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
• Expired 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

$10,000 3LAU “Everything” Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and undergraduates who submit a short written answer along with a link to an original song, dance, or art piece that represents their “everything” 
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: June 20, 2021

$500 Creative Expression Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to open to high school students who submit a form of art that answers the question, “what does imagination mean to you?”
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 1

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

Christophers’ Poster Contest

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

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

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

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 26, 2021

Evie Irie Misfit Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to high school students who share an essay about why they feel like a misfit and how being a misfit shaped their dreams
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: May 1, 2021

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, 2021

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: March 15, 2021 (high school seniors have until December 4, 2020 to apply)

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

Kap Slap “Find Your Sound” Music Grant

• Eligibility: Open to beginning musicians who write about what they would do with their time if money wasn’t an issue
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 29, 2021

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

Minority Student Art Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to minority undergraduate/graduate students who are interested in, already enrolled in, or are recent graduates who took courses going toward a degree in the arts
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 1, 20221

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 14, 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

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

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
• Deadline: January 20, 2021

Traveling Artist Scholarship

• Eligibility: Undergraduate students who submit an essay on how they plan to use travel to develop themselves as people and as artists
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 31, 2021

Wheezy Creator Scholarship 

• Eligibility: Open to students at all levels who have a  brilliant vision and purpose for something they would like to create
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 14, 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

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 20 renewable Presidential Scholarships of $16,000 each for students with talents in art, dance, debate, music, and theater.

Summary of scholarships for artists

1. $10,000 3LAU “Everything” Scholarship
2. $500 Creative Expression Scholarship
3. Breanden Beneschott Fire Memes Scholarship
4. Christophers’ Poster Contest
5. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
6. Cyrus Artisan Rugs Scholarship
7. Evie Irie Misfit Scholarship
8. Frame my Future Scholarship
9. Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
10. Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
11. John Lennon Scholarships
12. Kap Slap “Find Your Sound” Music Grant
13. Make Your Mark BIPOC Arts Scholarship
14. Minority Student Art Scholarship
15. Ocean Awareness Contest 
16. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 
17. Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship
18. Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
19. Traveling Artist Scholarship
20. Wheezy Creator Scholarship 
21. Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest
22. Young Filmmakers Contest 

Expired Scholarships

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest

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

Student Memes Scholarship 

• Eligibility: Students at all levels of education who submit memes related to student debt, school, or anything related to education. Bonus points are awarded for fun creativity! 
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: November 1