Art scholarships are a great way for creative students to pay for college!

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.

Not only will you appreciate the extra college funds, but winning a scholarship is a fantastic way to prove that your artistic skills stand out from the crowd. 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. These art scholarships, worth from $1,000 to $31,000, are the perfect place to start! 

Here are the top art scholarships for every type of artist:

Art of Protest Grant for Black Students

• Eligibility:  This grant is for Black students who are furthering protests or social change through any form of visual art.
• Amount: $400
• Deadline: October 15

The Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

• Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all high school, college, and university students
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: March 9, 2021

Customized Girl Annual Scholarship

• Eligibility: Current or incoming undergraduate students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in college who create an empowering tee-shirt design/slogan
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: December 21

Christophers’ Poster Contest

• Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 through 12
• Amount: $100 to $1,000
• Deadline: February 18, 2021

Cyrus Artisan Rugs Scholarship

• Eligibility: Current or incoming undergraduate students who is currently enrolled, or about to enroll, in an interior design or similar course
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: February 8, 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

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 31

Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to college, undergraduate and graduate students in the USA
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: March 1, 2021

Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award

• Eligibility: Full-time students between the ages of 8–18 
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: September 30th except for high school seniors, who have until December 4th to apply

Make Your Mark BIPOC Arts Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to Black, Indigenous, and Person of Color students at all levels who are interested in new approaches to theater, dance, and/or film. Essay about a project you would like to complete is required
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: April 2, 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!)
• Deadline: January 22, 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 16

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

Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship

• Eligibility: Applicants must be registered as students at an accredited high school, college, or university within the United States
• Amount: $1,000 
• Deadline: July 15, 2021

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, 2021

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 5, 2021

Expired, but returning next year:

Bella Ballroom Excellence in Performing Arts Scholarship– Cancelled for 2020

• Eligibility: College and graduate students.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: November 1

Black Visual Artists Grant

• Eligibility:  This grant is for a Black student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in studio and/or visual arts
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: August 31

Doodle for Google Scholarship

• Eligibility: This scholarship is open to all students in grades kindergarten to Grade 12
• Amount: $5,000 to $30,000
• Deadline: March 13

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
• Deadline: April 1

Kim Beneschott Creative Arts Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school through graduate school
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 28

Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarships

• Eligibility: High school seniors and freshman/sophomore college students
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: June 20

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
• Deadline: June 15

Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

• Eligibility: High school students who create prom outfits with duck tape
• Amount: $500 to $10,000
• Deadline: July 21

Tips for winning 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.

Summary of top art scholarships in 2020:

1. Art of Protest Grant for Black Student
2. Bella Ballroom Excellence in Performing Arts Scholarship
3. Black Visual Artists Grant
4. The Christophers’ Poster Contest
5. The Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
6. Customized Girl Annual Scholarship
7. Cyrus Artisan Rugs Scholarship
8. Doodle for Google Scholarship
9. Frame my Future Scholarship
10. Future Designer Scholarship
11. GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship
12. Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
13. Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
14. John Lennon Scholarships
15. Kim Beneschott Creative Arts Scholarship
16. Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarships
17. Make Your Mark BIPOC Arts Scholarship
18. National Young Arts Foundation
19. Ocean Awareness Contest 
20. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 
21. Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship
22. Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest
23. Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest
24. Young Filmmakers Contest