Best Grants for Visual Artists in Hawaii

Nonprofit rural arts organizations in Hawaii and other eligible regions can receive general operating support for visual, literary, music, and performing arts programs. Grants from Laura Jane Musser Fund help small-budget 501(c)(3) arts groups expand access, engage community members in creating art, and sustain high-quality opportunities for adults and children, with awards up to US $12,000.

Nonprofit arts, culture, community service, and veteran or military service organizations in Hawaii can receive US $25,000 grants for arts-based projects honoring or supporting veterans. Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts funds visual arts, film, performance, exhibitions, and related programs that celebrate America 250 and improve veterans’ health and well-being.

Eligible 501(c)(3) arts and culture organizations in Hawaii can apply for the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ Community Arts Grants, awarding US $5,000 - US $15,000 for arts, culture, and humanities projects. Funding can support visual arts, arts education, heritage preservation, community arts, and presenting or performing arts programs, including work with visual artists.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts, culture, and humanities organizations and University of Hawaiʻi arts-related departments in Hawaii can access funding for statewide touring and outreach programs serving under-served communities. Grants from Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts help expand accessible, in-person or hybrid visual and other arts experiences across at least three islands, including rural and disadvantaged areas.

Visual artists and artist collectives in Hawaii can receive US $2,000 - US $10,000 for experimental visual arts projects and public events. Young Of Heart Workshop’s Hoʻākea Source program prioritizes Oʻahu-based artists and projects grounded in Native Hawaiian values, community impact, and non-conventional exhibition spaces across Hawaiʻi.

Hawaii high school graduates pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in fields like visual arts, music, dance, photography, theatre, graphic design, or media arts can receive scholarship support through the Janet Y. Sato Na Lima Paheona Scholarship Fund. Focused on arts education, Hawai'i Community Foundation invites financially needy Maui graduates to apply for this opportunity.

Hawaiʻi nonprofit organizations hosting artist residencies can receive up to US $20,000 to support visiting or Hawaiʻi-based visual, literary, music, dance, and performing artists. The Artists in Residence – Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund from Hawai'i Community Foundation backs residencies that foster new relationships, community engagement, and long-term impact in contemporary arts.

Hawaii high school seniors intending to major in fine arts fields like drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, or photography can apply for the Esther Kanagawa Memorial Art Scholarship Fund, administered by Hawai'i Community Foundation. Eligible students must be Hawaii residents, demonstrate financial need, and may be especially competitive with prior art competition experience.

High school graduates from East Hawai’i pursuing fine arts, visual arts, or related classics degrees at accredited four-year institutions may be eligible for this scholarship funding. Focused on arts and humanities, Hawai'i Community Foundation invites financially needy Hawai’i residents with at least a 2.5 GPA to apply for the Gerrit R. Ludwig Scholarship Fund.

Hawaii visual arts students pursuing Fine Arts degrees can receive scholarship support for college or art school study. Hawai'i Community Foundation’s Hon Chew Hee Scholarship Fund assists residents with financial need who maintain at least a 2.7 GPA, with preference for those focusing on painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, printmaking, or textile.

College and graduate students in visual arts or music can receive scholarships supporting BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or music degree programs, including in Hawaii. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee provides funding for majors in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, and music, with a preference for acoustic mandolin or guitar studies.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in fine or visual arts fields can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship; awards $100 to $30,000 for study. Eligible students in Hawaii must attend an accredited U.S. institution full-time and document Tribal affiliation.

U.S. college and university students in fine, visual, performing, or technical arts can receive $2,500 from the UNICO Foundation to support their degree studies. Applicants must attend an accredited campus-based program, have at least a 3.0 GPA, plan to continue in 2026–2027, and reside in a state with an active UNICO chapter, including Hawaii.

Nonprofits, fiscally sponsored groups, university departments, and individual visual artists can seek support for exhibitions, convenings, and scholarship projects related to the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation’s art collections. The foundation supports U.S. projects, with preference for rural Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, which may include visual arts initiatives connected to its focus areas.

