YoungArts
YoungArts has been celebrating and rewarding achievement by teens in the visual, literary and performing arts for three decades. If you are an accomplished young artist you should consider submitting your work. Even better, winners are invited to work with accomplished artists in their fields to further and deepen their experiences and exposure to the art world. This is a really interesting way to fire up your passions.
The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison to identify and nurture the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts, and assist them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. Each year, the National YoungArts Foundation grants up to US$10,000 in monetary awards, as well as inviting its winners to take part in master classes and courses with world-renowned artists and professionals. Submissions can be entered into the visual, literary, design or performing arts categories. The competition is held annually and is open to students in the USA, aged 15-18 (or in grades 10-12). International students who are studying in the USA on a student visa are also eligible to apply. Application to YoungArts requires an online submission and audition tape or portfolio. Applications cost US$35 per category. Applicants are eligible to submit in more than one discipline or category.
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If music if a core part of your narrative arc, consider building on this interest with one of the following:
Spend the summer at the prestigious Berklee School of Music
Head to the “other Berkeley” and take an amazing summer course at U.C. Berkeley entitled Music in American Cultures
Win prize money in the National Music Club competitions
Try your hand at creating musical theatre in the Musical Theatre Songwriting Competition
Win big at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards
If your strengths tend more toward writing, think about these:
Submit your work to more online publications, like The Maze, Elan Literary Magazine, Hanging Loose Press and more.
See our post about putting on a Poetry Slam in your town.
Start an online poetry (or literary) journal at your school.
HOT TIP: There are so many ways for artists and writers to get recognition beyond their schools and communities. Don’t be afraid to enter these competitions. There’s no downside and a huge upside if you win!