Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we were able to offer 20+ full and partial scholarships in 2026. We make applying to scholarships friction-less. Anyone can apply for a scholarship; artists simply indicate in their applications whether they’d like to be considered for an award. Full scholarships cover all residency fees and room & board charges, along with a $100 credit toward kiln & material fees incurred during a session. Partial scholarships provide support to artists for up to 75% of the cost of a residency session. Scholarship funding is currently only available for the summer and fall seasons.
Watershed is committed to increasing the available scholarships year over year to ensure that our residencies are filled with artists from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We always accept donations of any size to our scholarship fund and welcome inquiries about establishing named scholarship awards.
At-a-Glance
21 available in 2026
5 open to anyone, 6 artists of color, 8 artists from underrepresented communities, 1 emerging artist, 1 social practice artist
4 available in 2026
4 open to anyone
Open to anyone
Kiln God Awards
Our merit-based Kiln God Awards fully fund 5 artists per year through the Archipelago Fund, Kottler/Thurman/Doran Fund, AIDA-Shed, and our scholarship fund.
Unnamed Awards
Our scholarship fund supports 4 partial scholarships per year.
For artists of color
Simone Leigh Fund
Awards up to 4 full scholarships each year.
Angus L. Graham Memorial
Awards 1 full scholarship each year.
The Color Network
Awards 1 full scholarship each year. This award is specifically for an artist of color who has never attended a residency.
For artists from underrepresented communities
Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation Grant for Scholarships & Summer Residencies
Awards 8 full scholarships each year, 7 general and 1 for organizers/invited artists.
For emerging artists
Bruce and Rose Dawson Award
Awards 1 full scholarship each year.
For international/multicultural artists
Judith S. Schwartz Legacy
Awards 1 full scholarship each year.
How to apply + details
Artists who want to be considered for any of these awards simply check a box on their Slideroom application. There is no separate application required.
Additional details
- Artists may receive a total of two full scholarships over their lifetime.
- Those who have received full scholarship awards in the past must wait three years before applying for funding again.
- Full awards cover the residency fee and the housing fee. Partial awards can cover up to two-thirds of the residency and housing fees.
Want to endow a scholarship?
Establish a named scholarship endowment with a gift of $40,000. Endowment funds are invested permanently, and the income generated supports a full scholarship. Donations may be spread over multiple years.
Named scholarship award donors make a 5-year commitment to support an annual full scholarship. Gifts of $2,500 may be made annually or as a lump sum ($12,500).
For social practice work
Rudoff Scholarship for Change
Awards 1 full scholarship each year to artists whose work engage with environmental or social practice.