SFF: Murphy Award and Cadogan Scholarships Grant

SFF: Murphy Award and Cadogan Scholarships Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The San Francisco Foundation
Amount: US $6,500 - US $40,000
Last Updated: April 03, 2026

Summary

The Murphy Award and Cadogan Scholarships, established in 1986, support Bay Area MFA students by providing significant tuition assistance and opportunities to showcase their work. The Murphy Award grants $40,000 to one exceptional MFA student, while the Cadogan Scholarships offer $6,500 to multiple recipients. Winners are invited to exhibit their art at the SOMArts Cultural Center, fostering artistic growth and exploration in various mediums such as painting, sculpture, and photography.

Overview

Murphy Award and Cadogan Scholarships The Jack K. and Gertrude Murphy Award and the Edwin Anthony and Adalaine Boudreaux Cadogan Scholarships help fuel the forward-thinking visual arts movement that makes the Bay Area unique. These awards were established in 1986 and are designed to further the development of Bay Area master of fine arts students and to foster the exploration of their artistic potential. The winners of the Murphy Award and the Cadogan Scholarships receive financial awards (award amounts to be determined when applications reopen). Each winner also has their work displayed in a professionally curated exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center. Funding The Murphy Award - Provides tuition support of $40,000 to one MFA student of unusual caliber and extraordinary promise. Awardee will also be invited to participate in an exhibition at SOMArts.The Cadogan Scholarships - Provide tuition support of $6,500 to MFA students. Awardees will also be invited to participate in an exhibition at SOMArts.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Murphy Award and Cadogan Scholarships are available to Bay Area MFA (not MA) students to underwrite tuition for their continued academic study. These awards assist students enrolled in an MFA program to develop and explore their artistic potential in painting, sculpture, hybrid practice, installation art, mixed media, drawing, and photography. See this guide to check if you are eligible to apply. Students must be currently enrolled at: Stanford, California College of the Arts, the University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and San Jose State University. Students must have completed at least one semester of graduate study as of the specified date, be continuously enrolled in the same program, and be in good standing through the Fall. Award recipients may be required to provide proof of continuing school enrollment through the Fall.

Ineligibility

Previous winners of the Murphy or Cadogan awards are not eligible to apply.