The Arts Club of Washington · 2026–27
Find a true story and tell it well. $4,000 across three prizes, judged on the work alone. Open to every college student in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
A student crew lines up the shot · Photo: Robin Férand · CC BY 3.0
This year's art form
This cycle the competition turns to documentary filmmaking — a subgenre of cinematography, one of the nine art forms named in the club's founding mission. A documentary begins with patient attention: go and look, listen carefully, get it right, and bring back a true story shaped with the craft of cinema.
The competition recognizes emerging artists, supports their creative development through monetary awards and public recognition, and affirms human authorship in an age of powerful creative tools.
Meet all nine art forms & their story →
Read our AI & authorship principles →
Across the region
Students at every accredited college in the region may enter. Film and media programs are listed so faculty and advisors can find their school.
The calendar
See the full calendar.
The awards
Winners are announced on this site March 22, 2027, then honored at a Sunday afternoon reception at the club on April 11, where their films screen in the Monroe Gallery. Amounts shown are minimums for the 2026–27 cycle — the purse can grow with donor support before entries open.
The first-place award is given in memory of Jane Work, the longtime chair of this scholarship program; the fund itself carries the name of Dr. Anna Bartsch-Dunne, who spent a lifetime endowing students' chances.
The women behind the scholarship →
About the club and the house →
Proof
Your film plays for an audience of members and guests in the James Monroe House, a National Historic Landmark that has belonged to the arts since 1916.
"Winner, Arts Club of Washington Scholarship Competition" belongs on a résumé, a festival submission, and a graduate application - backed by a club that has championed working artists for over a century.
An independent panel of professional filmmakers and documentary experts reviews every entry. Their names are published before judging begins.
A monetary award, presented in person at a reception in your honor. Bring up to four guests — your faculty advisor and family among them - to join the club's members for the screening.
Before entries open
Entries open October 1, 2026. Sign up and we'll write the moment they do — competition notices only, unsubscribe anytime, and your information is never sold or shared.
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