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Art scholarships around the world

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So you've gone against your parents' suggestion of studying engineering and opted for an arts degree... Fortunately, there are numerous scholarships for art students available around the world, including funding to study art, fine art, design, fashion design and graphic design.

The first challenge in gaining a scholarship is finding all the relevant opportunities, so we've bought together a selection of art scholarships worldwide, to make finding funding that little bit easier. If none of the art scholarships listed below is suitable for you, another great starting point is to consult the scholarships listed on the websites of the universities/institutions you wish to study at.

Art scholarships
To study in Australia: To study in Europe:

Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship - Art scholarships for Australian citizens to further their arts education in Europe with a three month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris and AU$30,000 to attend art school at an accredited institution in Europe.

Brucebo and W.B. Bruce Fine Arts Scholarships for Canadian Artists - Fine arts scholarships reserved for young Canadian art professionals wanting to take up an art residency or to conduct arts research in Gotland, Sweden.

Chase AHRC Studentship - Arts scholarships to study at selected liberal arts schools and universities in the UK, funded by the AHRC and open to UK and EU students pursuing study in the visual arts, media, film and other arts and humanities subjects.

Courtauld Postgraduate Scholarships - Graduate art school scholarships to study at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, UK, on the MA, PhD or Conservation programs. The process for 2017/18 is currently under review.

DAAD Fine Art, Design/ Visual Communication and Film Scholarships - Fine art and design scholarships funded by the DAAD and open to international students who have gained a first degree in a related field. Scholarship winners will gain funding for study in Germany on a master's degree or postgraduate program.

Norwich University of the Arts - A range of art and design scholarships to study at the university.

Royal College of Art Awards - Various fine art scholarships on offer from the RCA and partner funding organizations. Scholarships are awarded to enrolled students.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists - Postgraduate scholarships for art students, professionals and researchers to study at doctoral/postdoctoral level in Switzerland at a recognized institution.

To study in North America:

Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program - US art school scholarships for students from South Carolina to gain funding to study creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts at an accredited university in the state.

Arts for Life! Awards - Annual awards of US$1,000 are available to graduating high school seniors in Florida who demonstrate excellence in creative writing, dance, drama, music or visual art.

Berlin Arts Scholarships - Scholarships for art students with affiliations to the region of Northeast Pennsylvania in the US. Open to serious art students interested in painting, sculpture or photography.

Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarship - US$1,000 art scholarships from Krylon awarded to citizens of North America studying an accredited visual arts program in North America.

Naomi Winston Scholarship in Visual (2D) Art - Art scholarships from the National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) in the US, open to US citizens aged 16-22 wanting to further their 2D visual arts education outside of university.

Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships - Scholarships for art students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds to study at an accredited institution in the US in the field of fine art, illustration, graphic design and motion graphics.

Fashion & design scholarships

(Graphic design, fashion etc.)
To study in North America:

BestReviews Design Scholarship - Two design scholarships of US$2,000 are awarded per year to students enrolled in an accredited school program. To enter, you'll need to write a 500-word essay on product design.Open to international and US students.

FIDM National Scholarship Competition - US design scholarships from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). Open to US citizens enrolling in fashion design, interior design, graphic design, visual design or digital media at the FIDM in Los Angeles.

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation - Graphic communication and graphic design scholarships for students enrolling on a two- or four-year program at an accredited US institution.

The Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award - Fashion design scholarships based solely on merit offered by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). Open to students enrolled at design schools and accredited universities across the US.

TwoTen Footwear Design Scholarships - Fashion design scholarships for students pursuing a career in footwear design in the US.

VCU Graphic Design Scholarships - Various graphic design scholarships offered to enrolled students at Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts, in the US.

To study in Europe: This article was originally published in March 2015. It was updated in December 2016.
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So you've gone against your parents' suggestion of studying engineering and opted for an arts degree... Fortunately, there are numerous scholarships for art students available around the world, including funding to study art, fine art, design, fashion design and graphic design.

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Master of Fine Arts

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During most Master of Fine Arts degrees, coursework is mainly of an applied or performing nature, with your final assessment bringing together what you have learned. The content and presentation of this will vary depending on your specialization - it could be an exhibition of photography, a dance performance or a completed short film, amongst other possibilities.

