Black Heart Art Scholarship Programme

Black Heart Art Scholarship Programme

Organization: Black Heart Foundation (UK charity, Charity Number 1136813; US registered EIN 98-0670335)

Overview: New art-focused scholarship programme providing financial scholarships to underrepresented and under-resourced young people for arts education, empowering the next generation of diverse arts talent. Aims to improve access to education and industry by removing financial barriers.

Mission & Rationale

• Problem Addressed: Art sector remains one of UK's most underrepresented industries
- Only 18.2% of music, performing and visual arts workforce from working-class backgrounds - Only 2.7% of UK's art sector from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse backgrounds - UK government cutting funding for art and design courses by 50% across higher education institutions in England
• Solution: Provide diverse young talent with funding to create more equitable opportunities regardless of background
• Philosophy: Education is key to growth; money is primary barrier to entry in arts; removing this barrier creates greater inclusion

Eligibility Criteria

Age: 16-25 years old at time of application

Residency: UK residents ONLY

Includes refugees, asylum seekers, and those with indefinite leave to remain

Financial Status: Anyone who considers themselves under-resourced for their desired course

Assessment based on household income (including applicant's income)

Course Requirements:

Subject: Visual arts courses including:

- Ceramics
- Drawing
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Photography
- Video
- Film making
- Architecture
- Heavy weighting on visual arts; art history and related courses also eligible

Institution: Must be run by UK establishment and hosted within UK (at least for majority of course)

Overseas Elements: Course trips of under 4 weeks acceptable

Timeline: Course must already exist or be due to launch at academic year of scholar's start date

Course Types: Not limited to university; vocational and non-traditional courses encouraged

Portfolio:

Required where possible

Submission methods: WeTransfer, compressed zip file, or single PDF

File formats: JPEG or PNG (cannot accept .ai or .eps files)

Holistic Review: All applications assessed individually on individual merit

What They Fund

• Gap Funding: Primary aim to fund the difference between what is needed and what applicant already has/is eligible for from other sources
• Individual Assessment: Amount varies based on educational activity, finances, social circumstances and personal aims
• Flexibility: Applicants apply for what they need

Application Timeline (2026)

Cohort 1:
• Opens: Monday 13th April 2026
• Closes: Sunday 23rd August 2026 at 23:59
• Notification: By 31st October 2026

Cohort 2:

Opens: Monday 24th August 2026 at 00:01

Closes: 31st October 2026 at 23:59

Notification: By 31st January 2027

Closed Period: Applications NOT accepted between 1st November – 12th April (added to next cohort)

Contact Information

• Email: bhfap@blackheartfoundation.org
• Postal Address: The Black Heart Foundation Art Scholarship Programme, PO Box 7789, London W1A 6PW, United Kingdom
• Main Contact: info@blackheartfoundation.org
• Website: blackheartfoundation.org

Key Notes

• Competitiveness: Highly competitive; not guaranteed
• Success Rate: No specific success rate quoted; assessed on individual merit
• Reapplication: Can reapply one year from date of original unsuccessful application
• Feedback: Individual feedback not provided due to high volume of applications
• Geographic Limitation: Art Programme supports UK candidates only (unlike main Scholars Programme which supports UK and US)
• Age Limit: Specific age restriction (16-25) unlike main programme which has no age limit