Scholarships
Departmental Scholarships, Prizes, and Grants
The School of Art awards 135 departmental scholarships, prizes, and grants every year. Students received more than $155,000 in 2023.
The School of Art and Ewing Gallery endowments recognize students for excellent scholarly and creative work in various media, and support student travel, residencies, study abroad, materials grants, and more. Some awards, such as the Kimberly D. Iles Art Scholarship, are awarded by faculty nomination for students in every discipline. Scholarships are available at the Handheld awards for video, film, performance, and sound art to support students working in a particular discipline.
Scholarships applications are accepted every year at the beginning of the spring semester.
Keep in mind these important dates for application and admission to the University of Tennessee especially as you plan to apply for scholarships at the School of Art.
Freshman Scholarships
The School of Art offers multiple $2000 scholarships for incoming freshmen seeking degrees in Art, Studio Art, Cinema Studies, or Art History.
Step 1: Apply to UT by November 1, 2023
Meeting the priority admission deadline will allow you to be considered for competitive scholarships, including the First Year (Freshman) Art Scholarship.
Step 2: Apply for UT Scholarships by December 15, 2023
Upon admission to UT, you’ll receive an email invitation to apply for scholarships.
Step 3: Apply for the First Year (Freshman) Art Scholarship by February 11, 2024
To apply for UT’s freshman art scholarships, log in to the application portal using your UT Net ID and password. Click on the “Current Students” button to get started! Search for “Freshman Art Scholarship” and submit the supplemental application materials (see below for details). Save your work as you go, but don’t submit the application until you are ready! Once submitted, you cannot go back and change your application.
Who is eligible for the First Year (Freshman) Art Scholarship?
Applicants must be accepted to the University of Tennessee before applying for the First Year (Freshman) Art Scholarship. In order to receive the award, students must be enrolled full time and on track for a degree in Studio Art, Art, Cinema Studies, or Art History for the entire 2024-2025 academic year. Scholarship monies will be divided evenly between the fall and spring semesters.
Supplemental Application Requirements
- Statement of intent that introduces you to the scholarship committee and describes why you want to study at the University of Tennessee School of Art.
- Portfolio of up to 10 digital images, and/or links to video/sound art. The scholarship committee is looking for work that indicates who you are as an artist, art historian, or designer.
- Include a brief description of your ideas behind each piece of artwork. Word limit: 80 words per piece.
- Compile your images with descriptions into a document (we recommend Google Slides or PowerPoint) and save it as a single PDF. View a scholarship-winning sample portfolio.
- Tips on submitting your digital portfolio
- If you are an art history major, you may submit a writing sample instead of an art portfolio. Your writing sample must pertain to art history or a related topic in one of the following forms: one long paper (5 or more pages), two short essays (1-4 pages each), or evidence of writing ability in exam form.
Past Winners
2023: Rachel Huff | Megan McEloy | Myla Louden | Greta Grier
2022: Owen Canter | Bradon Loughry | Gabriela McNamee
2021: Grace Sutt | Mayson Knipp
2020: Angelica Rose Nepomuceno | Kelly Olchawa
2019: Korra Brawner | Aya Rutherford | Hannah Sorensen
2018: Thais Lloyd | Jaxon Tolbert | Grace Favier
2017: Ashlynn Guo | Jill Culver
Have any questions?
Contact the School of Art at art@utk.edu or Paul Lee at plee3@utk.edu.
Undergraduate Scholarships
School of Art Scholarships are awarded through a faculty jury of student applications and portfolios. Eligibility for the various awards is described in the application form links below. Awardees of 2024-2025 scholarships will be notified via email in the spring.
Incoming first-year students are not eligible for the awards listed below and should apply for First Year (Freshman) Art Scholarships. If you have questions, contact the School of Art at art@utk.edu or Paul Lee at plee3@utk.edu.
2024 – SOA Study Abroad Scholarships
All students currently enrolled in and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree (first and second year only) in the School of Art are eligible. Applicants must demonstrate successful academic performance and financial need, and be registered in the School of Art in the semester following their travel.
Applications must be uploaded by 5 pm on Sunday, February 11, 2024.
Note: Applicants seeking funding to support travel for research or creative activity should complete the SOA Travel Award application, and those seeking funding for residency should complete the SOA Residency and Internship Award application.
2024 – SOA Travel Award
The School of Art Scholarship Committee awards travel support to proposals for artistic and research projects, or scholarly activity. Recipients of the grant will be expected to have their project completed by the end of the following fall semester. Upon completion of the project, a public presentation — either a public lecture, an exhibition, or another appropriate publication venue — is required.
