Student Artist Grants

Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance made possible through the support of the Walton Family Foundation, provides grant funding and professional development opportunities to 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:

  • $1,500 grants to support creative practices and career advancement;
  • Peer-based learning experiences to develop entrepreneurship skills and build enduring creative practices; and
  • Connections to a dynamic regional artist network.

Six annual grants and professional development support are awarded to individual degree-seeking artists enrolled in Northwest Arkansas higher education institutions. Grantees receive practice-based funding and participate in peer-based learning experiences, including an in-person retreat, One-On-One mentorship, and small group discussions. These experiences develop entrepreneurial skills, while expanding a network of leading regional artists.

Download an application guide here: A360 Student Artist Grant Application Guide.pdf

Eligibility

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

  • Be enrolled for the 2023-2024 school year (part-time or full-time) in an accredited post-secondary institution located in one of the following counties: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Sebastian, or Washington. (Student artists do not have to be arts majors to be eligible for Artists 360.)
  • Commit to participating in peer-to-peer professional development activities during the grant year, including the Artists 360 Grantee Retreat at the 21C Museum Hotel in Bentonville, AR from 9:00 a.m. Saturday, October 21, 2023 through 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2023 (meals and private lodging provided).
  • Be 18 years of age at the time of application.
  • Must be a citizen, permanent resident, or have non-resident status.
  • 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 Artist Grant.

Requirements

Each Artists 360 Student Artist application should include:

  • Completed online application form including a description of how you will use the grant funds to enhance your creative practice and/or advance your artistic career.
  • Artist Statement OR In your own words describe your artistic practice. (maximum 250 words).
  • Artist Biography (maximum 100 words).
  • 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.

Review Criteria

  • Artistry: Successful applicants will demonstrate artistic excellence as broadly defined by the practitioners and norms in their discipline and show a deep commitment to their work.
  • Program Readiness and Collegiality: Selected artists will have the desire to actively participate in a peer-learning environment to support creative practice advancement through work and process sharing, strategic planning, and engagement in a regional network of northwest Arkansas artists.
  • Balanced Cohort: The overall balance of the group of grantees will be considered to ensure a broad representation of perspectives, disciplines, and experiences.

Student Artist Grant Program Timeline

  • Applications
    • May 1, 2023 – June 28, 2023: Application Period
    • May 1, 2023 – June 28, 2023: Application Support from M-AAA staff
  • Application Reviews:
    • July – August 2023: Panel Review
  • Notifications:
    • September 1, 2023: Applicant notification
  • Grantee Important Dates:
    • October 21-22, 2023: Artists 360 Grantee Retreat
    • January 2024: Funding distributed
    • April 20 – 21, 2024: Artists 360 Alumni Retreat & Full Circle Showcase
    • December 13, 2024: Final Reports due