Courses are usually two or three years in length, but this varies between countries. In the UK, for example, most master's degrees can be completed in just one year if you study full-time.

In the US, most MFA degrees are considered 'terminal degrees'. This means that it is the highest academic degree available in this field of study, and considered a suitable standard of qualification for those intending to teach the subject at university level.

Teaching and learning are likely to span a range of methods, including practical workshops and group tasks, along with peer reviews of your fellow students' work. Your university may also offer the opportunity to contribute work to public exhibitions and events as part of the course.

Entry requirements

Most universities will ask for a good grade in a relevant undergraduate degree. However, this does not always have to be in exactly the same subject or field you intend to specialize in during your Master of Fine Arts. You'll typically be asked to submit a portfolio of previous work, or attend a performance audition as part of your application.

Fine arts specializations

There are many Master of Fine Arts degrees which will allow you to cover multiple aspects of the subject, gaining a broad understanding of more than one specialization. These relatively comprehensive programs offer a range of course modules in the primary art forms, as well as general fine arts theory.

However, if you are passionate about a particular media or art-form, an MFA degree can provide a highly focused pathway to becoming a professional or expert in your particular field. This may be reflected in the course's entry requirements; for example, if you wish to study an MFA in Creative Writing, then you will likely need to submit a writing sample with your application.

Popular fine arts specializations include:

Visual arts

Photography

Filmmaking

Art history

Dance

Theater

Acting

Creative writing - including playwriting, poetry writing etc.

Design - including graphic, fashion, costume etc.

However, fine arts is such a broad subject that you might be surprised what topics you can specialize in, with courses available in areas such as comic art, theater management, and dramaturgy (the study of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage). Columbia University provides MFAs with concentrations in the latter two subjects, while California College of the Arts offers an MFA in Comics.

As you might expect,visual arts in itself breaks down to many distinct art forms, allowing for further specializations which include:

Fine arts careers

The skills gained during a Master of Fine Arts degree are transferable to a wide range of careers - from visual communication to project management, idea development and art curation. You are therefore certainly not short on options, and by no means limited to careers which relate directly to your chosen course specialization.

Many artistic career paths are highly competitive, and you will therefore need to develop a strong CV and/or portfolio, along with a growing network of contacts - starting from your course-mates. In many fine arts careers, such as being a photographer, visual artist, musician or actor, you're likely to be self-employed. You will therefore need to be able to motivate and sell yourself effectively to obtain work, while nurturing a relevant network of professional contacts.

Aside from becoming a professional artist in your chosen art-form, additional career options include:

Arts administrator

As an arts administrator, you would plan and organize arts activities and ensure they are successful. If you're passionate about the arts and enjoy managing and organizing projects, this career could be for you, enabling you to gain new perspectives on art in various social and cultural contexts. You will need strong administration and computer skills for this role.

Photojournalist

They say 'a picture is worth a thousand words', and indeed, photojournalists are visual storytellers whose images can have a huge impact on the news. This is another career in which gaining experience and building up a strong portfolio are very important, particularly as you will most likely be working on a freelance basis. You will also need to be proficient in digital media, including social media, online content, video and sound.

Teacher/tutor

As mentioned earlier, in the US the MFA degree is considered to be the highest qualification available in this field, and in many countries a Master of Fine Arts will enable you to pursue teaching and tutoring roles. You may choose to teach in a mainstream school or university, through a community arts scheme, offer private lessons, or apply your skills in an area such as art therapy. Depending on the type of institution you wish to teach at, you may need to obtain an additional recognized teaching qualification.

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During most Master of Fine Arts degrees, coursework is mainly of an applied or performing nature, with your final assessment bringing together what you have learned. The content and presentation of this will vary depending on your specialization - it could be an exhibition of photography, a dance performance or a completed short film, amongst other possibilities.

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Fine Artist

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Art & Design

Job Description

'Fine arts' is a collective term used to describe creative disciplines like sculpture, painting, and drawing. Fine artists work across a variety of mediums - paper, metal, clay, photographic film, and wood - usually specialising in a single 'fine arts' sub-category.

