NEAC Artist Scholarships: The Ken Howard Foundation Scholarship and the Daler-Rowney Scholarships worth £7,000 in total

Applications for our 2026–27 Scholarships will open on Friday 27 March. Watch this space for details, or sign up to our monthly newsletters to ensure you don't miss out.

The New English Art Club (NEAC) is aimed at early-career artists* living in Great Britain and working in figurative painting, drawing or printmaking. 

*Early-career artists include anyone who feels they are at the beginning stages of their professional artistic career, regardless of age (although applicants must be aged 18 and over).

The three annual scholarships, worth £7,000 in total, are aimed at individuals who have not historically had many opportunities to engage with the NEAC and are intended to support those who face financial barriers in pursuing the arts professionally.

In an art education landscape where many traditional art schools have pivoted away from practice and skills, these scholarships offer a rare opportunity to draw on the experience and expertise of some of the best painters in the country.

The 2026–27 NEAC Scholarships INCLUDE:

The Ken Howard Foundation Scholarship, which offers:

• £5,000 scholarship prize, paid in two instalments, to facilitate the artistic development of an early-career artist
• A year of close mentorship with leading figures of the NEAC
• Free entry to all classes and workshops run by the NEAC
• A selection of the scholar's work created during the scholarship year will be displayed at the NEAC Annual Exhibition 2027 at Mall Galleries.

Two Daler-Rowney Scholarships, which each offer:

• £1,000 scholarship prize, made up of £500 cash and a £500 voucher to be spent on Daler-Rowney art materials.
• A year of mentorship with leading figures of the NEAC
• Free entry to all classes and workshops run by the NEAC
• A selection of the scholar's work created during the scholarship year will be displayed at the NEAC Annual Exhibition 2027 at Mall Galleries.

 It is hoped that successful applicants will continue to engage with the NEAC beyond the scholarship year.

"The scholarship is amazing. It has helped move my work forward. I feel very supported by the NEAC." — Charlotte Houlihan, 2024–25 Scholar

How to Apply

"The workshops and critiques were invaluable, and the supportive community helped me grow so much. If you’re thinking about applying, go for it!" — Rizza Zahid, 2024–25 Scholar

The recipients of the 2025–26 NEAC Scholarships were Ethan Fox, Claire Venables, and Shawn Lee.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to the Ken Howard Foundation, the Tantam Family Charitable Foundation, and Daler-Rowney for supporting the 2026–27 NEAC Scholarships.