The School of Art is dedicated to helping students explore all financial scholarship opportunities the school offers in support of their art education.
Undergraduate Current Student Scholarships
The School of Art offers both renewable and non-renewable (one-time) scholarships. Scholarships are reviewed and awarded based on financial need and merit.
Students are encouraged to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1st at www.fafsa.gov. to be reviewed alongside a student's scholarship application for financial consideration. Students are also invited to include a personal statement to address any financial concerns as well any additional information they would like the Scholarship Review Committee to review.
Each program area has additional materials that students are able to submit depending on their degree plan for merit-based scholarships. These may include an artist’s statement, cover letter, and/or portfolio of works.
Please locate the specific requirements from the following options depending on your degree program and upload the corresponding documents in PDF format.
The deadline is February 15.
Current Student Scholarship Application
Current Student Scholarship Application Materials Required for all scholarship applicants:
- Questions about your Academic Program
- Optional Statement: Is there anything else you would like to share with the SOA Scholarship Review Committee? What things do you do outside of your academics? Do you work at a job, volunteer at a local organization, take care of siblings, play a sport, or participate in a music group, etc.? We want to hear about you! Limit is 500 words maximum.
- Cover Letter: The cover letter should detail the following: experience in art history, any specific areas of interest, what draws you to the major, how you hope to apply your studies in art history after graduation (in the field of art history or otherwise), along with any additional information you think pertinent.
- Portfolio: Sophomores must submit 5 examples of recent studio work, Juniors and Seniors must submit 10 examples of recent studio work.
- Teaching Philosophy: Required of Seniors in PDF format only.
- Personal Statement: Required of Sophomores and Juniors in PDF format only. Please provide a statement that includes your personal background and motivation for pursuing art education.
- Portfolio: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors must share 10 recent works.
- Graphic Design Statement: Share an example or a description of how you contribute positively to the community of the graphic design program. Limit to 500 words in PDF format.
- Artist Statement (Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors): Provide an Artist Statement in PDF format.
- Portfolio: If you wish to be considered for a merit-based scholarship, you are required to present a portfolio appropriate to your degree path and level. Submit 10 examples of studio work.
Conference Travel Fund Application
Undergraduate and graduate students interested in attending a professional conference related to their field of study in Fall or Spring may apply for School of Art scholarship consideration by March 31. Applicants must provide a proposal of their opportunity, current resume, anticipated budget, and anticipated dates for the committee to review.
Please Note: This fund cannot be used to pay tuition or fees. If a student has a remaining tuition or fee balance on their UA Connect account, then their award will go towards paying that balance first. As a result they, might receive less funding than they applied for and will need to use their own personal funds to make up the difference.
Funding is limited and when funds are exhausted, awards are not made. First-time students are prioritized over students who have already received awards. Students who are presenting at a conference will be prioritized over students who are not presenting.
Examples of conferences to apply to attend include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Arkansas Art Education (AAE) Conference: http://www.ararted.org/
- National Art Education Association (NAEA) Conference: https://www.arteducators.org/
- American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Conference: https://www.aiga.org/
- National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference: https://nceca.net/
- International Sculpture Center (ISC) Conference: https://sculpture.org/
- Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC): https://secacart.org/
- College Art Association (CAA) Conference: https://www.collegeart.org/
- Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC): https://www.semcdirect.net/
- American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Conference: https://annualmeeting.aam-us.org/
- Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Conference: https://www.spenational.org/
- Southern Graphics Council International (SGCI) Conference: https://www.sgcinternational.org/
- National Council of Arts Administrators (NCAA) Conference: https://ncaaarts2024.org/
- American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Conference: https://arttherapy.org/
- Foundations in Art: Theory and Education (FATE) Conference: https://www.foundationsart.org/home
- Currents New Media Festival: https://currentsnewmedia.org/
Summer Funding
Current School of Art students may apply for funding a summer opportunity at uarkart.slideroom.com each year. The application is open to both undergraduate and graduate current students in the arts who would be returning the following semester. Applicants may apply for funding which supports either a self-initiated or organization-led opportunity with an educational or professional focus.
The Summer Opportunity Funding Application is due on December 1st. Applicants must submit a proposal of opportunity, anticipated budget, and opportunity timeline for consideration.
