Since 1986, the Marblehead Festival of Arts has awarded a scholarship to a high school senior who resides in or attends school in Marblehead, and who is pursuing higher education in visual arts, performing arts, crafts, music, or drama. The Festival’s objective is to encourage students interested in pursuing the arts professionally to acquire a sound academic grounding in their chosen fields. The criteria considered by the Festival’s Scholarship Committee include financial need; academic achievements; art achievements; art-related and other activities, both in and out of school; honors and special citations received; and intended vocation.

The scholarship is awarded annually, and the winner is announced at the Awards Ceremony held just before the summer Festival. In 1986, the amount of the scholarship was $1,000. It was increased to $1,500 in 1997, and to $3,000 in 2001.