The School of Art is dedicated to helping students explore all financial scholarship opportunities the school offers in support of their art education.
Undergraduate Incoming Freshmen + Transfer Student Scholarships
As a result of the gift from the Walton Family Charitable Foundation, the School of Art awards over $1 million in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students.
The School of Art offers both need-based and merit-based scholarships, both require an application.
The SoArt Academic Scholarship Application is included as part of the general university scholarship application at scholarships.uark.edu. By submitting a general university scholarship application, students are automatically considered for a variety of scholarship opportunities through the university. Students may submit their scholarship applications upon submitting their university admissions application until the deadlines listed above.
Students are encouraged to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb 1st at www.fafsa.gov to be reviewed alongside a student's scholarship application for financial consideration. Students are also invited to include an Optional Statement to address any financial concerns as well any additional information they would like the Scholarship Review Committee to review.
The School of Art offers both renewable and non-renewable (one-time) scholarships. Scholarships are reviewed and awarded based on financial need and merit:
- For need-based scholarships, no digital portfolio or additional application materials are required.
- For merit-based scholarships, students must submit a digital portfolio of media based on their potential program area of study, including:
- Studio Art, Graphic Design, Foundations: Please submit a digital portfolio of 1-10 images of works you have created in the last year. These can be 2-D, 3-D, or 4-D media ranging in graphic design, drawing, painting, performance, video, sound, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, and interdisciplinary media.
- Art Education or Art History (including majors and minors): Please submit a writing sample from one of your classes you have created in the last year as a PDF.
- Other recommended Arkansas Art scholarship awards to research include: Historic Cane Hill Arkansas Young Artist’s Exhibition, Arkansas Young Artist Association (AYAA), Wishing Spring Gallery and the Thea Foundation.
School of Art Renewable Scholarship recipients are awarded $3,000/year for up to four years, resulting in $12,000 total.
School of Art Non-Renewable Scholarship recipients are awarded between $1,000-$5,000 for one year. It is possible for a student to receive both a Renewable and Non-Renewable Scholarship from the School of Art.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Complete application on uarkart Slideroom
- 1-10 image portfolio and/or 2-3 page writing sample (for Art History)
- For Portfolio: 1-10 images of works created in the last year. These can be 2-D, 3-D, or 4-D media ranging in graphic design, drawing, painting, photography, performance, video, sound, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, and interdisciplinary media.
- For Writing Sample: Please share a 2-3 page writing sample describing your favorite artwork, artist, movement, or interest in studying the field of Art History. Please share a 2-3 page writing sample describing your interest in Art Education as a field of study, along with events and/or experiences that have led to this academic interest for you.
- List of any college-level, AP/IB, or upper-level art courses taken
- One-page personal statement: What interests you about studying art at the university level? Why do you think the UA School of Art is the best choice for your academic pursuits? What are your goals for your art practice and program at the UA School of Art?
- Optional statement: Is there anything else you would like to share with the SoA Scholarship Review Board? Ex. What things do you do outside of school? Do you have a job, volunteer at a local organization, play a sport or participate in a music group, etc.?
Are you a currenct student looking for financial aid and scholarship opportunities?