Visual Arts Scholarship Information and Application Form

The Women’s Caucus for Art of Greater Washington, DC (WCADC) is excited to offer scholarships to promote and recognize artistic excellence among BIPOC female-identifying students from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. This opportunity is available to:  

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• High school seniors who have been enrolled in a public school in DC, Maryland, or Virginia for the past two years.  

• College freshmen or sophomores originally from the DMV area.  

 

Applicants are judged on creativity, originality, and quality.

 

Award Amount: Up to $5,000 

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Deadline: April 30, 2025, 11:59 pm 

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What does the program include?

Students will apply via online and upload original compositions, process folios, and other required documentation. Students can request the help of a Mentor from the Women’s Caucus of Art to do a portfolio review and or assistance with the application process.

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When does the program begin?

Applications will be available online on January 1, 2025. The deadline to submit an entry online by 11:59p, April 30, 2025. Entries will not be accepted after the deadline. Art should have been created during 2022-2025.

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How will the students be recognized?

The top 3 applicants will be asked to participate in an art exhibition at (location TBD) consisting of selections from their application. One scholarship up to $5,000 will be awarded at the art exhibition. WCADC will make the necessary arrangements to transfer the scholarship funds directly to the college or university of the student’s choice. 

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Eligibility criteria: 

• Students must currently be enrolled in twelfth grade in a high school or college art program in DC, MD or VA.

• Students must plan to attend a two or four-year college or university as a Visual Arts major

• Students must be a U.S. citizen and have attended high school or enrolled in a college in DC, MD or VA for the past two years. 

• The scholarships may be used for tuition, campus room/board, and instructional resource expenses at any college or university.

• Must not be a WCA member or their family. Members and their families are not eligible.

• Must not have been a previous WCADC scholarship recipient.

 

General composition criteria include:

An entry is defined as an original artwork that must be a completed, rendered visual composition originated by the applicant. Art can be two or three-dimensional work such as drawing, painting, mixed media, printmaking, collage, photography, and sculpture. All artwork must be original and not be copied from master artworks or comic art.

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Additional criteria that each applicant/composition must meet are included below:

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• Entries produced in collaboration with others are not eligible.

• A panel of at least three professionals will select a recipient. The decision of the judges is final.

• Compositions/artworks count fifty percent (50%) towards the total score.

• Process folios and statements count as fifty percent (50%) of the total score.

• Do not place your name or other identifying information on the original work, copies, including process folio, and reflection statement. All names must be covered.

• WCA members and their families are ineligible.

• Previous WCADC scholarship recipients are ineligible

• You may apply for a chance to be awarded this scholarship only if you meet the eligibility requirements set forth on this webpage.  Additionally, scholarships are non-transferable and must be accepted as awarded

 

How do students apply?

Eligible and interested students apply online using the link on this page between (TBD).

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WCADC offers portfolio reviews and application assistance for those students who require assistance. Please contact the Scholarship Committee at scholarship@wcadc.org to be matched with a mentor.

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Entries:

Applicants must submit an overall Artist Statement; one teacher recommendation (PDF format; images of six original works of art, one reflection statement, and one process folio for EACH artwork. Photos of the artwork must not include a mat or frame. All artwork must be uploaded during the application process.  The filename should be in the following format: name_title_size_medium.jpg (format should be .jpg or .png and no bigger than 5MB per photo). Image resolution should be at least 2000 ppi so the juror can see detail.

 

The process folio should contain documentation of the planning and development of the artwork from the inception of the idea to the final artwork. Process folios may include support materials such as drafts, notes from dialogues with peers and/or teachers, research, inspirations, interviews, pictures, sketches, and/or events upon which you based your artwork. 

 

Artwork produced in collaboration with others is not eligible for this competition. Process folios should be submitted as separate documents in either Google Docs or Microsoft Word format per artwork. Applicants should print a copy of the application before submitting it for review. 

 

Incomplete applications will not be scored. If there are no high-quality applications submitted, a scholarship will not be awarded.

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Selection Criteria:

Artwork will be rated according to originality/creativity, composition, quality of expression, and correlation with the process portfolio. Artwork and process folio each count toward 50 percent of the total score.

 

The judges will consider the following when evaluating your work:

 

Originality/Creativity:

Use of original content, cohesive style, and innovative techniques, materials, and processes.

 

Composition:

Use of an aesthetic arrangement of the subject matter and elements and principles of design.

 

Quality of Expression:

Work expresses professional and emotional qualities that convey the artist’s intent.

 

Process Folio:

Not merely a revision of your artwork, this should demonstrate your artistic process and the research, inspirations, drafts, interviews, pictures, sketches, and/or events upon which you based your artwork.

 

Reflection Statement:

Addresses how the work relates to you, and the message or inspiration for your artwork.

 

Awards:

WCADC Arts Scholarship for up to $5,000 will be awarded to a female-identifying BIPOC to attend a two or four-year college or university. Two alternates will also be selected in case of withdrawal or disqualification. The scholarship recipient and alternates will be announced May/June 2025 at the Scholarship Exhibition Reception and Awards Ceremony which will be held at (TBD).

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For more information, contact scholarship@wcadc.org

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Click on the link below to complete the application.