The Arts Scholars Program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges is designed for talented students who would like to continue their study of a fine or performing art while pursuing a rigorous program of study in any of the liberal arts and sciences programs offered by the Colleges. Arts Scholars are awarded $3,000 to $15,000, renewable annually on the recommendation of the fine and performing arts faculty.
Arts Scholarships are awarded in studio art, music, dance and creative writing. Arts Scholarships are also open to architecture majors. As an Arts Scholar, you will not be required to major in a fine or performing art—the entire range of departmental and interdisciplinary majors and programs is available to you. It is our expectation that you will continue to develop your talent and contribute to the life of the arts on campus. It is generally expected that your continued participation will be in the area in which you compete.
Faculty work closely with Arts Scholars to ensure they have access to the courses they need to pursue their arts studies at Hobart and William Smith.
You enjoy the option of electing a First-Year Seminar in whatever field of study you wish, including but not restricted to the arts. At HWS, we don't assume that you live only for your art, but that it enriches your life.
A rich menu of performances, exhibits and concerts, both on and off-campus, is available. There are also opportunities to meet guest artists and writers, participate in workshops and master classes—in short, to be part of a community of creative people who share your interests and value your contributions.
In order to be considered for the Arts Scholars Program, all of the following must be returned to the Office of Admissions by January 1:
Studio Art (including painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, sculpture, furniture/woodworking design): 10 slides or images on a CD, any medium. (Architecture students may apply but are encouraged to submit fine-art slides.)
Music (including vocal or instrumental): a 3-5 minute audio CD with good audio quality.
Dance (including technique, performance or choreography): a video no more than 10 minutes in length. If the applicant is part of an ensemble, s/he must be clearly identified. Applicants should also attend an Open Audition (see below).
Creative Writing (poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction): 10 to 15 pages of original creative writing, in any combination of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction.
For students interested in the Dance scholarship, we strongly encourage participation in one of our Audition Days. An Open Audition, scheduled for Saturday, November 12, does not require an invitation. Our second Audition, scheduled for Saturday, January 28, is by invitation only. Selection is based on the submitted review materials, to be submitted by the January 1 deadline. If applicants are unable to attend either audition, they are encouraged to arrange an equivalent audition experience so they can demonstrate their skills in person. Please contact Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Rafe Mattingly in the Office of Admissions to make these arrangements.
The dance audition will consist of a technique class, which begins with a ballet barre, followed by ballet and modern/contemporary dance sequences center floor and across the floor. Ballet slippers can be worn at the barre, and dancers should have bare feet for contemporary dance. Dancers are to prepare a short solo of any dance genre (1-3 minutes) of their own choreography or a teacher's to perform for faculty after the class. Dancers may bring music on an iPod or CD, or perform in silence.
The fine and performing arts faculty will review your materials, and Art Scholars winners will be notified by April 1 at the latest.
