Undergraduate Student Artist Grants

Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance made possible through the support of the Walton Family Foundation, provides practice-based grant funding to undergraduate student artists of all disciplines attending a post-secondary institution in the Arkansas counties of Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Sebastian, and Washington.

Artists 360 is designed to elevate and energize greater Northwest Arkansas Student Artists by providing them with $2,500 grants to support creative practices and career advancement.

Five annual grants are awarded to individual degree-seeking artists enrolled in undergraduate programs at Northwest Arkansas higher education institutions during the 2024-25 academic year.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Artists 360 Undergraduate Student Artist Grant program, you must:

  • Be enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year (part-time or full-time) in an undergraduate program at an accredited post-secondary institution located in one of the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Sebastian, or Washington. (Undergraduate student artists do not have to be arts majors to be eligible for Artists 360.)
  • Be 18 years of age at the time of application.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have non-resident status and provide a valid Social Security Number if selected for funding.
  • Create work in any artistic discipline, including, but not limited to dance, film, literary, music, theatre, and visual art.
  • May not have previously received an Artists 360 Student Grant.
  • May not have received a grant or award of $1,000 or more through any other M-AAA granting program during its 2024 or 2025 fiscal years (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025).
  • Not be a full-time employee of Mid-America Arts Alliance or an immediate family member of a full-time employee of Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Requirements

Each Artists 360 Undergraduate Student Artist application should include:

  • Completed online application form.
  • Artist Biography (maximum 100 words).
  • Artist Statement OR In your own words describe your artistic practice. (maximum 250 words).
  • Artist Resume/CV (maximum 3 pages, pdf format).
  • Narrative responses to the following questions:
    • Creative Practice Evolution: In your own words, explain the evolution of your creative practice over the previous few years. What work have you been pursuing? How has the work evolved? Why has it evolved in that way? Have you faced challenges or constraints in making work? (250-word maximum)
    • Future of Your Creative Practice: Where do you want your creative practice to be in five years? How do you determine and measure success within your practice? (250-word maximum)
      Fund Use: If awarded an Artists 360 Grant, how do you intend to use the funds to further your artistic practice? (250-word maximum)
    • *Optional: What identities do you hold that you believe are relevant to share? This information will be shared with panelists and is an additional opportunity to share more of your story. Including but not limited to race, ethnicity, disability, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, caregiver, military, rural resident, of immigrant experience, English as a second language. For example, “I am a Taiwanese American cis-gender female, first-generation immigrant living in rural Arkansas.” or “I am a LGBTQ+ parent of two children.” (100 word maximum)
  • Up to five artwork samples (images, audio files, video files, literary files, or URLs to audio, video, and/or literary files (1MB maximum per file).
  • Work Sample Summary (maximum 1000 words).
  • Proof of enrollment in your college or university for the 2024-25 academic year.
    • Student identification card demonstrating you will be enrolled in the 2024-25 school year.
    • A transcript or course list showing the courses you are enrolled in during the 2024-25 school year.
    • A letter from your college student affairs or admission office stating that you are enrolled in the 2024-25 school year (the letter should be on school letterhead and signed by an admissions official.

Review Criteria

Artistry: Selected artists will demonstrate a well-developed creative practice in both work and process and show a deep commitment to their work. Selected artists will show motivation to continue and further evolve.

Impact of Funding on Practice: Selected artists will identify the ways they initially anticipate the Artists 360 funds will impact their careers and creative practices. These impacts should relate to self-identified challenges and/or desired futures.

Balanced Cohort: The overall balance of the group of fellows will be considered to ensure a broad representation of perspectives, disciplines, and experiences.

Undergraduate Student Artist Grant Program Timeline

Applications

  • April 22, 2024 – June 10, 2024: Application Period
  • April 22, 2024 – June 10, 2024: Application Support from M-AAA staff

Application Reviews:

  • July – August 2024: Panel Review

Notifications:

  • September 1, 2024: Applicant notification

Important Dates:

  • January 2025: Funding distributed
  • April 26 – 27, 2025: Artists 360 Alumni Retreat & Full Circle Showcase
  • November 3, 2025: Final Reports due