HGA Dendel Scholarship
Offered by Handweavers Guild of America
About This Scholarship
The Handweavers Guild of America's Dendel Scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in accredited fiber arts programs in the United States and Canada. Named for HGA founder Esther Warner Dendel, the scholarship is judged on the applicant's skill and dedication to handweaving, and — unusually for a guild award — HGA membership is not required to apply.
The award is flexible: funds may cover tuition, materials, or travel, decided case by case, as long as the expense ties to the applicant's enrolled institution for the following academic year. HGA states that scholarship funds of $4,000 or more are awarded annually across its scholarship programs (the Dendel and the companion HGA Scholarship, which adds artistic merit and scholarly research categories with the same deadline), with individual award sizes set by the selection committee.
Applications are portfolio-driven rather than essay-driven: an online form, an unofficial transcript, five to sixteen JPEG images of completed fiber artworks, and two letters of recommendation, all received by the May 1 deadline. The application reopens each January for the following academic year, and applicants are notified by email by June 30.
Eligibility
- Enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate fiber arts program in the US or Canada
- Judged on skill and dedication to handweaving
- HGA membership is NOT required
- Funds apply to the following academic year and only to expenses tied to the enrolled institution (independent workshops are not covered); one scholarship per person per year
How To Apply
- Wait for the application to reopen in January for the following academic year
- Prepare 5 to 16 JPEG images of your completed fiber artworks and an unofficial transcript
- Arrange two letters of recommendation
- Submit the online application so everything is received on or before the May 1 deadline; decisions are emailed by June 30
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money will I get?
HGA awards $4,000 or more in total scholarship funds each year across its programs, with each recipient's amount decided case by case. Funds can go toward tuition, materials, or travel connected to your enrolled program.
Do I need to be an HGA member?
No. Both the Dendel Scholarship and the companion HGA Scholarship are open to non-members enrolled in accredited US or Canadian fiber arts programs.
Is there an essay?
Not for the Dendel — it is judged on your work. You submit 5 to 16 images of completed fiber art, a transcript, and two recommendation letters. (The HGA Scholarship's Scholarly Research category does require an essay.)