Studying abroad is oftentimes a highlight of a student's academic career, but the benefits extend beyond graduation day. International travel and study shapes a lifetime by building a more nuanced worldview; by showing that there is value in each experience; and by honing invaluable skills, such as intercultural communication, resiliency, and adaptability. Convinced yet? Let us help you take your education abroad! Your future self with thank you.
Preparing to study abroad can be a long process, but it is part of the journey. This can look different for every student and may be influenced by your class status (freshman, sophomore, etc.), major, personal interests, program type, and destination.
Looking at the big picture can help you understand what can be a long journey! Here's an overview of what to expect along the way.
Our Art students have traveled to Italy, Ghana, England, Finland, Japan, and more!
Visit the Study Abroad page for more info.
Organization-led opportunities are defined as opportunities hosted or coordinated by an established organization. These might include university programs, such as the U of A Rome Center, or external partnerships which students have attended in the past such as
- Penland School of Crafts
- Arrowmont
- Women’s Studio Workshop
- Mt. Gretna School of Art
- Ox-Bow Summer Workshops and Residencies
- Red Lodge Clay Center
- Watershed
- Chautauqua Visual Arts
- Frogman’s Print Workshops
- New York Studio School
- Yale Norfolk School of Art
- MASS MoCA
- Thrive Design Internship
- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Internship
- Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.
Organization-led opportunities must also advance degree and/or post-graduation goals. Note that some of these opportunities have additional application requirements and competitive selection processes outside of the School of Art’s process.
- Eligible students must submit their application through uarkart.slideroom.com by December 1st. Completed applications which are submitted on time will be given to their respective review committees. Applicants should receive notice of their summer award or if they have not been selected for a summer award, by mid-January.
- Scholarship award recipients will receive their summer award in the form of a scholarship prior to their anticipated departure and/or start date to assist in their awarded opportunity planning. If traveling, student travel request forms must be submitted at least one month prior to domestic or at least two months prior to international departure dates. Whether traveling or not, students not enrolled in summer courses must submit their forms by early April to avoid delays. Finally, students must ensure that their account balances are at zero by the time of award processing, as scholarships first cover existing balances.
- Those who do not receive summer awards should research other funding sources to support their desired summer opportunity. Those who receive a scholarship or travel award offer letter must accept their offers by March 1st. Offer letters with no response by the deadline will be considered declinations.
Emergency Funding
The School of Art Emergency Tuition Fund is intended to provide limited, one-time financial assistance to undergraduate students experiencing an unexpected financial hardship that may interfere with their ability to remain enrolled, continue making academic progress, or complete their degree.
This fund is designed to address urgent, short-term financial needs rather than ongoing financial obligations. Students submitting an application will be asked to clearly explain the nature of their emergency, how the situation is affecting their academic progress or enrollment, and how emergency funding would help address the immediate need.
Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Requests will be reviewed based on the circumstances described, the urgency of the need, and the availability of School of Art emergency funds at the time of review. Award amounts may vary depending on available funding and the number and nature of requests received.
Preference may be given to students whose financial circumstances create an immediate barrier to continuing their education, maintaining enrollment, or completing their degree.
Application Period
- Application Opens: September 10
- Application Closes: October 10
Students must submit their request during this application period. Requests received after the deadline may not be considered.
Note: Students may receive emergency funding no more than once within a six-month period.
Examples of Expenses That May Qualify
- Books, supplies, or other essential academic expenses
- Unexpected financial obligations that may prevent a student from continuing their coursework
- Overdue utility bills or other urgent basic-needs expenses
- Tuition balances, holds, or required fees that are preventing enrollment or continued academic progress
- Unexpected expenses that could significantly interfere with a student's ability to remain enrolled or graduate
Expenses Not Covered by the Emergency Fund
- Study abroad expenses
- Non-essential personal expenses
- Parking tickets, library fines, or other avoidable fees
- Replacement of lost or stolen personal items
- Ongoing or recurring financial obligations
Summer Art Course Scholarship
Opens spring semester
The UA School of Art Summer Art Course Scholarship is a non-renewable (one-time) scholarship for the summer term only. Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for $1,000-$3,000 to assist with tuition and fees for one to three summer art course taught through the University of Arkansas and School of Art.
Scholarships will be entered by the School of Art in April once the priority enrollment period has ended. We will check to see if students have enrolled in their art courses at that time before entering the scholarship. If a student withdraws from the art course(s), the scholarship will be cancelled and the funds returned to the School of Art.
Are you a future student looking for financial aid and scholarship opportunities?