Scholarships & Awards

1. Write 400 words on an artwork you love, and 400 words on an artwork you loathe
2. Include one image of each artwork
3. Submit your work as an anonymous PDF to [email protected]

Entries must be in by 17.30 (GMT) on Friday 4th April 2025. First place will be awarded a 2-week Summer course with AHA! Runner-up prizes too.

Our scholarship is open to applicants aged 17-18. In exceptional circumstances, we may consider applicants outside this age range. Please don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected] to enquire.

Entries must be in by 17.30 (GMT) on Friday 4th April 2025. We will not be able to accept late submissions.

All you need to do is write two 400-word reasoned descriptions—one about a work of art you love and one about a work of art you loathe. There are few limitations on what these artworks can include, such as painting, sculpture, architecture, drawing, decorative arts, or design. We’re not looking for anything overly factual or polished, just something brimming with personality and authenticity.

Each essay must be supported by one photograph (or drawing no larger than A4) per essay. The adjudicators, a team appointed by Art History Abroad, will be looking for bold, well-reasoned arguments to support your opinions. They will read and mark your essays twice to compile a shortlist, which will then be judged again. The final decision will be made by Nick Ross, Director of Art History Abroad, and Senior Tutor Florence Blackburn.

Submit your essays as an anonymous PDF to [email protected], no later than 17.30 (GMT) on Friday 4th April 2025.

Winners will be announced on Friday 18th April!

The scholarship covers the fee for any 2-week Summer Course (£4,995 in 2025). This includes accommodation, travel during the course, all entrance tickets, and tuition. It can also be applied toward another longer AHA course (see “Option to transfer value” below). Please note, no cash alternative is available.

PLEASE NOTE

The fee does not cover lunch, supper, or spending money. Students are to cover these daily expenses, which amount to approximately £40 per day. Travel insurance and flights are not included.

If a successful scholar wishes to transfer the value of the 2-week Summer Course to one of Art History Abroad’s other courses listed below, they will need to pay the additional balance of fees. The value of the scholarship cannot be redeemed for cash. If the winner is unable to accept the offered place, the benefit of the scholarship will be extended to the runner-up.

In 2025, the winner may apply the scholarship award toward the following courses: any 2-4 week Summer course, the 12-week European Semester course, the 6-week Autumn Italy course, or the 6-week Spring Italy or India course in 2026.

Sir (George) Trenchard Cox. Lucinda Douglas-Menzies/National Portrait Gallery, London

The Scholarship was established by Art History Abroad in 1998 in memory of past President of NADFAS (the former name of The Arts Society), Sir Trenchard Cox (1905 – 1995).

Sir Trenchard Cox was an enchanting man. He died in 1995 leaving deep in the memory of those who knew him a quality of old world manners and warm wit. He was kind to everyone and encouraged all he met in their delight of beautiful things. It is perhaps this facet of his character that made him such a good Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) where, it is said, he made time each week to walk around the great halls of the museum talking to the wardens whose solitary task it is to guard the collection.  He was an “everyman”.

Furthermore, his devotion to the principal that museums serve all people made him a leader in museum education. To this end some galleries were laid out with different types of objects put into a historical setting and thus into context. This aspect of his work as an educator has perhaps been of the greatest influence on me, as Director of AHA .  Sir Trenchard Cox was also a constant support to Patricia Fay in the early days when she founded NADFAS (now known as The Arts Society) and he rejoiced in being its first President.

My initial acquaintance with Sir Trenchard was forged through my mother, who was a cousin by marriage.  Indeed Maisy, Trenchard’s wife, who was herself a great expert on mosaics, is the namesake of our daughter Cosima Maisy Ross. Aged nineteen I was encouraged by my mother to meet Trenchard, as I cast about looking for an enthusiasm in life that would turn into a career. He was good fun to meet, partly because he seemed to know everything about art but also because he would forget what drink I had asked for as he made his way to the drinks trolley.  Rather than ask again, he would put a little of everything that was already open into one large glass. It was rocket fuel and any shyness I might have had gave way to rich conversation.

So, for many reasons, this is an important prize for those of us concerned and we hope it will be for those who take part.  Intertwined are threads which start with a remarkable man who did so much to found The Arts Society and influence me at Art History Abroad.  The sense of self belief that winning this substantial prize has engendered in past winners would have touched Trenchard and his sense of culture being for all.

Nicholas Ross