HCAA VISUAL
ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
The purpose of the Visual Arts Major Scholarship is to encourage and support the next generation of professional visual artists by providing financial assistance for the formal study of art at the post-secondary level.
The Visual Arts Major Scholarship fund is governed and administered by The Hamilton County Artists’ Association. The number scholarships and their amount shall be determined each year by the HCAA Board. The HCAA will consider fine arts to be “work produced or intended primarily for beauty and/or utility; something requiring highly developed techniques and skills.”
Scholarship funds are for tuition only and the scholarship award will be paid directly to the college or university attended by the award winner. They are for future use, not for payment of past expenses or credit balances on accounts and will be distributed in U.S. dollars directly to the institution where the student will study. Distribution will not be made directly to the student.
For the 2025-2026 school year, one scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded in the Spring, 2025.
Application Highlights
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The Application Form must be received by Thursday, April 24th.
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Late or incomplete applications will not be eligible for review.
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The Application Form must be submitted on the HCAA website at https://www.hcaa-in.org/scholarship-opportunity
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Please direct all questions to Karen Fehr at 317.847.7757 or karenfehr45@gmail.com
Scholarship Application Requirements
All required documentation should be submitted digitally in the file upload section below. Images of artwork should be submitted as high resolution (300 dpi) jpg files. Label each image of your artwork with your name, title, and media using the following format: Your Name_Title_medium. Artists Statements, Letters of Reference and Transcripts should be named in the format listed below.
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Completed Application on the online form below.
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Each applicant must submit a digital portfolio of original artwork. The portfolio must contain a minimum of four (4) pieces and a maximum of five (5) pieces completed within the last 24 months -- in at least two different mediums to show the diversity of your experience. One piece must have been completed independently of art teacher assistance. (Please identify this piece).
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Artist's Statement: The artist's statement should include your reasons for wanting to be an artist, an explanation of your creative process (where you get your ideas and how you get them to the final visual expression), and why you are seeking this scholarship. Please name file in the following format: Your Name_ArtistStatement.doc
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Letter of Recommendation: A letter of recommendation from a current or past instructor familiar with your artistic qualifications. Please name file in the following format: Your Name_LetterOfRecommendation.doc
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Official Transcript of High School Credits. Please name high school transcriptions as Your Name_Transcript.pdf
Selection Process
Selection will be determined by the HCAA scholarship committee after review of all images and information submitted with the application form. You will be contacted in early May with the results. All images and documentation must be submitted with application. Applicants will be judged primarily on artistic talent, and/or potential, and their degree of interest and enthusiasm for the visual arts.
Applicant Responsibilities
The Visual Arts Major Scholarship applicant must:
● Be a U.S. citizen and be a resident of Hamilton County, Indiana.
● Submit ALL required components for the application at using the application below.
● Graduate by July 1, 2025, from a high school located in Hamilton County (includes public, private, and home schools).
● Plan to major in a field of fine arts as an art major. (For the purpose of this scholarship, visual arts mean drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, fiber arts, glass art, ceramics, jewelry making (not stringing), metal crafting, wood working, fashion design, architecture, and art education.)
● Provide the name and address of the institution where the student has been admitted and will be studying and the name of the institution’s contact person.
● Include a parent or guardian’s signature on the application form.