Applications must be uploaded by 5 pm on Monday, May 6, 2024.
Tips on submitting your digital portfolio
Note: Applicants seeking funding for residencies should complete the SOA Residency and Internship Award application. Applicants seeking travel funding to support study abroad should complete the SOA Study Abroad Scholarship application.
2024 – SOA Materials Grants
The School of Art Scholarship Committee awards funding for materials to support graduate students’ studio work. This grant is intended to be used in the exploration or creation of the student’s artistic practice rather than used for unrelated commissions. Upon completion of the project, a public presentation — either a public lecture, an exhibition, or another appropriate publication venue — is required.
Applications must be uploaded by 5 pm on Monday, May 6, 2024.
2024 – SOA Residency and Internship Awards
The School of Art Scholarship Committee is accepting applications for the support of residency and internship opportunities. Recipients of the grant will be expected to have their project completed by the end of the following fall semester. Upon completion of the project, a public presentation — either a public lecture, an exhibition, or another appropriate publication venue — is required.
Applications must be uploaded by 5 pm on Monday, May 6, 2024.
Note: Applicants seeking travel funding to support study abroad should complete the SOA Study Abroad Scholarship application.
2024 – SOA Undergraduate Merit and Financial Need Awards
All students currently enrolled in and pursuing an undergraduate degree program in the School of Art. Applicants must demonstrate successful academic performance and financial need, and have at least one semester of study left within the School of Art. A minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA in School of Art courses is required.
Application must be uploaded by 5 pm on March 24, 2024.
2024 – Undergraduate Honors Exhibition Competition
All outstanding School of Art senior students pursuing undergraduate degrees in the fields of ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and time-based art art are eligible to apply to participate in the Undergraduate Honors Exhibition Competition at the Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture. Applicants must demonstrate successful academic performance and be scheduled to graduate in the year of the award.
- Install of Artwork begins: May 9–10, 9 – 5pm only
- Show Dates: May 13–Friday, May 17, 10 – 5pm
- Deinstall: Monday, May 20 & Tuesday, May 21: 10 – 4pm ONLY
- The gallery is not responsible for any artwork left after the pick-up dates.
Applications Deadline TBD.
2024 – College of Arts & Sciences Painting and Drawing Competition – TBD
2023 Scholarship Recipients
Undergraduate Materials Awards
Sarah Karina Caoile
Dauphin Romersa
Chante Thomas
Undergraduate Travel Award (Study Abroad)
Diana Dalton
Undergraduate Residency
Nicole O’Connor (Arrowmont)
Undergraduate Merit Scholarship
Hannah Crowe
Adam Kreider
Diana Dalton
Riley Mroz
Undergraduate Financial Need Scholarship
Grace Sutt
Alexis Pellicciotti
Caleb Cho
Leigh Shields
Robert Myrick
Hannah Crowe
Kylie Sliger
College of Arts & Sciences Painting and Drawing Competition
Brandon Pham
Kimberly D. Iles Scholarship Awards – Video Presentation
Somerset Alley | Painting
Kenzie Felkins | Drawing
Isabel Fitzhugh | Printmaking
Carter Goss | Graphic Design
Kaylee Hale | 4D/TB Art
Joss Kitts | Sculpture
Adam Kreider | Photography
Grace Olen | Cinema Studies
Sheridan (Dani) Stanford | Art History
Jessica Taylor | Graphic Design
Josephine Vandivort | Ceramics
2022 Scholarship Recipients
Residency / Internship Award
Savannah Clay
Travel Award
Allison Cochrane and Meliya Evans
Merit Award
Hannah Crowe, Guido Del Rosso, Grace Sutt, Chloe Hux, Arcadia Moncrief, Dana Kim, Wesley Roden, S.K. Yi, and Chloe Baker
Other Awards
Elliot Ashlock, Rick Berry, Yilan Dukes, Jacob Gallagher, John Houston, Arcadia Moncrief, Wendi Tang, and Samantha Vance
Kimberly D. Iles Art Scholarships
Oralia Acosta, Sculpture; Chloe Baker, TBA Art; Chloe Hux, Printmaking; Jua Im, Graphic Design; Jackson Jalomo, Drawing; Adam Kreider, Photography; Emma Loy, Painting; Aya Rutherford, Art History; Jessica Taylor, Graphic Design; and Emmersen Waugh, Cinema Studies.
Have any questions?
Contact the School of Art at art@utk.edu or Paul Lee at plee3@utk.edu.
Have scholarship questions?
Contact the School of Art at art@utk.edu