Scholarships
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Be the future of the art world.
Art History scholarships provide financial assistance to students at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College who have declared a major inArt History. Additional funding is awarded to students who also minor in the fields of Curatorial Studies, Business, Communications/Marketing, or Technology/Computer Science.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. First-Year scholarship applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by April 15. Sophomore,junior and senior scholarship applicants are strongly encouraged to apply or reapply by May 15. Generous scholarship support is provided by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
Scholarships awarded since fall 2019
Art History majors received scholarships in the 2023-2024 academic year
Scholarship funding since fall 2019
This award provides financial assistance to Art History majors for the first year.
Learn More Apply NowThis variable award covers full tuition and fees, for three years for three outstanding Art History majors.
Learn More Apply NowThis award provides financial assistance to sophomore, junior and senior Art History majors for up to three years.
Learn More Apply NowThis award provides financial assistance to students in any major, minoring in Curatorial Studies for up to three years.
Learn More Apply NowSCHOLARSHIP SUCCESS STORIES
As Assistant Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Destinee began her curatorial career as an Art History major at Spelman College. Her research and curatorial projects focus on the artistic production of historically marginalized makers at the turn of the century in the Atlantic World.
An Art History major and French minor focusing on Francophone Art History, African Art and Decorative Art and Design, Neil studied abroad at the Sorbonne Université in Paris, during his junior year. With work experience at the High Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Getty Research Institute – Neil will pursue a Ph.D. upon graduation.
An art historian and curator focusing on the art market, Christian’s art business career began as a rising senior at Morehouse College, participating in the competitive summer internship program at Sotheby’s - NY. Now a Cataloguer in Sneakers and Modern Collectibles at Sotheby’s, his work includes extensive writing, research, and auction logistics.
An emerging Art Conservator, Tempe served as an inaugural Roy Lichtenstein Foundation Post-Baccalaureate Fellow in Museum Professions at the High Museum of Art and the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. Tempe’s research interests include community preservation projects and collective memory-making. After the fellowship, Tempe was awarded a prestigious fellowship at the Midwest Art Conservation Center.
THE FIRST-YEAR ART HISTORY SCHOLARSHIP
The First-Year Art History scholarship provides financial assistance to incoming students at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College who have declared a major in Art History.
The program seeks motivated, well-rounded candidates, both academically and in character with a demonstrated commitment to the study of art history. Students must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 in order to be eligible for the First-Year Art History Scholarship. Scholarship decisions for incoming, first-year students are made by the AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective program, not the Office of Financial Aid. Students must be accepted to Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College or Spelman College at the time of application.
Undergraduate application materials (for declared Art History majors) are received from the Office of Admissions and are reviewed by the AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective program. No additional application is required.
A complete application will contain the following materials:
Undergraduate Application Materials
(Provided by the Office of Admissions)
- The Common Application
- College Essay
- Letters of Recommendation
- Official SAT or ACT scores (if provided)
- Official Transcripts
Additional Requirements for the First-Year Art History Scholarship
(Due at the time of application):
- Resume
- An essay or writing sample related to the study of art history*
- Virtual or In-person interview
- One writing sample
*1) Upload a writing sample:
Submit a paper written for an art or art history course. The paper can be an analysis or research paper. The upload should be no more than three double-spaced pages, 12-pt font.
or
2) Submit an essay:
Select one artwork of your choice and write a formal analysis. The paper should be no longer than three double-spaced pages, 12-pt font.
Additionally, the following related factors are taken into consideration during application review: students who have completed Advanced Placement (AP) Art History coursework, students who have completed the Early College Program in Art History + Curatorial Studies an initiative of the AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective; students who have done volunteer work, jobs or internships in the visual arts.
The First-Year Art History scholarship is a one-time only award for incoming first year students, distributed at the beginning of the fall semester and at the beginning of the spring semester.
At the end of the first semester, all First-Year Art History scholarship recipients are required to meet with the Program Director for a semester review. Scholarship renewal from the first semester into the second semester is at the discretion of the Program Director. Students whose scholarships are not renewed between the fall semester and the spring semester will be notified in writing, detailing the decision.
At the end of the first semester, scholars also must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in addition to maintaining good standing and satisfactory academic progress as outlined by the school’s bulletin.
Starting in spring of the first year, eligible scholars may apply for the Art History Scholarship.
Students must enroll in a minimum of (15) hours each for the fall and spring semesters and successfully complete coursework that is consistent with normal class progression standards. International students and those not eligible for federal funding will not be eligible for scholarship awards. Transfer students are eligible for funding (their transfer GPA will be used to determine eligibility), so long as they meet prerequisite requirements.
Students who leave the major before the end of the semester or withdraw from the undergraduate institution will follow the refund and withdrawal guidelines as outlined in the institutional bulletin. Application Submission – All additional application material requests (writing, resume and interview) must be submitted to the designated AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective faculty or staff member.
Students will be notified by e-mail if they have or have not been awarded the First-Year Art History scholarship. For awarded students, the designated scholarship amount will be detailed in the award letter e-mail. Funds will be distributed to the scholar’s student account.