A majority of fine artists work independently, either commissioned by clients or on their own initiative, to create artistic works.

They sell their works to museums, art galleries or directly to customers, based on talents and reputations built in the market.

Entry into these professions is often by way of competitions or exhibitions. Building a reputation and client base takes a long time.

While most fine artists work on their own, they may also be employed by museums and galleries, educational and art institutions (as instructors) or work in private studios on special commissions.

Salary & benefits

The concept of salary and benefits professions is not applicable in the case of fine artists. Artists usually receive payments for every creative piece sold, in full for direct sales or a net amount after deduction of a specific percentage (as commission) if represented by a gallery or studio.

Artists working as instructors or hired by studios may receive a fixed salary, though benefits may not be part of the package.

Fine artists such as painters, sculptors and photographers can earn any amount upwards of £100 for a piece, depending on their professional background, experience and portfolio of existing work (and, of course, the quality of the work itself).

Artists with market recognition and years of experience can earn more than £20,000 a year, depending on their output.

Most fine art pieces appreciate in value on a yearly basis (around 10%-20%) and the artists' fees also increase correspondingly.

Established artists are represented by galleries or artist agencies, who receive a percentage of annual earnings or sale prices as fees for promotion and marketing.

Working hours

Fine artists work according to their own schedule and without deadlines unless they're working on projects which are time-bound, such as exhibitions or contests, or as stipulated by contracts.

Work is carried out in the artist's own studio space (often rented) and may involve frequent travel, depending on the market for the artist's work.

Many artists also choose to work in cooperatives or communities with other fine artists, sharing the costs of studio space and heavy equipment.

Entry

While formal qualifications may not be necessary to get started as a fine artist, most people in this profession should have an academic or technical training background in fine arts (for example: degrees, diplomas or certificates, or an apprenticeship under an established artist).

It is also crucial to build a portfolio of creative work, as galleries usually take on artists who are able to demonstrate talent and creativity in their chosen medium of expression.

Training & progression

Career growth and success for a fine artist is primarily a matter of self-development; this is not a profession where educational qualifications spur advancement, though they provide a small advantage.

Talent, creativity, imagination and a prolific output over a fairly long period of time (at least five years) are the main drivers in becoming a successful fine artist.

Other crucial requisites are diversification and experimentation in, for example, new media and different techniques or forms of expression.

It helps to gain expertise in multiple fine arts disciplines while making concerted promotional and marketing efforts.

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Art & Design 'Fine arts' is a collective term used to describe creative disciplines like sculpture, painting, and drawing. Fine artists work across a variety of mediums - paper, metal, clay, photographic film, and wood - usually specialising in a single 'fine arts' sub-category.

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Training with professional artists

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Regarding the required skills, types of artists and types of careers.

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An introduction to careers in art and design...

When you imagine an artist or designer at work, you might be picturing somebody indulging in their hobby and not actually doing any 'work'. The artist is sitting on a mountainside and painting a charming landscape scene, catapulting multi-coloured paint at a huge canvas, or placing a stuffed shark into a glass box. The designer is swinging from side-to-side on their office chair and playing around on Photoshop, cropping images and trying to decide which colour to use for the background of a website: 'muddy asphalt' or 'cigarette ash grey'?

Sure, working in art and design might seem like a wonderfully idyllic and relaxed career choice, where you have pure freedom to let your creative juices flow. However, it may shock you to know that these career paths are actually a lot of hard work. So before you make the decision to get into art and design, you should firstly discover what it's really all about.

Is there a difference between the art industry and the design industry?

Careers in art and design are all about creating things which are appealing to the eye. Art is traditionally created purely for its aesthetic appeal, whilst design tends to revolve around a product. You might even say that design is art with a function. The two different areas may seem worlds apart in their purpose, but the people who work in art and design all tend to have an essential mix of practical skills and a talent for using colour, space, shape and form.

What essential skills should every artist or designer have?