Visual artists, nonprofit organizations, and institutions in Hawaii creating new public or nontraditional visual art commissions can apply for VIA Art Fund’s Artistic Production Grant Program; awards US $25,000 - US $100,000 for production and exhibition costs. Projects must have a confirmed exhibition venue or presenting partner and emphasize public engagement and thought leadership.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing college studies in music, visual arts, dance, or drama may be eligible for the Shawnee Fine Arts Club Scholarship, which supports higher education in the arts. Focused on fine and visual art, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma invites students from Shawnee, Oklahoma to apply if they meet the listed school and GPA criteria.

American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students in fine or visual arts and related disciplines, including those studying in Hawaii, can apply for the Elizabeth Furber Scholarship, a need-based award of US $100 - US $30,000. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund support full-time study at accredited institutions for creative and performing arts fields.

Women-identifying visual and environmental artists in Hawaii and across the U.S. can apply for New York Foundation for the Arts’ Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants, awarding up to US $20,000 for in-progress projects. Grants support environmentally focused art with free public engagement, to be completed or advanced between August 2025 and August 2026.

Students pursuing fine arts who have lived in Kent County for at least five years can use this scholarship to support higher education costs. Grants from Grand Rapids Community Foundation help fine art and visual arts students with strong financial need; applicants with household income over $100,000 are less likely to be funded.

The Puffin Foundation's Annual Artist Grant Program focuses on supporting artists and organizations that are often marginalized. In even years, proposals are accepted in fine arts, music, and photography. With a maximum grant size of $3,500, it aims to empower individuals and groups with limited resources to flourish creatively. This initiative reflects the Foundation's commitment to ensuring diverse artistic expressions thrive in society. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or residents, and only one proposal is permitted per year.

The MFA Fellowship, funded by the Dedalus Foundation, provides a $15,000 stipend to final-year students graduating from MFA programs in Painting and Sculpture in the U.S. Annually, four fellowships are awarded based on nominations from department chairpersons, allowing institutions to nominate two candidates each. Nominees must graduate in the following spring semester and submit application materials including work samples and a biographical statement. This initiative supports emerging artists in their professional development.

The Ray Yoshida Kauai Fine Arts Scholarship, established in 2006 by renowned artist Raymond Yoshida, supports Hawaii residents pursuing fine arts. Eligible applicants must be high school seniors from Kauai with a minimum GPA of 2.7 and demonstrate financial need. This scholarship honors Yoshida's legacy of artistic education and aims to empower the next generation of artists from Hawaii.

The Puffin Foundation's Environmental Artistic Activism Grant Program supports artists addressing environmental issues through diverse artistic genres such as film, music, and theater. Grants, typically around $1,750, fund projects that prioritize sustainability and innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and current DACA recipients. The foundation emphasizes projects that avoid contributing to environmental harm while fostering artistic expression and community engagement.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund

To support residents of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties who are pursuing fine or performing arts beyond their college freshman year.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

The AFNGA AusArt Scholarship, offered by the American Australian Association, supports Australian graduate students in fine arts or related fields for one year of artistic development in the US. With funding of US $30,000, recipients can cover travel, living, and tuition costs. Eligible applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, emerging artists, and have a formal offer from an accredited US institution. This scholarship fosters cultural exchange and artistic growth between Australia and the US.

Our mission is to enhance quality of life, today and in the future, by:

• Enabling donors to fulfill their charitable desires
• Building a permanent endowment
• Facilitating prudent management and care of funds
• Meeting needs through grants, awards, and scholarships

CFCC: Solomon Valley Community Foundation: Fine Arts Future Development Scholarship

Graduating high school seniors in the Solomon Valley area, including Mitchell, Cloud, and Jewell Counties, that are pursuing a major in Instrumental Music or Art.

The Marvin R. and Pearl E. Patterson Family Fund Scholarship, offered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, supports students aspiring to study graphic or fine arts, as well as those interested in environmental sciences. Open to high school graduates from the Tri-Cities area, this scholarship considers leadership, community involvement, and academic achievements, although financial need is not a requirement. Applicants must provide transcripts and relevant documents to qualify for this opportunity.