THE ART HISTORY SCHOLARSHIP
The Art History scholarship provides financial assistance to sophomores, juniors and seniors at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College who have declared a major in Art History.
Eligible Art History majors will be rising sophomores, juniors or seniors who will apply for the Art History Scholarship in the spring semester of their first, sophomore or junior year.
To apply scholars must:
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
- Be in good standing (both in terms of student conduct and academically)
- Officially declare the Art History major and, as applicable, eligible minors.
Eligible Minors– Curatorial Studies, Business, Communications/Marketing, or Technology/Computer Science - Meet the following prerequisite requirements:
- Submit a 250-500 word narrative letter describing career goals and/or research interests
- Interview with an AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective faculty or staff member
- Submit a letter of recommendation from an undergraduate faculty member or internship supervisor
- Complete one or more of the following courses in the Spelman College
Department of Art & Visual Culture earning a grade of “B” or higher in each course:- Ways of Seeing I: Pyramids to Cathedrals (SAVC 141)
- Ways of Seeing II: Medieval to Modern (SAVC 142)
- Global Foundations of Modern Art (SAVC 230)
- Introduction to the Object (SAVC 235)
- African American Art (SAVC 243)
- Seminar in Curatorial Practice (SAVC 305)
- Aquisitions and Collections (SAVC 282)
- Other course(s) as deemed appropriate by the Director of the AUC Art History Curatorial Studies Collective
Candidates applying for the first time will complete the online application and upload the following materials:
- Submit a 250-500 word narrative letter describing career goals and/or research
interests - a letter of recommendation from an undergraduate faculty member or internship supervisor
- An unofficial academic transcript
Candidates renewing their scholarship will complete the online application and upload the following materials:
- An unofficial academic transcript
This annual scholarship is renewable if the recipient continues to meet the award criteria. That is, scholars must: 1) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 2) be in good standing, 3) must continue to have declared their major in Art History and, as applicable, eligible minors, and 4) meet pre-requisite requirements.
In addition, continuing students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Art History major courses and, as applicable, eligible minor courses.
Students will receive scholarship support for a maximum of three academic years or a total of six semesters and must reapply each year. Any student not continuously enrolled or who is absent from a regular semester, excluding the summer session, would forfeit the scholarship and would have to reapply. However, readmission and reinstatement of the scholarship is not guaranteed.
Students must enroll in a minimum of (15) hours each for the fall and spring semesters of their sophomore, junior and senior year and successfully complete coursework annually that is consistent with normal class progression standards. Students studying abroad or completing a domestic exchange program, while meeting all scholarship eligibility requirements, are eligible for funding.
International students and those not eligible for federal funding will not be eligible for scholarship awards. Transfer students are eligible for funding (their transfer GPA will be used to determine eligibility) so long as they meet pre-requisite requirements.
Students who leave the major before the end of the semester or withdraw from the undergraduate institution will follow the refund and withdrawal guidelines as outlined institutional bulletin.
Application Submission – All application materials must be submitted to the designated AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective faculty or staff member. Only complete applications will be reviewed.
Students will be notified by e-mail if they have or have not been awarded the annual Art History scholarship. For awarded students, the designated scholarship amount will be detailed in the award letter and e-mail. Funds will be distributed to the scholar’s student account.
NANCY ELIZABETH PROPHET & HALE WOODRUFF ART HISTORY SCHOLARSHIP
The Nancy Elizabeth Prophet & Hale Woodruff Art History scholarship is the most competitive award offered, covering full tuition and fees for three years to three Art History majors per year.
The Nancy Elizabeth Prophet & Hale Woodruff Art History scholarship is the most competitive award offered, covering full tuition and fees for three years to one Art History major at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College.
Eligible Art History majors will be rising sophomores who will apply for the Art History Scholarship in the spring semester of their first year. In addition to the requirements below, Prophet Woodruff scholars will attend or lead six (6) events per year in the areas of Social Justice, Community Service, Technology & Innovation, Museums & Visual Art, Leadership and Career Development.
To apply scholars must:
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5
- Be in good standing (both in terms of student conduct and academically)
- Officially declare the Art History major
- Meet the following prerequisite requirements:
- Submit a 250-500 word narrative letter describing career goals and/or research interests
- Interview with an AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective faculty or staff member
- Submit a letter of recommendation from an undergraduate faculty member or internship supervisor
- Complete one or more of the following courses in the Spelman College
Department of Art & Visual Culture earning a grade of “B” or higher in each course:- Art History I: Pyramids to Cathedrals (SAVC 141)
- Art History II: Renaissance to Contemporary (SAVC 142)
- Global Foundations of Modern Art (SAVC 230)
- Introduction to the Object (SAVC 235)
- Acquisitions and Collections (SAVC 282)
- African American Art (SAVC 243)
- Seminar in Curatorial Practice (SAVC 305)
- Other course(s) as deemed appropriate by the Director of the AUC Art History Curatorial Studies Collective
Candidates applying for the first time will complete the online application and upload the following materials:
- Submit a 250-500 word narrative letter describing career goals and/or research
interests - a letter of recommendation from an undergraduate faculty member or internship supervisor
- An unofficial academic transcript
Candidates renewing their scholarship will complete the online application and upload the following materials:
- An unofficial academic transcript
This annual scholarship is renewable if the recipient continues to meet the award criteria. That is, scholars must: 1) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 2) be in good standing, 3) must continue to have declared their major in Art History 4) meet pre-requisite requirements and 5) log six (6) designated events per academic year
In addition, continuing students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 in Art History major courses and, as applicable, eligible minor courses.