Admittedly, to work as an artist or designer you are going to need to be creative and have a keen eye for detail. In order to be successful you must have the ability to know what looks good, to come up with new ideas and to develop your own style. However, creative flair alone is not enough. Working independently as a freelancer is common, but many artists and designers don't actually work entirely on their own. When working as part of an art collective or for a design agency, it is essential to develop excellent communication and teamwork skills.

How do I become a professional artist or designer?

Often, the career path of an artist or designer does not take a particularly conventional route. Freelance work allows you to be in charge of your own business. However, this means you can't rely on your artistic talent alone. You will need to be business savvy, diligent and excellent at networking in order to receive those essential commissions for your work, without which you won't be able to survive. There may be periods of time when it's hard to get any work at all, so you may need to do some stopgap jobs whilst you pursue your true passion on the side. It's going to be an exciting and creative career, but it's also going to be pretty challenging.

What are the different branches of the art and design industries?

Careers in art and design can span many different specialist areas, from painting, photography and prop design to architecture, animation and art conservation.

Fine artists, photographers, and designer craftspeople (e.g. jewellery designers, silversmiths and woodworkers) tend to take a more freelance career route in pursuing their passion, developing their own individual style, exhibiting and finally selling their work.

Graphic designers can work in many different areas, from book design in the publishing industry, to web design and packaging design for the food and drink industry. Some graphic designers work on a freelance basis, whilst many work for niche design agencies or as part of in-house departments of larger companies. You will often be working on various projects simultaneously. Life as a graphic designer can therefore be exceedingly fast-paced and challenging as well as highly exciting.

The worlds of engineering and construction would also be nowhere without the technical design skills of architects, product designers, spatial designers, landscape designers and mechanical design engineers.

Art and design careers don't necessarily involve drawing, painting, sculpture or computer-based work. Indeed, fashion design and art conservation are other rewarding artistic careers that you might not have considered.

Whatever area of art and design you want to get into, you can definitely turn your career into an absolute masterpiece. You just need to know how!

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When you imagine an artist or designer at work, you might be picturing somebody indulging in their hobby and not actually doing any 'work'. The artist is sitting on a mountainside and painting a charming landscape scene, catapulting multi-coloured paint at a huge canvas, or placing a stuffed shark into a glass box.

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-Artist working on their own, creating works. This is the majority of fine artists occupation.
-Employed by museums and galleries.
-Instructing at educational and art institutions.
-Work in private studios on special commissions.

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If you're creative and imaginative, a degree in art could be just what you're looking for to express yourself. Art may not be a vocational subject - that is, one that leads to a specific career - but this doesn't mean it won't be a good preparation for the world of work.

Whether you choose to specialize in fine art or the history of art, the skills you gain during your degree are likely to be highly valued and transferable to many sectors, including specialized art careers as well as many general graduate roles. Alongside a range of practical arts skills, art graduates should also have good observational, analytical and research skills, including the ability to solve problems creatively and work well both independently and in groups.

In the majority of the art careers detailed below, you will find it essential or highly advantageous to have a varied portfolio of work to show prospective employers, including some of your own original ideas as well as coursework. The theoretical side of your degree should allow you to put this work into context, explaining your influences, the thought behind your choice of themes and why you used certain materials and techniques.

Be sure to network at every opportunity throughout your studies, and find ways to present your work in public spaces by entering as many competitions and exhibitions as you can.

Read on to find out more about which careers in art would best suit you, and how to increase your employability in these areas.

Typical art careers

Fine artist

Kicking off with perhaps the most obvious of art careers, there is no reason why you cannot pursue a career as a professional artist if you have talent and dedication. You will also need plenty of self-belief, stamina and the ability to promote yourself, as this is a highly competitive career path. Relevant work experience in the creative sector, such as working as a studio assistant, would be useful, and you should be resourceful in finding new and interesting places to showcase and sell your work to get yourself known. Some fine artists also decide to continue developing their work alongside work in a relevant full- or part-time job, such as that of an art teacher/tutor.

Illustrator

Illustrators use their creative skills to communicate stories, messages or ideas to an intended audience. They usually work on a freelance basis for multiple clients, and are likely to specialize in a specific medium, such as drawing, photography or digital illustration. In this case, your portfolio should demonstrate that you can work to a clear brief, such as creating designs for a book cover. You should also show that you can work in a variety of formats, particularly with computer-aided design (CAD) techniques. A postgraduate degree in fine arts specializing in illustration should give you a good range of relevant skills to offer prospective employers.

