Trent Crawford, Phosphene, single-channel HD video, plasma screen.

​A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity open to Australian visual artists to complete a year-long placement in an international learning institution.

ANNE & GORDON SAMSTAG
INTERNATIONAL VISUAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS

The annual Samstag Scholarships enable Australian artists to develop their artistic capacities and skills through a dedicated period of practice-based learning in an international learning institution.

The scholarship provides each artist with institutional fees for one academic year of study and a $70,000 tax free allowance and covers travel expenses to a leading international art school of their choice. The competitive national scholarship program, established in 1991, is open to students, recent graduates–and, for the first time since its inception–to applicants who have been graduates of more than five years standing.

History

The Samstag Scholarships were established in 1991 through the generous bequest of the late Gordon Samstag, an American artist who taught from 1961 to 1970 at the South Australian School of Art,  a part of the University of South Australia.

Gordon Samstag's will provided funds for awarding annual scholarships enabling Australian visual artists to study and develop their artistic capacities, skills and talents outside Australia. This remarkable gift ranks as one of the very great bequests to visual arts education in Australia.

Samstag Scholarships are administered by the University of South Australia through the Samstag Museum of Art, on behalf of Gordon Samstag's United States trustee, the Bank of America.

148 scholarships have been awarded to date. See what our scholars are up to @samstagscholarships

Prospective applicants are advised to thoroughly read the Guidelines before submitting an application. The new Guidelines include less restrictive eligibility criteria, allowing graduates of more than five years’ standing to apply for a scholarship.

Applicants are also advised to carefully consider their preferred institutions and destinations, given the potential ongoing impact on international travel due to COVID-19. Institutions that applicants may wish to consider are included in the Guidelines. The number of scholarships awarded each year is currently under review.

APPLY FOR THE SAMSTAG SCHOLARSHIP

The annual scholarships enable Australian artists to develop their artistic capacities and skills through a dedicated period of practice-based learning.

Each scholarship covers reasonable costs for twelve months overseas, including institutional fees for one academic year of study (where applicable), a generous tax-exempt stipend of $70,000, return airfares, and travel and medical insurance.