Fine and Studio Arts

In European academic traditions, fine art is art developed primarily for aesthetics or beauty, distinguishing it from applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork.

Historically, the five main fine arts were painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and poetry, with performing arts including theatre and dance. Today, the fine arts commonly include additional forms, such as film, photography, video production/editing, design, sequential art, conceptual art, and printmaking.

One definition of fine art is "a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic and intellectual purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness, specifically, painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphics, and architecture." In that sense, there are conceptual differences between the fine arts and the applied arts. As originally conceived, and as understood for much of the modern era, the perception of aesthetic qualities required a refined judgment usually referred to as having good taste, which differentiated fine art from popular art and entertainment.

The word "fine" does not so much denote the quality of the artwork in question, but the purity of the discipline according to traditional Western European canons.[citation needed] This definition originally excluded the applied or decorative arts, and the products of what were regarded as crafts. In contemporary practice these distinctions and restrictions have become essentially meaningless, as the concept or intention of the artist is given primacy, regardless of the means through which this is expressed.[citation needed]

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Scholarships for Fine and Studio Arts Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

$34,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

award

$34,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

Up to $22,030 Varies See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

award

Up to $22,030

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

$20,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

award

$20,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

Up to $12,500 February 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

award

Up to $12,500

deadline

February 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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Nordan Fine Arts Program Award - Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Nordan Fine Arts Program Award is open to students at Texas Christian University. You must demonstrate exceptional talent in art, ballet, modern dance, music or theatre to be eligible for this award.

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Nordan Fine Arts Program Award - Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nordan Fine Arts Program Award is open to students at Texas Christian University. You must demonstrate exceptional talent in art, ballet, modern dance, music or theatre to be eligible for this award.

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MFA Provost's Graduate Fellowship

University of Central Florida

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Provost's Graduate Fellowship is available to first year graduate students at the University of Central Florida. You must be newly enrolling in one of UCF’s Master of Fine Arts programs to be eligible for this award.

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MFA Provost's Graduate Fellowship

University of Central Florida

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Provost's Graduate Fellowship is available to first year graduate students at the University of Central Florida. You must be newly enrolling in one of UCF’s Master of Fine Arts programs to be eligible for this award.

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Art Scholarship - Young Harris College

Young Harris College

Up to $8,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Art Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Young Harris College. You must be an art major and demonstrate outstanding artistic ability. Written recommendations and on-campus interviews are required and surveys of your portfolio will be conducted. You must maintain a "C" average each semester to retain your award for both the freshman...

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Art Scholarship - Young Harris College

Young Harris College

award

Up to $8,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Art Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Young Harris College. You must be an art major and demonstrate outstanding artistic ability. Written recommendations and on-campus interviews are required and surveys of your portfolio will be conducted. You must maintain a "C" average each semester to retain your award for both the freshman...

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SWEA New Jersey Scholarship

Swedish Women's Educational Association International, Inc. - New Jersey Chapter

$8,000 May 01, 2025 See Details

Description

The SWEA New Jersey Scholarship is available to students pursuing academic or professional research / studies or artistic endeavors pertaining to Sweden. You must have roots and / or current residence in New Jersey or the Tri-State area to be eligible for this award.

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SWEA New Jersey Scholarship

Swedish Women's Educational Association International, Inc. - New Jersey Chapter

award

$8,000

deadline

May 01, 2025
See Details

Description

The SWEA New Jersey Scholarship is available to students pursuing academic or professional research / studies or artistic endeavors pertaining to Sweden. You must have roots and / or current residence in New Jersey or the Tri-State area to be eligible for this award.

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Honors Scholarship - Bethel College, Kansas

Bethel College - Kansas

$7,500 Varies See Details

Description

The Honors Scholarship is available to incoming freshman students at Bethel College, Kansas, who demonstrate outstanding ability in chemistry, history, psychology, business, or art.

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Honors Scholarship - Bethel College, Kansas

Bethel College - Kansas

award

$7,500

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Honors Scholarship is available to incoming freshman students at Bethel College, Kansas, who demonstrate outstanding ability in chemistry, history, psychology, business, or art.

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Dave Spooner Memorial Scholarship

Mount Hood Community College

$6,563 March 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The Dave Spooner Memorial Scholarship is available to students at Mount Hood Community College. You must have completed at least one term in visual and performing arts studies to be eligible for this award.

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Dave Spooner Memorial Scholarship

Mount Hood Community College

award

$6,563

deadline

March 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The Dave Spooner Memorial Scholarship is available to students at Mount Hood Community College. You must have completed at least one term in visual and performing arts studies to be eligible for this award.

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