League Scholarship and Membership

• The National League of American Pen Women based in Washington, D.C., offers the Shirley Holden Helberg Grant for Mature Women. As of 2011, this Art scholarship had a $1,000 value, and was earmarked for women over the age of 35. The scholarship comes with a two-year honorary associate membership in the League. Applications must include a one-page letter outlining goals and verifying U.S. citizenship. Three original color prints on paper of oil, watercolor, acrylic or mixed media art; or three photography prints for students of photography or sculpture must also accompany the application. Current and past Pen Women as well as members of their immediate families are not eligible for the award.
  
  

Work Study and Studio Assistantships

• The Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, provides special opportunities for mature students to participate in art workshops in exchange for work, namely through Work Study and Studio assistantships. Students who work between 45 and 50 hours per week are eligible to participate in a one-week workshop. Alternatively, one weekend of work duty entitles the student to take part in one weekend workshop. Arrowmont sponsors the workshop fee and room and board, but the cost of art supplies is the responsibility of the student. Two weeks is the minimum for participation in this work program, and preference goes to applicants who wish to participate for four weeks or longer. As of 2011, applications required a $25 fee.
  
  

Focus on the Creative Experience

• Creativity is the cornerstone of the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, North Carolina The school provides full scholarship funding for a student of 50 years or older through the Mendes Family Scholarship Fund. A former student and resident artist of Penland, Jenny Mendes, endowed the scholarship fund. The Elizabeth Brim Scholarship is for a woman of over 40 years. Other scholarships are available for a variety of art media including glass, metals, textiles and wood. Scholarship values are undisclosed.
  
  

Art History

• Art history is among the subject areas covered by the Minnie F. Reidy Liberal Arts Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship is available at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF) in California. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be 50 years of age or older and enrolled at the college for a minimum of six units. They must also have completed six college units in art history or one of several other fields of study such as music theory and the humanities at CCSF. As of 2011, the scholarship had a value of $175.
  
  

Tuition and Housing Awards

• New York's Chautauqua School of Art emphasizes maturity and individuality as important characteristics of its full-time students. The school offers work/study scholarships covering a maximum of 10 hours of work per week. Awards include full tuition, half tuition and partial tuition, and some cover housing. In addition, resident hall assistant positions that include housing may be available to mature, returning students of 21 years or older with previous experience in college residence halls. Applications must include your two most recent federal tax returns.