Back

Arts for Life! Scholarship


Name: Arts for Life! Scholarship

Award Amount: $1,000

Information And Eligibility:
The Arts for Life! Scholarship is a statewide arts education award created to recognize and support Florida high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual and performing arts. Established by former Florida First Lady Columba Bush, the program was designed to encourage young artists to continue developing their creative abilities beyond high school while reinforcing the importance of arts education as a vital component of academic and personal growth. Since its founding, the program has awarded hundreds of scholarships to students whose artistic achievements reflect dedication, discipline, and originality.

Each year, the Arts for Life! Scholarship selects a limited group of graduating seniors whose work shows a high level of creative maturity and technical skill. Awards are granted across multiple artistic disciplines, including creative writing, dance, drama, music, and visual arts. Applicants are evaluated through a competitive review process that considers artistic portfolios alongside written reflections that articulate the student’s creative journey, influences, and future goals. This holistic approach allows the selection committee to assess not only artistic ability, but also the applicant’s commitment to continued artistic development at the post-secondary level.

The scholarship is intended for students who plan to pursue further education related to their chosen art form, whether through a college, university, conservatory, or other accredited post-secondary institution. Funds may be used to support educational expenses associated with continued artistic training, including tuition, materials, and program-related costs. By offering direct financial support at a critical transition point, the Arts for Life! Scholarship helps ease the financial burden many young artists face as they move from high school into advanced study.

Beyond financial assistance, the scholarship carries statewide recognition and serves as a meaningful credential for students entering competitive arts programs. Recipients join a network of past scholars who have gone on to pursue professional careers and advanced education in creative fields, reinforcing the scholarship’s long-standing role in strengthening Florida’s arts community.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a legal resident of the state of Florida.
  • Must be a graduating high school senior enrolled in a public school, private school, virtual school, or home education program in Florida.
  • Must demonstrate excellence in one of the following disciplines: creative writing, dance, drama, music, or visual arts.
  • Must submit an artistic portfolio appropriate to the chosen discipline.
  • Must intend to pursue post-secondary education related to the selected art form.

Application Requirements:

  • Completed Arts for Life! Scholarship application.
  • Artistic portfolio demonstrating technical skill and creative achievement.
  • Written essay outlining artistic development, goals, and future educational plans.
  • Any additional materials specified in the official application instructions.

Deadline: February

Apply Now

View Scholarship Data

Request to Update or Remove This Scholarship. The CollegeWhale ID number for this Scholarship is #15904. This Scholarship was added in April 2025 and last reviewed by a member of our staff on January, 2026.

We are a human curated site and want our scholarship database as accurate and up-to-date as possible. We appreciate your help in notifying us of any incorrect or out of date information pertaining to this scholarship!

This Scholarship is tagged with the following criteria: Art / Florida / Music / Theatre

Scholarship Categorization

Art Scholarships Florida Scholarships Music Scholarships Theatre Scholarships

Compare Top Scholarships (CollegeWhale FastFind™)

The CollegeWhale Scholarship FastFind™ immediately surfaces similar scholarships based on this scholarship’s details. Sort by award amount, deadline month, or estimated effort to quickly identify strong college scholarship funding opportunities.

1

National Art Honor Society Scholarship

The NAHS (National Art Honor Society) Scholarships are a collection of college scholarships available to high school seniors who are active members of the National Art Honor Society, a program of the National Art Education Association that recognizes outstanding visual

Award: $1,500 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (73 min)
2

Ted G. Wilson Memorial Scholarship

The Ted G. Wilson Memorial Scholarship is a targeted academic award established by the Professional Construction Estimators Association (PCEA) to support students who plan to pursue post-secondary education and careers in the construction industry. This scholarship honors the legacy of

Award: $1,500 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: High (103 min)
3

Gordon Hay Scholarship

The Gordon Hay Scholarship is a merit-based award offered through Blumenthal Arts, a nonprofit organization committed to enriching communities through arts education and performance opportunities. This scholarship was established in memory of Gordon Hay, an organizational development professional whose passion

Award: $10,000 Deadline: June Est. Application Time: High (103 min)
4

Beinecke Scholarship Program

The Beinecke Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious and competitive scholarships in the United States for students pursuing graduate study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Established to encourage highly motivated undergraduates to pursue advanced education, the

Award: $34,000 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)
5

Publicis Groupe Scholarship Program

The Publicis Groupe Scholarship Program supports students pursuing careers in advertising, marketing, communications, media, public relations, digital strategy, creative arts, and related fields. Developed by Publicis Groupe—one of the world’s leading advertising and communications organizations—the scholarship aims to cultivate the

Award: $2,500 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: High (111 min)
6

The Adobe Creativity Scholarship

The Adobe Creativity Scholarship is a global initiative by Adobe to support young creatives — artists, designers, filmmakers, storytellers, social-impact advocates — who intend to pursue higher education in creative fields. The program recognizes that creativity can be a powerful

Award: $25,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (83 min)
7

The One Club for Creativity Young Ones Student Awards

The Young Ones Student Awards, administered by The One Club for Creativity, is a prestigious global competition for students and recent graduates in advertising, design, digital communication, typography, motion/film craft, and related creative disciplines. Rather than a traditional cash scholarship,

Award: Varies Deadline: February Est. Application Time: Med (38 min)
8

The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Scholarship Competition

The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society (GMBS) Scholarship Competition honors the legacy of legendary bandleader Glenn Miller by offering a national music-performance scholarship to aspiring musicians. Since 1977, the Society has invited high school seniors and college freshmen who plan to

Award: $1 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)
9

The Design Circle Scholarship by Adobe

The Adobe Design Circle Scholarship is a global initiative by Adobe in partnership with Institute of International Education (IIE), aimed at supporting and mentoring aspiring designers from diverse backgrounds. The program seeks to increase diversity and inclusion within the design

Award: $25,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: High (128 min)
10

The George Heller Memorial Scholarship (Actors’ Equity Foundation)

The George Heller Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Actors’ Equity Foundation, supports aspiring theatre professionals who demonstrate artistic promise, dedication to the performing arts, and financial need. Named in honor of George Heller—an influential figure in Actors’ Equity Association—the scholarship

Award: Varies Deadline: April Est. Application Time: Med (73 min)
11

The Broadway League Diversity Scholarship

The Broadway League Diversity Scholarship supports students from underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing careers in the theatre industry—both onstage and behind the scenes. Administered by The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, this scholarship aims to

Award: Varies Deadline: May Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)
12

The Creative Outlook Magazine Art Scholarship

The Creative Outlook Art Scholarship, run by Creative Outlook Magazine, gives high-school and college art students the chance to see their artwork featured in the magazine and earn a scholarship prize. Applicants may submit original artwork in a variety of

Award: $250 Deadline: September Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)

This comprehensive collection of scholarships is curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database.

Millions in Scholarships Available.

No downloads, no registrations, and no personal information required. The Easiest Scholarship Search Ever™ gives you fast, simple access to thousands of verified scholarships — updated daily.

Prefer browsing by interest, major, state, or deadline month? Explore our full Scholarships by Category Hub to instantly view scholarships that match your profile.


Find More Scholarships
Scholarship Database