Scholarships and Grants

Art Department Scholarships and Grants Information:

The Art Department offers several scholarship and grant opportunities throughout the year for Art Major students in good academic standing based on outstanding work and promise in the visual arts.  Announcements for these opportunities are sent by email to registered art students.

Irwin Project Grants:

The Irwin Project Grants are designed to fund specific student project proposals up to a maximum of $1,000.  Students submit a written proposal via a Google form that usually goes out via email to the art students in the beginning of fall quarter. Occasionally there is a second Irwin Project grant application that goes out in winter quarter.

Irwin Scholarship:

The Irwin Scholarship is the most prestigious award in the Art Department and is awarded by faculty nomination only.  Twelve students receive $2,500 and a highly-publicized group show in the Sesnon Gallery at Porter College.  Exceptional students from each area are invited to apply in the beginning of winter quarter via nomination by Art Department faculty. Make sure that you are on the faculty members’ radar and that the faculty know who you are by being active in class, attending office hours and working closely with faculty on your projects. If you are interested in being considered do not hesitate to set up an appointment with a ladder rank faculty member. Link to Irwin Scholars page

Eduardo Carrillo Memorial Scholarship:

The Eduardo Carrillo Memorial Scholarships are intended to support outstanding art students with documented financial need with a maximum award of $1,000. The Eduardo Carrillo Scholarship supports qualified art students who are invited to apply during winter quarter. 

Hardy Hanson Memorial Fund:

The Hardy Hanson Memorial Fund supports students, faculty, and visiting artists whose work remains true to the spirit of Professor Hanson’s philosophy and artistic focus.

Porter College Endowment:

Porter College offers annual financial aid to art majors that is distributed by the Art Department. The process changes annually.

Porter College Undergraduate fellowships & Student Project Funds:

This Fellowship assists Porter students in all fields of study with funding for reasonable and necessary expenses associated with original research, scholarly work, and/or artistic projects. Student Project Funds support public events (organized by Porter Students) of benefit to the college, campus, or off-campus communities. Application deadlines: First day of winter quarter AND first day of spring quarter. Eligibility: Continuing Porter undergraduates. More information: https://porter.ucsc.edu/academics/undergraduate-fellowships-and-awards.html#undergradfellowship

Dean and Chancellor’s Award:

The Dean and Chancellor’s Awards are campus-wide awards that recognize exceptional achievement in research projects or other creative activities.  The purpose is to encourage outstanding scholarship and promote research as an important part of undergraduate education.  The application process takes place in spring quarter with an awards ceremony that occurs during Student Achievement Week, the last week of Spring quarter.

Arts Internship Opportunities:

Internships are one of the best ways for students to build their resume, make professional contacts, and understand what kinds of work they find exciting and engaging, all through hands-on experiential learning in the workplace. Please review the list of opportunities at this link: https://arts.ucsc.edu/page/apply-nowcurrent-internships