Presidential Scholarship for Young Folk Art Masters

The State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education has opened the call for candidates seeking the President of Ukraine’s scholarships for young folk art masters for the 2027 calendar year. The initiative aims to provide state support to young artisans whose creative work preserves and advances traditional Ukrainian folk arts based on ancestral knowledge.

Financial assistance is provided on a monthly basis throughout one full year. The stipend amount is differentiated by student status, ranging from UAH 600 to UAH 1,000 per month for enrolled students, while non-student practitioners receive one subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons each month.

The application deadline is 30 November 2026. Proposals can be submitted by cultural and educational institutions, regional state bodies, creative unions, or by candidates through self-nomination.

What is funded

The programme finances individual monthly scholarships paid continuously over a period of one year. The funding is intended to support young artisans in maintaining their creative practices, developing mastery in traditional crafts, and continuing their work in folk culture.

The monthly payment structure depends on the educational enrollment of the recipient. Students in vocational schools receive UAH 600 per month, college and technical school students receive UAH 800 per month, and students of universities, academies, and institutes receive UAH 1,000 per month.

For individuals aged up to 35 who are not enrolled in vocational or higher education institutions, the monthly scholarship equals one subsistence minimum for able-bodied individuals. Scholarships can be re-awarded in subsequent cycles, but no recipient may hold the scholarship more than twice.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants must be citizens of Ukraine aged 14 to 35 who actively work as folk art masters. Candidates must demonstrate an artistic focus that fosters traditional folk art and builds upon the practices of previous generations of masters.

Candidates can be put forward by external nominating entities or can register through self-nomination. Nominating organizations include regional state administrations, the Kyiv City State Administration, the Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, the National Union of Folk Art Masters of Ukraine, other creative unions, cultural NGOs, and cultural educational institutions.

Conditions and requirements

Applications are evaluated by a specialized Commission for the Presidential Scholarships for Young Folk Art Masters, comprised of independent experts in decorative and applied arts. Reviewers assess candidate submissions strictly against standard criteria defined in state regulations.

Evaluation benchmarks include technical command of folk art techniques, authentic use of Ukrainian ornamentation, and reliance on traditional craft methods. Reviewers also consider the use of traditional tools, natural domestic raw materials, participation in national folk art exhibitions, art symposiums, and engagement in projects reviving folk traditions.

How to apply

Documentation must be submitted through the electronic Register of applications and recipients of state support in the cultural sphere. If access to the registry is objectively impossible, candidates may send the application materials electronically via email.

Institutions submitting candidates must provide a formal petition letter, a completed candidate application form, ten color photographs of creative works in JPG format, copies of identification and tax registration documents, and personal data processing consent. Self-nominated applicants must submit a motivation letter, two letters of recommendation from leading folk art masters, the standard application form, ten artwork photographs, identification records, and data consent.

Practical tip. Ensure that each of your ten artwork photographs is clearly labeled with the creation year, the exact techniques used, and the specific traditional materials applied. Self-nominated candidates should request their two reference letters from recognized masters well ahead of time to avoid technical delays before the 30 November 2026 cut-off date.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: arts.gov.ua.