Presidential Arts Scholarships
A limited number of Presidential Arts Scholarships are available to students who are pursuing a major or a minor in art, creative writing, dance, music, or theatre. These $1,000 scholarships are renewable upon good standing and are merit based, not determined by financial need.
Presidential Arts Scholarship Information
March 3, 2025
- FAFSA on file
- Submission of all required application materials electronically to arts@salemstate.edu no later than Monday, March 3, 2025. Please note Presidential Arts Scholarship in the subject line.
- 3.0 grade point average in your major area
- Major or minor in the artistic field in which you apply
- Must be a full-time, undergraduate student in the 2025-2026 academic year.
- Dance and music scholarship applicants are required to audition
- Creative writing applicants must submit 8-15 pages of creative work with your application
Application materials include*
- A cover letter indicating the artistic department to which you are applying: art, creative writing, dance, music, theatre
- A current resume of your creative or artistic achievements
*Please note, there is no printed application for this scholarship.
Applicants should submit their materials electronically to arts@salemstate.edu and note Presidential Arts Scholarship in the subject line.
Submissions must be made from your Salem State student email account.
Please submit a letter to arts@salemstate.edu requesting renewal no later than Monday, March 3, 2025. This letter should include your artistic achievements since receiving the award.
All renewal applicants must submit a letter. There are no automatic renewals of this award. Submissions must be made from your Salem State student email account.
Summer Student Artistic Development Grants
Summer Student Artistic Development Grants are intended as an investment in promising students in the arts who, it is hoped, will view their summer grant project as a seminal point in their development as an artist.
The Center for the Arts will offer between 1 and 4 students financial support ranging from $500-$1500 for summer projects across all creative disciplines including but not limited to: art, creative writing, dance, music, and theatre. Funded projects will combine creative experimentation and artistic merit, ultimately involving the undergraduate population through access to a completed project. Successful proposals will enhance the development of the student’s artistic identity through an apprenticeship with a great artist or company, by developing an innovative artistic idea, by completing a body of work, or by working and living in an environment that fosters creative development. Grants are between $500-$1500 each.
Information about the Summer Student Artistic Development Grants
The deadline to apply for a 2025 Student Artistic Development Grant is Friday, March 21, 2024 by 5 pm.
Submissions must be made from your Salem State student email account.
Full time students who will be juniors or seniors in Fall 2025 may apply. (Spring 2025 graduates are not eligible.) Candidates must demonstrate evidence of artistic contribution to the campus community, and significant growth as an artist during his/her college career. The work outlined in the proposal must constitute a truly exceptional opportunity for artistic growth.
Funded student artists will be required to attend occasional events throughout the year, to share their creative process throughout the summer project via some form of social media, and to share his/her work with the Salem State University community.
Include a cover letter, resume of artistic achievement, one letter of recommendation, and a 750-word or less proposal narrative to include: the scope of your project, who will be involved, how the project will foster your creative growth, how the project can be shared with the wider student community, project duration. Your submission must include a one-page budget proposal, itemizing project expenses.
Submit completed application materials to Karen Gahagan, Center for Creative and Performing Arts at kgahagan@salemstate.edu no later than Friday March 21, 2025 at 5 pm. Submissions must be made from your Salem State student email account.
Contact Us
Karen Gahagan, Director
Center for Creative and Performing Arts
978.542.7890