Creative Arts Scholarships 2027 | 7 Funded Opportunities

Creative arts scholarships 2027 can help artists and arts graduates take their next step, whether that means studying for a master’s degree, developing a new project or joining an international residency. The challenge is finding funding that fits your discipline and the stage you have reached in your career.

A scholarship for an arts degree serves a different purpose from a fellowship for an experienced writer or a residency for a practising designer. Before applying, it helps to understand who each programme supports and what the funding actually covers.

This list brings together seven opportunities published on Scholarship Union, covering arts education, creative practice and cultural heritage. Each entry includes a short overview, funding details and a link to the full listing.

List of Creative Arts Scholarships 2027

1. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027–28 in Switzerland

The Swiss Government Excellence programme includes an art scholarship for talented applicants pursuing their first master’s degree at a Swiss art school or conservatory. This is the degree-study option to examine if you already have an arts bachelor’s qualification and want to continue your education in Switzerland.

The art category has its own requirements. Applicants must check the conditions for their country rather than assume that the programme’s research scholarship rules apply to them.

• Country: Switzerland
• Host: Swiss Confederation, through FCS/ESKAS
• Study level: First master’s degree in the arts
• Funding: Listed as fully funded on Scholarship Union, although tuition coverage varies by institution
• Benefits: The listing describes a monthly stipend and additional support, subject to the applicable award conditions
• Key eligibility: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027, no existing master’s degree, and admission or proof of application to an eligible arts institution
• Deadline: Varies by country

Read the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship 2027–28 details.

2. Caspar David Friedrich Scholarship 2027 in Germany

The Caspar David Friedrich Scholarship supports art graduates who want to develop an original artistic project in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It provides time and financial support to deepen an existing creative practice.

This award has a specific regional qualification requirement. Applicants need an artistic degree from an art academy or a comparable programme in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, so it is important to check this before preparing a proposal.

• Country: Germany
• Host: Hochschule Wismar, in cooperation with hmt Rostock and the University of Greifswald
• Programme type: Artistic development scholarship
• Funding: Partially funded
• Benefits: €1,500 per month, with additional child allowances where applicable
• Duration: Up to 12 months
• Key eligibility: Relevant regional artistic qualification, excellent results and an outstanding project proposal
• Application period: 1 January to 28 February 2027

Read the Caspar David Friedrich Scholarship 2027 details.

3. UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 in South Africa

The University of Johannesburg Artists in Residence programme supports artists who can connect creative practice with research. Eligible disciplines include visual arts, literary arts, music composition, film, theatre, dance and design.

Applicants need to explain the research behind their proposed work. A proposal should show the question being explored, the artistic method and the expected contribution. Most of the project can be completed remotely, alongside engagement with the university.

• Country: South Africa
• Host: University of Johannesburg
• Programme type: Arts research residency
• Funding: Listed as fully funded on Scholarship Union
• Benefits: R12,000 monthly stipend, subject to statutory deductions
• Duration: 10 months
• Key eligibility: Emerging or established artists with a relevant post-school qualification and a suitable research proposal
• Deadline: Listed as varying; confirm the current application round

The stipend does not automatically include a separate project budget, so applicants should explain how they will resource their work.

Read the UJ Artists in Residence Scholarship 2027 details.

Additional 2027 Arts Opportunities with Closed Deadlines

The following listings are relevant to artists and creative professionals, but their published deadlines have passed. They can help you understand the available programmes and prepare for future calls.

4. TOKAS International Creator Residency 2027 in Japan

The TOKAS International Creator Residency offers creators in visual arts, design and architecture an opportunity to develop their work in Tokyo. Participants receive accommodation and access to shared studio space, with an opportunity to present their work at an OPEN STUDIO event.

This residency suits applicants who already have professional experience. The listing requires at least five years of experience in a relevant field and generally excludes students, apart from PhD candidates.

• Country: Japan
• Host: Tokyo Arts and Space
• Programme type: Creative residency
• Funding: Fully funded
• Benefits: Return airfare, daily living support, a creative project fee, a private room and shared workspace
• Duration: Three months
• Published deadline: 16 June 2026
• Application status: Closed according to the listed deadline

Read the TOKAS International Creator Residency 2027 details.

5. Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–28 in the USA

The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship supports accomplished applicants who want to concentrate on an independent project within an interdisciplinary community. Its creative arts fields include writing, film and video, music composition, playwriting and visual arts.

