Rau for Art Foundation Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Rau for Art Foundation
Introduction / Background
Founded in 2012, RFA runs an annual Art Scholarship Competition that invites talented high school artists to create original work responding to a new theme each year. From all entries, ten finalists are chosen to show their pieces at M.S. Rau. A panel of rotating guest judges selects four winners who share $20,000 in college scholarship awards. The top winner also receives an opportunity to pursue art study in Italy, a prize inspired by the tradition of the Prix de Rome.
2025–2026 Theme: Lights, Shadows and Everything in Between
Artists have long relied on light and shade to shape mood, direct attention, and tell stories—from Caravaggio’s stark contrasts to Edward Hopper’s quiet atmospheres. For 2025–2026, we invite you to investigate how illumination and darkness interact—not only as a technique, but as a narrative device.
Think about the movement of light across scenes, the ways shadows define and transform space, and how both natural and urban landscapes can serve as stages for visual storytelling. Whether you’re drawn to the warm glow of golden hour or the drama of deep silhouettes, focus on the environment surrounding—or framing—the figure, and explore contrast, balance, and everything between. Demonstrate your strongest technical abilities.
Important deadline: Monday, Feb. 2, 2026
Who May Enter
- Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, or St. Charles Parishes.
- Students in public, private, parochial, or home-school settings are welcome.
- You do not need to be enrolled in an art class to participate.
- Entry is free.
Artwork Requirements
- Only one entry per student each year. The work must be entirely your own creation.
- Submissions must be two-dimensional and no larger than 36 inches high by 36 inches wide.
- Acceptable media: oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, graphite, colored pencil, pen-and-ink, pastel, charcoal, and similar traditional drawing/painting media.
- Collage or layered works are allowed only if every material used is produced by the artist. Found materials (e.g., newsprint or magazine clippings), three-dimensional objects, digital images, and photographic submissions are not permitted.
- Include a brief artist statement describing your concept and how your piece responds to this year’s theme.
Judging Criteria
Artwork will be evaluated on technical skill and execution, originality, and the strength of the theme interpretation.
Scholarship Awards
- First Place: $10,000 scholarship (plus the option to study art in Italy) and a $500 grant to the winner’s high school art department
- Second Place: $5,000
- Third Place: $3,000
- Fourth Place: $2,000
All scholarship funds are paid directly to the college or university the winner will attend. Awards will be held until the recipient graduates from high school, regardless of which grade they are in when they win.
Additional notes
- Ten finalists will be selected to exhibit at M.S. Rau.
- Four winners are chosen by a rotating panel of guest judges.