Photographer

Photographers use a range of equipment to capture permanent images in the style and brief set by a client or employer. There are a wide range of purposes and specializations in photography - from weddings to advertising, photojournalism and more. Some fields, such as fashion photography, are particularly competitive, and you may find it beneficial to have a Master of Fine Arts specializing in photography. As well as working on your portfolio, you should look for opportunities to make contacts, get work published and generally gain new skills and experience through opportunities like volunteering, work shadowing, or taking part in work experience and project work with photographers or relevant employers.

Animator

An animator produces multiple images called frames, which when sequenced together create an illusion of movement known as animation. Animators could even work in the visual effects team on a film. This is another competitive area and in this case, your portfolio would be in the form of a short yet effective showreel - a DVD or online portfolio video. To enhance your employability, a postgraduate specialization in animation would be beneficial, but this is not essential. To become an animator you need to have artistic talent and strong technical skills with a good eye for detail.

Graphic designer

A graphic designer is responsible for creating design solutions that have a high visual impact. The role involves working to a brief agreed with the client, creative director or account manager. Graphic designers develop creative ideas and concepts, choosing the appropriate media and style to meet the client's objectives. To become a graphic designer, it is very useful if you have specialized in design (or an aspect of design) in your degree and mastered the skills required, such as the use of computer packages like Photoshop. You may also consider continuing your studies at postgraduate level, with a Master of Design (MDes).

Arts administrator

As an arts administrator, you would plan and organize arts activities and ensure they are successful. If you're passionate about the arts and enjoy managing and organizing, this career could be for you, enabling you to gain new perspectives on art and its various community and social roles. You will need strong administration and computer skills for this role.

Printmaker

Printmakers create art using printing press, typically on paper, and again usually work to set briefs. Techniques used include etching, block-printing, woodcuts, silk-screening and lithography, with electronic and digital processes increasingly being used. You might find that printmaking emerges as your preferred medium following a degree in fine arts, especially if you specialize in design or illustration. To increase your employability (especially if you decide to become self-employed), seek out relevant work experience opportunities and build up a network of relevant contacts by reaching out in person and online.

Teacher/university lecturer

If you wish to use your passion for art to motivate and inspire young people and encourage the development of budding talents, a career as an art teacher could be highly rewarding. In most countries, you will need a teaching qualification to teach at primary/secondary level, and a postgraduate degree to teach at university level. You should also have lots of confidence and excellent communication and presentation skills, in order to effectively teach and inspire your students. You may also choose to offer private art tuition to individuals or small groups, or specialize in an area such as art therapy.

Other careers in art

If none of the above art careers appeal to you, there are still plenty of options available. Art graduates can also apply for mainstream graduate jobs and training in a wide variety of industries, such as media, marketing, public relations and even accounting.

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'What Can You Do With an Art Degree?' is part of our 'What Can You Do With...' series. We have also covered biology, business, communications, computer science, English, engineering, fashion, history, geography, law, marketing, mathematics, performing arts, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology, chemistry, economics and physics.

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If you're creative and imaginative, a degree in art could be just what you're looking for to express yourself. Art may not be a vocational subject - that is, one that leads to a specific career - but this doesn't mean it won't be a good preparation for the world of work.

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Acquiring an arts degree (e.g. Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Photographer, Designer Craftsperson) by attending a university/college/arts school, and studying a branch of art.

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Submissions of artworks in various Art competitions. For example, the Young Archie Competition.

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High School Certificate (HSC) and Training (apprenticeships)
Year 11/12 Art Subject Elective

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Year 9/10 Art Subject Elective

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Fine Arts

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-artist
-yogi

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-resin artist

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'For Mitch, the approach to his art is free flowing and intuitive, a process that involves a complex layering of colours and textures that create an illusion of multiple layers and dimensions. The end result, a powerful reflection of the inspiration he gathers from the beauty he sees in the world around him and the interconnectedness of all things.'

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Examples of artists in the workforce.