Scholarships

Touchstone scholarships provide opportunities for many deserving individuals of all skill levels, ages, and backgrounds to attend workshops each year. While financial need is often a factor in allocating these funds, Touchstone is also dedicated to ensuring that artistic merit and intensity of interest are seriously considered. Incomplete application packages will NOT be reviewed. Scholarship applicants will be notified when to anticipate final determinations regarding awards/denials which will be made via email. If applicable, you may apply for multiple scholarships with one complete application. Scholarships are only valid for the year in which they are awarded; individuals who are unable to attend their awarded workshop will forfeit their scholarship.

Scholarship applications are accepted through SlideRoom: touchstonecrafts.slideroom.com
Unless otherwise noted, all scholarship applications must be RECEIVED by March 15, 2023.
There are no fees to apply for scholarships.

For questions regarding scholarships or to request a paper/PDF application, contact Programs Manager Travis Winters at 724-329-1370 or twinters@touchstonecrafts.org.

Opportunities for Veterans & family members:

Agnes & James Kinard Family Scholarship

Provides 100% tuition support for any adult-level workshop to veterans and immediate family members and/or caretakers of veterans as well as members of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. Additional funds may be awarded to offset the cost of housing, meals, and/or materials fees on a case-by-case basis. Veteran's scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.

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“During World War II, Agnes Dodds was one of the few female executives in the war effort while she served at the Lend Lease Administration in Washington, D.C. She met her first husband (Morton Frank), a Naval Officer, during the war. Her brother (Robert J. Dodds Jr.) and her second husband (James P. Kinard) also served as U.S. Army Officers.

Throughout her life, Agnes Dodds Kinard keenly championed efforts to help veterans, especially by enriching their skills and knowledge of arts and crafts. Her three children are thrilled that through her generosity, Touchstone, which she helped found more than three decades ago, will be able to pursue her vision of enabling veterans to receive artistic training they so richly deserve. She wanted Touchstone to offer veterans a sanctuary to enjoy nature and the outdoors as well as the opportunity to learn a new hobby, craft or skill.”

Additional support for Veteran's scholarships provided by Fayette County Commissioner Scott Dunn and the 2022 Veterans’ Marathon Relay.

APPLY FOR VETERANS SCHOLARSHIPS

Please contact us at 724-329-1370 if you prefer a paper/PDF application.

Touchstone Scholarships:

Touchstone offers additional scholarships for any adult-level workshop that may be applied for with a single application.

Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Scholarship

Open to current members of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh through the Agnes & James Kinard Family Scholarship fund.

Educators’ Retreat Scholarship

This scholarship provides 50%-100% tuition for any Educators’ Retreat workshop. K-12 educators and those studying to be educators are eligible.

General Scholarship

This scholarship provides 50% – 100% tuition for any adult-level workshop.

Inclusion Scholarship

Touchstone is committed to diversity, inclusion and advocating for social justice within the craft community. We are dedicated to providing opportunities for underrepresented populations by devoting a portion of our scholarships to individuals who identify as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, American Indian, Native American, Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or person of color. The scholarship provides 50%-100% of tuition for adult-level workshops.

Architecture and the Integrity of Craft Scholarship

This scholarship provides up to $1,200 towards any adult-level workshop’s tuition, room, and board. Recipients must reside on campus and take part in the full meal plan during their workshop. Eligible candidates include any student who has completed at least 2 years in an NCARB accredited architectural program or a recent graduate of an NCARB accredited program who is 30yrs old or younger. Submission of a Resume/Bio including awards, recognitions, and certifications is required to be considered for this award.

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Eligibility
- Eligible candidates include any student who has completed at least 2 years in an NCARB accredited architectural program, or a recent graduate of an NCARB accredited program who is 30 years old or younger.
- To fully participate in the Touchstone experience, the scholarship recipient is required to stay on campus and participate in the full-service meal plan.
Purpose
- The purpose of the scholarship is to introduce architectural students or recent architectural graduates to the important role craft plays in the built environment. By participating in a class of their choice at Touchstone, they will be further exposed to one aspect of the craft tradition and can develop a further understanding of the craft. In the process, they will gain a better understanding of the relationship of craft to the architectural design and building practice. While at Touchstone, they will also witness a number of other crafts being explored and will be introduced informally to how those crafts may relate to the same.

Susan M. Brimo-Cox Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship provides up to $500 towards any adult-level workshop’s tuition, room, and board. Preference is given to veterans and their immediate family members.

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In November 2013, Touchstone lost one of its most enthusiastic and dynamic advocates, Susan M. Brimo-Cox. Susan’s relationship with Touchstone took many interesting and meaningful forms. She served on Touchstone’s board of directors, taught several glassmaking workshops on campus, and was a student in many, many more. Susan will be remembered as a skilled and versatile artisan who enjoyed combining her talents in glass, enameling, gardening, printmaking, photography, metalsmithing, and fiber arts. Susan’s loved ones have created a memorial scholarship fund in her name so that her legacy of support for the regional arts and cultural community may endure. This scholarship will help more aspiring makers enjoy the transformative impact of a creative experience at Touchstone. The scholarship is generally available to everyone, but preference will be given to spouses of active or former military personnel. The scholarship covers tuition and room and/or board for any workshop up to $500.

The Thaddeus Mosley Scholarship

This scholarship provides 100% tuition for any adult-level sculpture-based workshop. Additional funds may be awarded to offset the cost of housing, meals, travel and materials fees on a case-by-case basis. This scholarship was established in honor of lifelong Touchstone instructor and friend, Thaddeus Mosley.

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The Thaddeus Mosley Scholarship is an annual scholarship offered to a student, emerging artist, or professional craftsperson or artist to attend a sculpture-based workshop at Touchstone Center for Crafts. Thad is a renowned self-taught woodcarver with sculptures in museums and private collections in Pittsburgh and around the world. He has been a dear friend of Touchstone for many decades and taught workshops on the campus for almost 30 years. At Touchstone, hundreds of students have benefitted from Thad’s teaching, inspiration, and mentorship. Thad continues to carve wood into sculpture every day in his Pittsburgh studio and we are proud to have him as part of the Touchstone community. His excellence in teaching and his artistry in the ongoing evolution of new and traditional woodcarving traditions, has influenced Touchstone’s students in all genres and has helped the volunteer board of directors to fulfill its mission. In recognition of his artistic excellence in interpreting and expanding traditional craft, teaching future generations of artists the beauty of creating sculpture, and his numerous contributions to Touchstone, members of the board of directors have initiated the Thaddeus Mosley Scholarship in his honor. The scholarship will cover full workshop tuition (a week-long or weekend workshop), lodging, meals, workshop material fees, and up to $100.00 in travel expenses.

Fayette County Resident Discount

25% Reduced Tuition: Full-time residents of Fayette County in Pennsylvania are offered 25% reduced tuition for any adult workshop. Regular room and board fees apply (discount can not be applied to special firings, teen week, youth programming, date nights, and symposiums).

Please call our office at 724-329-1370 to receive a discount code.

Teen Week Scholarships:

Ages 14-17
100% Tuition, Room, & Board: Touchstone works with schools to provide students with these scholarships. Individual teens are welcome to apply directly through Touchstone and will also be considered.

All teens interested in participating in Teen Week MUST fill out an application regardless of whether you are seeking a scholarship or intend to pay for all/some fees.

APPLY FOR TEEN WEEK

Touchstone Center for Crafts prohibits discrimination in employment, scholarship and educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference. Touchstone Center for Crafts also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to its facilities and programming.