Gainesville Fine Arts Association Scholarship Program
Applications for 2026 will be out in November of 2025
Deadline for Submissions: February 9, 2026
*If you would like to sponsor one or more of the 26 scholarships we are giving out, please contact Katy at info@gainesvillefinearts.org
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THE TWENTY PEARLS SCHOLARSHIP
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ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP:
The Twenty Pearls Foundation (TPF), Inc. is the charitable and educational arm of the Mu Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. TPF was established in July of 2006 after members of the Mu Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. saw an opportunity to transform the Gainesville/Alachua County Community through expanded scholarships, community service and programs which includes supporting Black artists in the local community. These programs are implemented and executed in partnership with Mu Upsilon Omega and other community partners that share and support the Foundation's goals and purpose. https://the20pearlsfoundation.org/.
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WHO QUALIFIES?
Artists who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color
Must be a visual artist making original artwork including but not limited to photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, multi-media.
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WHAT DOES IT COVER?
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Each awarded scholarship covers the following GFAA exhibition costs:
1 year GFAA membership ($50)
All exhibition fees that you want to participate in.
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(Monthly in-gallery exhibition fees: $30 each
Online exhibition fees: $15 each
outside venue fees: $10 each)
There is 1 scholarship award that will be given out for 2025.
Award dates: February 14, 2025 - February 14, 2026.
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THE MILDRED THOMPSON SCHOLARSHIP
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ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP:
Mildred Thompson was a black artist who was born in Jacksonville, FL in 1936. She spent most of her early career in self-imposed exile in Germany due to the racial and gender discrimination she faced in the United States, even while at the time her work was being purchased by the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum. She has prolific and mature bodies of work in printmaking, painting and sculpture, and her work is in many public and private collections. Find out more about her work at http://mildredthompson.org
Mildred is the inspiration for this scholarship because we recognize that the issues and challenges she faced are still happening today. She spent a significant amount of her career not feeling safe or respected in her own country, and for many people that rings true today. We believe that the artists we serve in our organization should look like and represent everyone in our community, and we recognize that historically that has not been the case. We strive to be a welcoming and safe space for all artists to exhibit their work and participate and will continue to do the work to make sure we are.
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WHO QUALIFIES?
Artists who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color
Must be a visual artist making original artwork including but not limited to photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, multi-media.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
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Each awarded scholarship covers the following GFAA exhibition costs:
1 year GFAA membership ($50)
All exhibition fees that you want to participate in.
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(Monthly in-gallery exhibition fees: $30 each)
There are 10 scholarship awards that will be given out for 2025.
Award dates: February 14, 2025 - February 14, 2026.
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THE LGTBQIA+ SCHOLARSHIP
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WHO QUALIFIES?
Artists who identify as LGBTQIA+
Must be a visual artist making original artwork including but not limited to photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, multi-media.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
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Each awarded scholarship covers the following GFAA exhibition costs:
1 year GFAA membership ($50)
All exhibition fees that you want to participate in.
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(Monthly in-gallery exhibition fees: $30 each)
There are 5 scholarship awards that will be given out for 2025.
Award dates: February 14, 2025 - February 14, 2026.
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THE SMITH - WISLER SCHOLARSHIP
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP:
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We recognize that artists may not always have the funds for our exhibition costs. This scholarship is a way to help cover those fees for artists who are struggling financially.
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WHO QUALIFIES?
Artists and art students who cannot exhibit or have trouble exhibiting because of financial reasons.
Must be a visual artist making original artwork including but not limited to photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, multi-media.
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WHAT DOES IT COVER?
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Each awarded scholarship covers the following GFAA exhibition costs:
1 year GFAA membership ($50)
All exhibition fees that you want to participate in.
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(Monthly in-gallery exhibition fees: $30 each)
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There are 5 scholarship awards that will be given out for 2025.
Award dates: February 14, 2025 - February 14, 2026.
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THE ACCESS SCHOLARSHIP
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WHO QUALIFIES?
Artists who are living with a disability.
Must be a visual artist making original artwork including but not limited to photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, multi-media.
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WHAT DOES IT COVER?
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Each awarded scholarship covers the following GFAA exhibition costs:
1 year GFAA membership ($50)
All exhibition fees that you want to participate in. ​
(Monthly in-gallery exhibition fees: $30 each)
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There are 5 scholarship awards that will be given out for 2025.
Award dates: February 14, 2025 - February 14, 2026.
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*Fees not covered by scholarships: gift shop shelf membership fees, and the Biennial National Juried Exhibitions
SPONSORS:
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If you would like to sponsor one or more of the 26 scholarships we are giving out, please contact Katy at info@gainesvillefinearts.org