Top 15 Art Scholarships in 2021
By 
Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.Think that all the “good” scholarships are for academics, sports, or volunteering? Think again, creative artists! The following list is a drop in the old paint bucket, as there are as many scholarships as there are mediums of art. A few of the art scholarships require essays, some involve Duck Tape, and some ask for an artist’s portfolio, but all are worth a look.
These scholarships for artists are also a great way to prove that your artistic skills stand out from the crowd!
Jump ahead to:
- Top Art Scholarships
- College-Specific Art Scholarships
- Summary of Scholarships for Artists
- Upcoming Scholarships
The famous French artist Henri Matisse once said that “Creativity takes courage.” Obviously, you already have the courage to create, so now take it a step further and apply for a few scholarships.
Top art scholarships in 2021
$20,000 Terry Crews “Creative Courage” Scholarship
- Eligibility:High school and undergraduate students with artistic goals
- Amount: $20,000
- Deadline: January 12, 2022
$2,000 Diversity in Music Education Scholarship
- Eligibility: Minority students interested in or pursuing a degree in the arts. Recent graduates are welcome to apply
- Amount: $2,000 (3 scholarships are awarded!)
- Deadline: September 30, 2021
$500 Anne DiSerafino Memorial Arts Scholarship
- Eligibility: Female artists who are pursuing a fine arts education at any four-year college or university
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: April 10, 2022
Breanden Beneschott Fire Memes Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all students who submit their favorite memes. Bonus points for originality!
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 1, 2021
GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to college and undergraduate students in the USA majoring in Graphic Design
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: October 3, 2021
National Young Arts Foundation
- Eligibility: U.S. students ages 15 to 18 in grades 10-12. There is a $35 fee to enter, but fee waivers are available for those that qualify
- Amount: Up to $10,000
- Deadline: October 15, 2021
Future Designer Scholarship
- Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be an incoming (graduating high school senior) or college student who designs a holiday greeting card
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: November 1, 2021
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
- Eligibility: Scholarships are open to students ages 13 and up in grades 7 through 12. Public/private school and homeschooled students in the U.S., Canada, or American schools worldwide are welcome to apply.
- Amount: $1500 to $10,000
- Deadline: Depending on region, December or January of each year (Opens in early fall, but start planning now!)
Young Filmmakers Contest
- Eligibility: Students in grades 3 up through age 25 who submit films of 3 to 8 minutes about our earth and sustainability
- Amount: $200 to $2,000
- Deadline: January 9, 2022
Christophers’ Poster Contest
- Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 through 12
- Amount: $100 to $1,000
- Deadline: February 17, 2022
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
- Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all high school, college, and university students
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: March 2, 2022
Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest
- Eligibility: Any student in grades 9-12 in the United States
- Amount: Up to $31,000
- Deadline: March 31, 2022
Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to college, undergraduate and graduate students in the USA
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: May 1, 2022
Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
- Eligibility: Full-time students between the ages of 8–18
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: High school seniors have until December 4, 2022 to apply
Interpretive Fellowships at Art Museums
- Eligibility: Graduates of B.A., M.A., or Ph.D.programs in art history, art education, studio art or museum studies
- Amount: $30,000
- Deadline: April 1st of each year
College-Specific Art Scholarships
Always check in with your college or university (or colleges you are interested in) for art scholarship opportunities. Many colleges award scholarships for students with particular talents in the arts.
Generally, college-specific scholarships for art require students to submit a portfolio, which will be the central part of your application for an artistic scholarship.
Here are some colleges and universities that offer specific art scholarships:
Denison University (Granville, OH)
- Denison offers the Michele Myers Fellowship in the Arts for talented visual artists.
Drew University (Madison, NJ)
- The Drew Scholarship for the Arts is worth $1,000 per year over four years.
Kenyon College (Gambier, OH)
- Kenyon offers scholarships worth $15,000 per year renewable to studio artists.
Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
- SMU offers scholarships to artists that vary in scholarship amount. However, the average scholarship is $5,000 per year.
St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN)
- St. Olaf offers talent-based scholarships to artists that are valued at $6,000 per year renewable.
Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC)
- Wake Forest offers scholarships valued at $64,000, which equals $8,000 per semester, renewable for eight semesters of undergraduate study (20 scholarships are awarded each year)
Summary of scholarships for artists
- $20,000 Terry Crews “Creative Courage” Scholarship
- $2,000 Diversity in Music Education Scholarship
- $500 Anne DiSerafino Memorial Arts Scholarship
- Breanden Beneschott Fire Memes Scholarship
- GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship
- National Young Arts Foundation
- Future Designer Scholarship
- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
- Young Filmmakers Contest
- Christophers’ Poster Contest
- Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
- Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest
- Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
- Interpretive Fellowships at Art Museums
Upcoming Scholarships
Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship
- Eligibility: Asian American college students pursuing a major in the performing, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications
- Amount: $1,000
- Opens: February 1, 2022
Bella Ballroom Excellence in Performing Arts Scholarship– Cancelled for 2020
- Eligibility: College and graduate students.
- Amount: $1,000
- Opens: Check on 9/1/ 2021 for update
Dolphin Galleries Scholarship for the Visual Arts
- Eligibility: Students planning or currently pursuing an arts-related major or minor
- Amount: $1,000
Doodle for Google Scholarship
- Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all students in grades kindergarten to Grade 12
- Amount: $5,000 to $30,000
Frame my Future Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors planning to enroll as a full-time students and current undergraduate/graduate students at U.S.colleges and universities
- Amount: $5,000
- Opens: Early November 2021
John Lennon Scholarships
- Eligibility: Current student or alumnus/alumna at a U.S. college or university between the ages of 17 and 24 who submit an original song in any genre
- Amount: $20,000 (three will be awarded!)
Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarships
- Eligibility: High school seniors and freshman/sophomore college students
- Amount: $1,000
Ocean Awareness Contest
- Eligibility: Students ages 11 to 18 who create a work of art in their chosen genre, including visual art, film, music, poetry, prose, and interactive and multimedia
- Amount: Scholarships worth from $100 to $1,500
Selectblinds $1,000 Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must be registered as students at an accredited high school, college, or university within the United States
- Amount: $1,000
Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest
- Eligibility: High school students who create prom outfits with duck tape
- Amount: $500 to $10,000
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 16 and 26 who submit a video entry about their life’s passion
- Amount: $5,000 to $25,000 per year
- Opens: Fall 2021
