Visual & Performing Arts Scholarship Competition

Birmingham-Southern College’s Visual & Performing Arts Scholarship Competition is an opportunity for admitted high school seniors and transfers to compete for renewable scholarships in Art, Art History, Architectural Studies, Media & Film, Music, Musical Theatre, and Theatre.

To be considered for our various scholarship opportunities, students must submit all required materials in addition to the scholarship application no later than February 15. Students can submit required materials on the application form or email them to [email protected]. Lastly, students are eligible to audition for multiple departments. Please review all the scholarship requirements below.

Art
Art Scholarships are awarded based on a digital portfolio provided by each participant.

The portfolio should include:
- Short written artist statement
- Perspective from life, not from a photograph
- Still life drawing in line
- Still life drawing in value
- Still life in color
- Portrait or self-portrait in graphite from life, not form photograph
- Hand or foot from life, not from photographs
- You may also include examples of work done in disciplines other than drawings, such as painting, photographs, prints, and mixed media.
Students can submit their portfolio materials in the application form or email them to [email protected].
Art History

Art History Scholarships are awarded based on a writing sample and an interview with each candidate.

The writing sample should be a 1-2-page visual analysis of artwork of the student’s choosing and should include a scanned or photocopied reproduction of the artwork analyzed.

Students can submit their writing samples in the application form or email them to [email protected].
Architectural Studies
Architecture Studies Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a portfolio, writing sample and interview with each participant.

1. The portfolio should include:
- Still life drawing from life, not a photograph
- One-point perspective drawing from life, not a photograph
- Two-point perspective drawing from life, not a photograph
- Elevation rendering of one of the following: your house, your school or a single building in your town from life, not a photograph
In addition to the portfolio requirements, please include sketchbooks and/or examples of work done in disciplines other than drawing, such as paintings that fit within the 30-inch maximum size, photographs, prints, or mixed-media work.

2. The writing sample should be a one- to two-page visual analysis of a single building by an architect of the student’s choosing.

3. Candidates will be contacted to schedule interviews

Students can submit their digital portfolio and writing sample in the application form or email them to [email protected].
Media & Film
Media and Film Studies Scholarships are awarded based on a digital portfolio and an interview with each participant.

Portfolios must include:
- A film/media sample (I.e. film, podcast, webisode, photography, radio broadcast, documentary, video essay, digital art, music video, virtual reality) or a creative short story/screenplay writing sample.
- A written statement following one of these 2 prompts: “What is a major project you would like to achieve and who would you do it?” or “What would you do with a completely free day?”
Candidates will be contacted to schedule interviews.

Students can submit their film/media samples and written statements in the application form or email them to [email protected].
Music
Music Scholarships are awarded based on an audition video.
- Singers are expected to sing at least 2 songs from memory in contrasting styles.
- Pianists are expected to play from memory 2 pieces of at least the difficulty of the Bach Inventions or the sonatas of Haydn or Mozart.
- Organists are expected to play one of the easier Bach preludes and fugues or works of comparable difficulty.
- Instrumentalists or guitarists should play 2 pieces or etudes in contrasting styles.
- Composers should send 2 or more original compositions and recordings (if available).
Students can submit their audition tapes in the application form or email them to [email protected].
Theatre
Theatre Scholarships are awarded based on an audition video. Students should choose material close to their age and experience – i.e: no Shakespeare or dialects.

Audition videos should include:
- 2 monologues no more than one-minute long each
Additionally, students should send the following:
- Headshot
- Resume
Students interested in Technical Theatre and Design should electronically submit a portfolio of their work as well.

Students can submit their monologues and supplemental materials in the application form or email them to [email protected].
Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre Scholarships are awarded based on audition tapes. Students should choose material close to their age and experience – i.e: no Shakespeare or dialects.

Audition tapes should include the following:
- 16 measures each from two Broadway/off-Broadway songs
- 1 monologue no longer than one minute
Additionally, students should send the following:
- Headshot
- Resume
Students interested in Musical Theatre should electronically submit a portfolio of their work as well.

Students can submit their audition tapes and supplemental materials in the application form or email them to [email protected].

If you have any questions regarding the Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, please contact the Office of Admission at (205) 226-4696 or email [email protected].