Scholarships

Penland’s scholarship program exists to make our workshops accessible to those who are not able to participate without financial assistance and to create educational opportunities for people who have been underrepresented at Penland and in the craft world.  Every year, roughly 50 percent of Penland students attend with some form of financial assistance, including scholarships and tuition discounts.

Scholarships are funded by auctions of student and instructor work, annual giving, targeted foundation requests, and endowments that provide a permanent source of scholarship support. See a full list of scholarships and their generous donors here. 

SPRING SCHOLARSHIPS
All scholarships have been awarded

SUMMER SCHOLARSHIPS
Apply for from November 15 – December 16, 2024

FALL SCHOLARSHIPS
Apply from February 16 – March 12, 2025

Scholarship Categories

• Full Scholarship with No Work Requirement: Students receive tuition, meals, and housing.
• $500, $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000 scholarships: For students who receive one of these scholarships, the scholarship amount is deducted from their bill of tuition, room and board.
• Studio Assistantships: Studio assistants work in the studio assisting the instructor and the studio coordinator before, during, and after their workshop. They receive room, meals, and tuition. More information here.
• The Pines Scholarship: This is an opportunity for a limited number of people to work at Penland for one or two weeks and then take a workshop.

Standby Program

Current K-12 teachers, college, university, and community college faculty, and all active, retired, and veteran military personnel, as well as residents of several local counties in North Carolina and Tennessee who take unfilled spaces in Penland workshops four weeks or less before the class begins receive half-price tuition.  Standby information is here.