonhall.com
23. Williams Chorale Bacardi Fallon Scholarships
Deadline: March 14th
Each year, the Williams Chorale Bacardi Fallon Scholarships are gifted for $500, $1,000, $2,000, and $5,000 to talented young performing arts musicians who are graduating from high school and pursuing full-time college studies in vocal or instrumental music. Chosen finalists must perform one musical work from either the Baroque or Classical era and another work of their choosing before a judging panel. Students who don’t place in the competition will still win a $250 cash award for their participation.
Contact
Williams Chorale Bacardi Fallon Scholarships
P.O. Box 3267
South Attleboro, MA 02703
contact@thewilliamschorale.org
24. Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships
Deadline: April 22nd
Drawing more than 200 applications yearly, the Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships are competitive awards offering $2,000 to $5,000 for minority and economically disadvantaged students enrolled full-time at universities in the United States. Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in advertising, fine art, graphic design, illustration, motion graphics, or photography will qualify. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or Green Card holders, demonstrate significant financial need, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, and provide at least five work samples.
Contact
Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships
233 Broadway 17th Floor
New York, NY 10279
(212) 807-1990
scholarship@aiga.org
25. Zinngia Ohio Art Scholarship Program
Deadline: March 5th
Run by a husband-and-wife animation duo, the Zinngia Ohio Art Scholarship Program grants a $2,000 annually for one graduating high school senior who wishes to pursue a two- or four-year degree in the visual arts, such as painting, illustration, design, photography, animation, sculpture, and printmaking. Eligible applicants must possess a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, reside in Ohio, have U.S. citizenship, be enrolling at any accredited college full-time, and provide five of their best artwork samples.
Contact
Zinngia Ohio Art Scholarship Program
1368 Bronwyn Avenue
Columbus, OH 43204
(614) 466-2613
Scholarship Link
Don’t shy away from your visual and performing arts goals because of college tuition costs. Instead, use your ingenious creativity to find financial assistance that lowers your out-of-pocket educational expenses. Unlike loans, scholarships provide free monetary gifts that won’t need to be repaid or accrue interest. Adding scholarships to your financial aid package will help you build your professional career in the studio or stage spotlight with little debt. Consider applying for some of these 25 great scholarships for visual and performing arts majors to begin following your artistic passion.
See also: 25 Great Scholarships for Theatre Majors