Applicants need a strong record of published, exhibited or performed work. This makes the fellowship more suitable for established creative practitioners than applicants seeking funding for their first arts degree.

• Country: USA
• Host: Harvard Radcliffe Institute
• Programme type: Fellowship
• Funding: Fully funded
• Benefits: The listing includes a $78,000 stipend, $5,000 for project expenses, workspace and access to Harvard resources
• Duration: One year
• Key eligibility: Strong independent work and compliance with field-specific requirements
• Published deadline: 1 October 2026 on Scholarship Union; applicants should also check discipline-specific dates
• Application status: Closed according to the listed deadline

Read the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–28 details.

6. Guggenheim Fellowship Scholarship 2027 in the USA and Canada

The Guggenheim Fellowship supports mid-career professionals with a substantial record of achievement and a clear proposal for their next project. Its supported fields include the arts, humanities and other areas of scholarship.

For creative applicants, the value lies in the opportunity to focus on ambitious independent work. However, this award has nationality or residency restrictions and is not available to currently enrolled students.

• Country eligibility: USA and Canada
• Host: Guggenheim Foundation
• Programme type: Mid-career fellowship
• Funding: Partially funded
• Benefits: Financial support for independent work; no fixed award amount is specified in the listing
• Duration: Six to 12 months
• Key eligibility: Eligible US or Canadian citizenship or residency, an established career record and a substantial project proposal
• Published deadline: 15 September 2026
• Application status: Closed according to the listed deadline

Read the Guggenheim Fellowship Scholarship 2027 details.

7. RAVE Scholarship 2027 in Germany

The RAVE Scholarship is an adjacent opportunity for professionals working with art collections and cultural heritage. It supports a placement at a German institution, where participants can develop their knowledge and work with experienced colleagues.

This programme is especially relevant to curators, restorers, cultural mediators and culture managers. Applicants need a suitable host institution and a project developed in cooperation with that host.

• Country: Germany
• Host: Alexander Rave Foundation and Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen
• Programme type: Cultural heritage professional development
• Funding: Listed as fully funded on Scholarship Union
• Benefits: The listing describes a €1,500 monthly stipend, travel, visa and insurance support, alongside other allowances
• Duration: Three to six months
• Key eligibility: Relevant professional background, eligibility under the DAC country list and a suitable German host
• Published deadline: 30 June 2026
• Application status: Closed according to the listed deadline

Read the RAVE Scholarship 2027 details.

How to Choose the Right Creative Arts Opportunity

Start with what you want the funding to help you achieve. Are you looking for a qualification, time to develop a project, access to a studio or experience in a cultural institution?

Use these questions to narrow your shortlist:

• Does it support your discipline? Check whether your work fits the programme’s eligible fields.
• Does it match your career stage? Degree scholarships, graduate awards and mid-career fellowships have different expectations.
• Do you meet the location requirements? Some awards restrict eligibility by nationality, residency or where you earned your qualification.
• What costs are covered? Compare tuition, living support, travel, accommodation and project expenses separately.
• Is the application round still open? A programme labelled 2027 may have closed applications during 2026.

Read the full Scholarship Union listing before investing time in an application. Then follow its official application link to confirm the current call and submission requirements.

Preparing Your Arts Scholarship Application

Your portfolio and proposal should help reviewers understand both the quality of your work and what you intend to do next.

Choose work samples that fit the opportunity. A focused selection with clear captions can make your practice easier to understand than a large collection without context. For collaborative work, explain your own contribution.

When a project proposal is required, describe the idea, your method, the expected outcome and a realistic schedule. Explain why the particular university, residency or host institution would help you complete it.

Prepare supporting documents early, but use each programme’s checklist. Requirements can include a CV, qualifications, references, admission evidence or work samples, depending on the award.

Frequently Asked Questions About Creative Arts Scholarships 2027

Conclusion

Finding suitable creative arts scholarships 2027 starts with knowing what you need to move forward. A first master’s degree, an independent artistic project and a professional residency each call for a different kind of support.

Use the Scholarship Union links above to compare the opportunities that fit your qualifications and creative goals. Pay particular attention to eligibility, covered expenses and application dates. If a deadline has already passed, use the listing to understand the programme and prepare for a future announcement.

A focused shortlist gives you more time to prepare thoughtful work samples and a clear proposal. Start with the opportunities that match your practice, then give each application the attention it deserves.