FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY
Scholarships
Our mission of making creative learning experiences accessible includes financial access to our programs. Our registration fees do not cover the cost of our classes, and we provide many full and half scholarships for those who need additional assistance. Our scholarship spots are offered on a continuous, rotating basis. Scholarships are awarded first-come, first-served, as there are a limited number of scholarships available each class session, depending on available funds and seats.
Currently, we only offer scholarships for our 6-week classes and youth camp programming. Our scholarships are funded by grants and the community. All extra donations included in registrations for our programs go toward the scholarship fund.
Please reference this chart to see if you would qualify based on your household size and yearly income, but please note we approve scholarships on a case-by-case basis. We can approve individuals who make more than the listed income but have extenuating circumstances. The information in this chart is based on the 2025 Poverty Guidelines of the Continental United States provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Please rest assured that any information you provide in your application will remain confidential.
It should be noted that only two individuals from any household can obtain scholarships at one time. If you wish to receive multiple scholarships throughout the year, you must reapply for each new session or camp you are interested in attending. Though applications are accepted on a rolling basis, there is a lower chance of approval for applications that give us less than a month's notice (you should apply at least one month before the program starts).
Scholarship applications open the first Monday of the month before the following session begins. Scholarship recipients will be invited to a class one or two weeks before classes start. Applications close the Friday before the session begins.
Full Scholarship Eligibility
Half Scholarship Eligibility
Family Size
Annual Household Income
1
$15,650
$17,990
2
$21,150
$24,320
3
4
$26,650
$32,150
$30,650
$36,980
5
$37,650
$43,310
6
$43,150
$49,640
7
$48,650
$55,970
8
$54,150
$62,300
FAQ
What expenses are covered by scholarships?
Scholarships are applied to the cost of the class which includes all instruction, materials, and equipment.
How much scholarship support may I receive?
Students may apply for half or full scholarships for one or multiple programs. Individuals are allowed to receive a maximum of one scholarship per session.
What do I owe Access Arts in return for my scholarship?
Scholarship recipients do not owe Access Arts anything, except promptness and good conduct while participating in our programs. There is no debt to Access Arts and no work exchange requirement. However, we welcome students to give back to Access Arts by participating in our volunteer opportunities!
Why am I stuck on the wait list?
Some programs give registration priority to students who are paying the full tuition amount. In those cases, the scholarship applicant will be placed on the wait list and then contacted two weeks prior to the workshop if there are still spaces available. The best way to ensure enrollment in these classes is to pay the full tuition amount. All programs have a minimum enrollment number that must be met with students who are paying the full amount before scholarship recipients are allowed to register.
Do I have to provide financial records in order to receive a scholarship?
No, however, applicants must provide their annual household income. Access Arts considers annual household income and household size to determine the applicant’s eligibility for a scholarship award.
Are you offering Summer Camp scholarships?
Yes! We typically offer 12 Summer Camp scholarships across all ages, on a first-come, first-served basis. For our High School camps, please consider checking out our High School Internship program here.
How may I contribute to Access Arts’ Scholarship Funds?
Support Access Arts students by making a donation towards our scholarship fund. Contributing to our scholarship fund ensures that students of all socio-economic backgrounds are eligible to participate in Access Arts’ educational programs
What programs do not take scholarships?
Currently we are not taking scholarships for any workshops or Date Nights.
Naoma Powell was the Executive Director of Access Arts for over 30 years and is considered the mother of Access Arts, just as our founder, Hurst John, is the father of School of Service. Naoma was such a huge pillar in the arts community and spent most of her life helping mentally and physically disabled people and the financially disadvantaged people find their inner creativity through art.
She was committed to never turning someone away from Access Arts because they couldn't pay.
In the last 50 years, Access Arts has grown a lot; however, we remain committed to carrying on Naoma's legacy by making creative learning experiences accessible to EVERYONE. We provide a multitude of scholarship spots each session, but we would love to be able to do more. Please consider donating to the Naoma Powell scholarship fund to make it possible for more individuals to experience how art and creativity can change their lives.
Upon registration for any of our programs, you may be prompted to add a small donation. All of the donations collected at registration go directly to this scholarship fund. As always, thank you for honoring Naoma's legacy by supporting and furthering this mission with us.
The Naoma Powell Scholarship Fund
Interested in taking a class at a discounted rate in exchange for service hours? Click here for more info.