Scholarships in FPA
Fine and Performing Arts Scholarships
Several scholarships are available to Creighton students in the Fine and Performing Arts programs.
Grace Keenan Scholarship
Creighton University offers $4,000 scholarships, given by the Grace Keenan Endowment to the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. Grace Keenan was a retired teacher and lover of the arts who opened her door and heart to Creighton students. The renewable scholarship will be awarded to incoming freshmen who intend to major or minor in visual or performing arts. In order to renew the scholarship beyond sophomore year, students must declare a major or minor in one of the arts - Art, Dance, Music and Theatre. A cumulative 2.5 GPA is required for renewal. Students are permitted to apply to only one area of the Keenan Scholarship.
Application Process
Applications are due January 10. Applications are available for incoming freshman in their Admissions Student portal.
Required materials for Keenan Application:
- Fine and Performing Arts Resume
- Scholarship Essay
- Letter of Recommendation (recommended, but not required)
- Audition or Art Portfolio Review. See below for specific requirements per scholarship area.
For more information please contact Amanda McHendry at amandamchendry@creighton.edu
The Grace Keenan Scholarship Art Portfolio should consist of at least 10 pieces of original artwork and include a table of contents or list of works. The table of contents/list of works should include the applicant’s name, title of work (if applicable), dimensions, media used (i.e. acrylic, graphite, clay etc.), and year completed.
All portfolio interviews will be conducted virtually via Zoom in late January. You will sign up for an interview time in the application. You will begin the interview with a brief presentation describing your portfolio and the Studio Arts Faculty will ask you questions about your work and yourself.
Campus audition:
Applicants will:
- Participate in a 45-minute group ballet class in the Lied Education Center for the Arts on Special Programs Day.
- Perform a short solo (2 minutes maximum) in a technique of your choice.
- Complete a short interview with dance faculty.
Online Submission:
Submit a video around 5 minutes in length and include a short introduction.
Creighton’s dance program is balled-based; please focus on demonstrating skills in ballet as well as performing a variety of technical exercises in this video. You are encouraged to choose a dance piece you feel strongly about. A competition piece can also be submitted if you can be easily identified and you believe the video showcases your technical strengths and skills.
All applicants are required to upload a recorded Music audition. Select applicants will be invited to complete a second-round live audition at Special Programs Day. All applicants will be notified by January 14th if they have advanced to the second round of music auditions.
Students invited to a second-round audition will perform live in person or via Zoom in early February on the same day as Special Programs day.
Video Audition specifications:
Instrumental Music
- Instrumentalists need to perform two solos or etudes in contrasting styles
Vocal Music
- Vocalists need to perform two solo pieces in contrasting styles
- Songs should be memorized
- Please no original compositions or a cappella pieces
Campus Auditions:
Applicants will complete the following:
- Theatre - Performance
- Prepare two contrasting monologues (classical to contemporary; comedy or drama) of one-minute each.
- Complete a short interview with Theatre faculty.
- Theatre - Technical Design
- Prepare a 5–10 minute presentation of your work. This may include photographs, video, models, or sketches. You are encouraged to bring an array of materials that best represent your work. You will also complete a short interview with Theatre faculty.
Online Submission:
Applicants must submit a video by the application deadline.
- Applicants will participate in a short virtual interview via zoom in scheduled in early February.
- Performance Category
- Perform 2 monologues in contrasting styles (classical to contemporary; comedy or drama) of one minute each.
- Technical Design Category
- Prepare a 5-10 minute video with examples of scene design, costume design, and/or stage management.
Marion G. Jeffrey Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior Creighton student with a declared major in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. Financial need is a requirement, and recommendation of candidates will be made by the Department Chair to the Director of Financial Aid. The award may be renewed by continued eligibility and the recommendation of the Department Chair.
Leo Vincent Jacks Scholarship
The Leo Vincent Jacks Scholarship in Classical Languages is a $2,000 renewable scholarship awarded to incoming freshmen who have an interest in the study of the ancient languages and plan to pursue the Classical Languages Major at Creighton University. Learn more about the application requirements.
Scheerer Scholars in the Arts
Overview
The Scheerer Scholars in the Arts program is centered on the Ignatian values of Creighton University and on the Department of Fine and Performing Arts’ mission. The program is grounded in the belief that the arts are a vital component of contemporary culture and the artist/scholar is an active citizen within that culture. In particular, the Scheerer Scholars represent a commitment to the arts as a vehicle for empowerment and social justice. By applying research methods and studio art practice these Scholars incite civic participation through community partnerships, activism and scholarly research.
Application process
Current Creighton first year (Freshman) students will be nominated by faculty to apply for the Scheerer Scholars in the Arts Program through a competitive application process. After review of applications by the entire Studio Art and Art History faculty, students are selected based on merit, fit, and academic excellence. Students selected to participate in the Program enroll in a zero credit seminar in the spring semester of their first year, receive a modest stipend and will be recognized as Scheerer Scholars throughout their academic careers at Creighton. The seminar provides students with special programming designed to enrich the learning experience. This programming also provides valuable information about careers in the Visual Arts and includes tours of local arts organizations (such as the Joslyn Art Museum, The Union for Contemporary Art, The Bemis Center for Contemporary Art and the Kaneko) as well as arts centered service opportunities both on and off campus.
All Scheerer Scholars who successfully complete the seminar will be eligible to apply to the Scheerer Fellowship Program. As a Scheerer Fellow, students will receive a $4,000 annual scholarship, renewable for up to three years. To maintain the scholarship award students must be accepted as a major in either Studio Art or Art History, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and participate in department and program initiatives. Scheerer Fellows are required to present their independent creative and/or scholarly research thesis in their senior year.
For more information, please contact:
Amy M. Nelson, MFA
Director, Scheerer Scholars in the Arts program
Associate Professor of Fine and Performing Arts
AmyNelson@creighton.edu
402-280-2510
