Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2020 by 11:59pm ET (Eastern Time)
Eligibility: students ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12 as of December 1, 2020
Entry: online; $35/category fee (waivers available)
Categories: Classical Music, Dance, Design Arts, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice, Writing (nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, spoken word)
Awards:
- Up to $10,000 monetary award (total awarded each year is over $500,000)
- Exclusive eligibility for recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts
- Master classes with world-renowned artists
- Access to scholarships, career opportunities, and professional contacts
Writing encompasses creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story and spoken word. The strongest submissions demonstrate a sense of inventiveness, show attention to the complexities and technical aspects of language, and have a clear, original, and distinct point of view.
The National YoungArts Foundation identifies and nurtures the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts and assists them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. YoungArts aspires to create a community of alumni that provides a lifetime of encouragement, opportunity and support.
Presidential Scholar Nominations: YoungArts Winners are eligible for nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic and artistic excellence. U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts receive a Presidential Medal at the White House and perform and exhibit at the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian.
YoungArts Alumni: YoungArts alumni who have gone on to become leaders in their fields include actresses Viola Davis, Anna Gunn, Zuzanna Szadkowski and Kerry Washington; Broadway stars Raúl Esparza, Billy Porter, Andrew Rannells and Tony Yazbeck; recording artists Josh Groban, Judith Hill and Chris Young; Metropolitan Opera star Eric Owens; musicians Terence Blanchard, Gerald Clayton and Jennifer Koh; choreographers Camille A. Brown and Desmond Richardson; visual artists Daniel Arsham and Hernan Bas; internationally acclaimed multimedia artist Doug Aitken; television writer, producer, and director Jenji Kohan; New York Times bestselling author Sam Lipsyte; and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Doug Blush.
How to Submit: Online application and submission of an audition or portfolio. No references or academic transcripts are required. There is a $35 (non-refundable) application fee per category. Fee waivers are available. Applicants may submit in more than one discipline or category within a discipline. Please refer to the discipline and category guidelines for details.