Students will receive scholarship support for a maximum of three academic years or a total of six semesters and must reapply each year. Any student not continuously enrolled or who is absent from a regular semester, excluding the summer session, would forfeit the scholarship and would have to reapply for the (general) Art History scholarship.
Students must enroll in a minimum of (15) hours each for the fall and spring semesters and successfully complete coursework that is consistent with normal class progression standards. International students and those not eligible for federal funding will not be eligible for scholarship awards. Transfer students are eligible for funding (their transfer GPA will be used to determine eligibility), so long as they meet prerequisite requirements.
Students who leave the major before the end of the semester or withdraw from the undergraduate institution will follow the refund and withdrawal guidelines as outlined in the institutional bulletin. Application Submission – All additional application material requests (writing, resume and interview) must be submitted to the designated AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective faculty or staff member.
Students will be notified by e-mail if they have or have not been awarded the scholarship. For awarded students, the designated scholarship amount will be detailed in the award letter e-mail. Funds will be distributed to the scholar’s student account.
THE CURATORIAL STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP
The Curatorial Studies scholarship provides financial assistance to sophomores, juniors and seniors at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College who have declared a minor in Curatorial Studies.
Eligible Curatorial Studies minors will be rising sophomores, juniors or seniors who will apply for the Curatorial Studies Scholarship in the spring semester of their first, sophomore or junior year.
To apply scholars must:
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25
- Be in good standing (both in terms of student conduct and academically)
- Officially declare the Curatorial Studies minor. Note: Art History majors who are also Curatorial Studies minors will not apply for this scholarship. Art History majors with a minor in Curatorial Studies will apply to the Art History scholarship and receive additional funding for the Curatorial Studies minor.
- Meet the following prerequisite requirements:
- Submit a 250-500 word narrative letter describing career goals and/or research interests
- Interview with an AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective faculty or staff member
- Complete one or more of the following courses in the Spelman College
Department of Art & Visual Culture earning a grade of “B” or higher in each course:- Introduction to the Object (SAVC 235)
- Acquisitions and Collections (SAVC 282)
- Seminar in Curatorial Practice (SAVC 305)
- Submit a 250-500 word narrative letter describing career goals and/or research
interests - A resume or CV
- The names and contact information of three professional references.
- An unofficial academic transcript
This annual scholarship is renewable if the recipient continues to meet the award criteria. That is, scholars must: 1) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 2) be in good standing, 3) must continue to have declared their minor in Curatorial Studies.
Students will receive scholarship support for a maximum of three academic years or a total of six semesters and must reapply each year. Any student not continuously enrolled or who is absent from a regular semester, excluding the summer session, would forfeit the scholarship and would have to reapply.
Students must enroll in a minimum of (15) hours each for the fall and spring semesters of their sophomore, junior and senior year and successfully complete coursework annually that is consistent with normal class progression standards. Students studying abroad or completing a domestic exchange program, while meeting all scholarship eligibility requirements, are eligible for funding.
International students and those not eligible for federal funding will not be eligible for scholarship awards. Transfer students are eligible for funding (their transfer GPA will be used to determine eligibility) so long as they meet pre-requisite requirements.
Students who leave the major before the end of the semester or withdraw from the undergraduate institution will follow the refund and withdrawal guidelines as outlined institutional bulletin.
Application Submission – All application materials must be submitted to the designated AUC Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective faculty or staff member. Only complete applications will be reviewed.
Students will be notified by e-mail if they have or have not been awarded the scholarship. For awarded students, the designated scholarship amount will be detailed in the award letter e-mail. Funds will be distributed to the scholar’s student account.
Scholarship Application / Award Schedule
Application Semester | Award Semester | Fund Distribution Semesters |
---|---|---|
Spring / Summer High School Senior Year | Summer High School Senior Year | Fall & Spring First Year |
Spring First Year | Summer First Year | Fall & Spring Sophomore Year |
Spring Sophomore Year | Summer Sophomore Year | Fall & Spring Junior Year |
Spring Junior Year | Summer Junior Year | Fall & Spring Senior Year |
“The scholarship is a key component of our educational initiative. It recognizes the hard work, commitment and excellence of Art History majors and supports their intellectual work. It is also an acknowledgement of their desire to pursue careers in art history and curatorial studies by providing financial support to further their educational pursuits”
- Cheryl Finley, Ph.D., Inaugural Distinguished Visiting Director