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Emporia State School of Visual + Performing Arts

Art Program Scholarships for Incoming Students

For incoming freshmen and transfer students

Art Program Scholarships

FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS 2025–2026

PRIORITY DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1, 2024

The review of incoming scholarship applications will begin December 1st and continue until all funding is awarded. Scholarship applications will be submitted online through the ESU Scholarship Portal. Please follow the instructions in the Incoming Student Scholarship Portfolio Guidelines explaining what to include in your portfolio. Total Financial Aid + Stackable Scholarships shall not exceed the total cost of attendance.

ELIGIBILITY

  • To qualify, you must be a new student intending to enroll as a full-time art major for the following fall. These scholarships ae awarded for artistic achievement.  
  • You may also apply for academic scholarships which have different requirements and application dates through the Scholarship Portal. 

INCOMING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES

Scholarships are awarded based on portfolios submitted by prospective candidates. Your portfolio is very important and will be used by the Scholarship Committee to evaluate your potential. The faculty understand that documenting art may be new to some students and will not harshly judge this ability, but do your best, so faculty get a good visual understanding of the work. It should be a collection of your best original artwork.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO

  • Cover Letter 
    • Applicant’s name 
    • Address 
    • Email address 
    • Phone number 
    • Educational background 
    • Will you be a freshman or transfer student? 
    • Statement of interests 
    • Goals in art 
  • Up to ten examples of your best work. 
    • A minimum of 3 drawings 
    • A minimum of 1 three-dimensional work 
  • How to present artwork/designs: 
    • Each piece shall be represented on its own page. 
    • Include the following information for each work. 
      • Image(s) of work  
        • 3D pieces can include up to 3 views. 
        • 2D pieces can include a detail shot. 
      • Title 
      • Medium 
      • Dimensions 
        • Example: Still Life, charcoal on paper, 8”w x 10”h 
        • Example: Teacup, stoneware, 5”w x 4”h x 4”d 

PDF GUIDELINES

  • Create your portfolio in the software or your choice.  
    • Popular choices are PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote. 
  • Page 1: Cover Letter  
  • Pages 2 - 11: Examples of your work 
  • Save file as a pdf. (maximum file size is 25MB). 
    • PowerPoint: File > Compress Pictures > Picture Quality: On-screen (150ppi), then File > Save As > File Format > PDF 
    • Google Slides: File > Download > PDF, then open PDF and File > Reduce File Size 
    • Keynote: File > Reduce File Size > Reduce a Copy, then File > Export To > PDF 
  • Name the file: Lastname_Firstname_IncomingArtScholarship25.pdf

HOW TO DOCUMENT YOUR WORK

2D WORK:

  • How to photograph 2D work with your phone
  • Small two-dimensional art is often documented by using a scanner. 
  • Large 2D work can be documented with a digital camera. 
  • Crop two-dimensional work so that the image does not include the background. 

3D WORK:

  • How to photograph 3D work with your phone
  • Photograph on a neutral background (grey, black, or white are preferred) 
  • Fill the frame of the viewfinder with your art. 
  • Show two different views of the piece. 
  • Clean up background imperfections. 

HOW TO APPLY 

We recommend that you have your PDF portfolio prepared before you fill out the application (See instructions below) 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONTACT THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE 

Jennifer Holt: jholt6@emporia.edu

John Decker: jdecker@emporia.edu

Derek Wilkinson: dwilkin2@emporia.edu