Fire & Form : Register now
At the Ottawa School of Art, talent is abundant but financial access is not. Scholarships allow emerging artists in our Fine Arts Diploma and Portfolio Certificate programs to focus on their artistic expression, experiment, and grow without the weight of financial barriers.
Your scholarship can be the reason a student stays in school, completes their program, and steps confidently into a creative career.
The financial support relieved a significant burden, allowing me to focus on developing my skills, pursuing creative opportunities, and dedicating myself to my studies without the stress of financial constraints.
Beyond easing the practical costs of tuition and materials (which are especially essential in the arts), it provided me with a sense of encouragement and validation. Knowing that others believed in my potential as an artist motivated me to work harder and to aim higher in my practice every semester. I am deeply grateful for the generosity from the scholarship donors. It has been a cornerstone of my journey as an artist and will continue to influence the trajectory of my career for years to come.
Donia Al-Issa - Fine Art Diploma Graduate, 2025
Artwork by Donia Al-Issa, Winner of Blair Sharpe Memorial Painting Scholarship - Winter 2025
Ways to Give
Annual Scholarships
Give once a year, or make it a tradition. Annual scholarships are flexible and renewable — a helping hand, year after year, for as long as you like.
Artwork by Sharon Chisholm
Winner of Wallack Scholarship - Winter 2025
Endowed Scholarships
Your gift is invested, and each year the returns fund a scholarship in your name — forever. It's the kind of giving that outlasts us all, supporting artists who haven't even discovered their talent yet.
Artwork by Frances Ashe
Winner of David and Nicole Henderson Scholarship - Winter 2025
Memorial Scholarships
Keep someone's name alive in the most meaningful way possible — by giving another person the chance to create. A memorial scholarship is a tribute that grows more beautiful with every student who receives it.
Artwork by Golrokh Salehi
Winner of Lillian Rapport Memorial Scholarship - Fall 2025
There's a Place for Every Kind of Generosity
You don't have to give a lot to give something that matters. Every level of support changes what's possible for a student — and for the art they make.
Access
Helps lower the cost of tuition — often the difference between enrolling and not.
$150–$900
Sustaining
Meaningful tuition support that frees a student from a second job and gives them time to actually create.
$1,000–$4,000
Transformational
Covers a significant portion of tuition. The kind of gift a student will remember for the rest of their life.
$5,000+
Endowed
A scholarship in your name, funded every year by investment returns — given to artists long after you're gone.
$10,000+
Donor Spotlight
The David and Nicole Henderson Scholarship
Nicole and David Henderson found their artistic voices at OSA — and when Parkinson's prevented David from coming to the school, OSA found a way to come to him. Their teacher brought classes to their home studio, and David's work flourished, his paintings still hang at the Rothwell Gallery.
The scholarship Nicole created in their names is an invitation for the next student who needs someone to believe in them and meet them where they are.
Recipient Spotlight
Roger Sutcliffe
This program offered a wonderful opportunity to study and experiment with different media and approaches, and learn supporting skills needed as an artist, including preparing submissions for art programs and galleries, and organizing exhibitions in the school exhibition spaces.
I was delighted to receive three awards while at the School:
-
The David and Nicole Henderson Fine Arts Scholarship (2016)
-
The Ted Marshall Memorial Award (2017)
-
The Ottawa Mixed Media Award (2018)
Receiving recognition for my work was very important to me as it validated some of the things I had been doing. After I graduated and applied for exhibitions, Ontario Arts Council exhibition grants, and professional designations, these awards addressed an important element validating peer recognition of my artistic output.
I appreciate truly those who have donated to establish the awards and scholarship program and those who administer it each year. It provided an important opportunity to prepare submissions and think about my body of work and direction of creativity.
Starting a scholarship begins with a conversation. We will help you define:
-
The purpose of the scholarship
-
Eligibility criteria
-
Award amount
-
Selection process
-
Recognition preferences
We make the process simple and fully guided.
-
You can establish a scholarship at any level. Donors typically choose:
-
A one-time annual award (e.g., $200–$1,000)
-
A multi-year commitment
-
An endowed scholarship, which creates a permanent fund
We will work with you to design a scholarship that fits your budget and goals.
-
Yes. Many donors choose to name their scholarship:
-
In honour of a loved one
-
In memory of someone special
-
Your own name
-
After their family, business, or organization
-
To reflect field of study – ceramics, drawing, painting
​
We will help ensure the name is presented exactly as you wish.
-
Absolutely. You can define the focus of your scholarship, such as:
-
Financial need
-
A specific field of study – drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpting
-
Equity-deserving groups (e.g., racialized, Indigenous, newcomer, 2SLGBTQ+ students)
-
Students from a particular year, mature student, full-time and part-time students
​
We’ll help you create criteria that are meaningful and fair.
-
You may choose one of two options:
-
Our scholarship committee selects the recipient based on your criteria
-
You participate in the selection process (optional)
​
All applications are reviewed confidentially and equitably.
-
Yes. Donors receive:
-
A thank-you message
-
A picture of the artwork from the recipient
-
Invites to scholarship recipient events (two per year) to meet the student
-
An annual donor impact report
​
(We protect student privacy and share only information they consent to.)
-
Yes. All scholarship donations receive a charitable tax receipt for the full eligible amount.
Yes. Many companies create scholarships to:
-
Support local students
-
Promote diversity and inclusion
-
Encourage careers in their field
We can help you design a scholarship that aligns with your artistic interest.
-
Most scholarships can be established within 2–4 weeks, depending on:
-
The complexity of the criteria
-
Whether you want to participate in selection
-
The timing of the academic are awarded in the Fall and Winter terms
​
We’ll guide you through every step.
-
Yes. You can choose:
-
A one-time award
-
A renewable award (e.g., for 2–4 years)
-
A multi-year commitment
​
Renewable scholarships often have a powerful long-term impact.
-
Yes. You may choose:
-
Full recognition
-
Partial recognition
-
Complete anonymity
​
Your privacy will always be respected.
-
If you’re ready to explore creating a scholarship, our team would be happy to help. Tammy Kohls development@artottawa.ca or (613)241-7471 ext. 31.
​
We’ll walk you through the process and help you design a scholarship that reflects your artistic values and creates lasting impact for a Fine Art Diploma or Portfolio Certificate student.
Let's talk
Whether you have a clear vision or just a feeling that you'd like to do something meaningful — we'll figure it out together, at whatever pace feels right.